Tish Cyrus shares the pain of coping after divorce and losing her mother

Life changed in an instant

Sometimes life can turn upside down in ways you don’t expect. Tish Cyrus lost two major parts of her life within a few years of each other, with her mother passing in 2020 and her divorce filing occurring in 2022. The weight of grief and change can feel impossible to bear.

She describes those days as simply “trying to survive.” Losing her mother and ending a long marriage at the same time brought anxiety she had never experienced. Every day routines became overwhelming, and she realized she needed help just to get through each moment.

Losing a parent shakes your core

Tish’s mother, Loretta “Mammie,” was central to family life. Living close by and actively participating in her children’s lives, she was a daily source of love and support. Her passing in 2020 left an emptiness that was hard to describe.

Grief affected Tish deeply, making normal days feel heavy. She remembers every detail of her mom’s presence and the void left behind. Coping with the loss while maintaining family responsibilities added pressure, leaving her overwhelmed, exhausted, and unsure.

Marriage ending brought more pain

Two years after her mother died, Tish filed for divorce from Billy Ray Cyrus after 28 years of marriage. This unexpected change brought feelings of fear and loneliness she hadn’t felt before. The loss of a familiar partner was emotionally crushing.

She admits she was terrified about life alone. The combination of grief and marital breakup created a level of anxiety that consumed her daily thoughts. Simple tasks felt impossible, and she struggled to manage her emotions.

Anxiety became overwhelming

During this period, Tish experienced intense anxiety that disrupted her life completely. She describes nights without sleep and days without proper meals, feeling restless and on edge. The panic felt uncontrollable, making her question how she could keep going.

Even small daily activities became challenging. Driving, talking, and managing her children’s lives required more energy than she had. She recalls feeling trapped in her own mind, unable to escape the stress, and realizing she needed professional support.

Numbing the pain with plant medicine

Reporting indicates Tish used plant medicine at times to cope with anxiety during her most difficult months before she later pursued therapy and said she was working on healthier tools to manage her mental health.

She didn’t immediately recognize it as self-medication. During this time, it allowed her to get through the day and care for her family. While it numbed the pain, it also delayed processing the grief and fear she carried.

Therapy offered a turning point

Seeking professional help gave Tish new tools to handle her anxiety. Talking through her feelings and past experiences allowed her to explore the roots of her grief and develop strategies to regain control over her emotions and reactions.

Therapy also helped her recognize patterns she hadn’t noticed before. She learned that it was okay to feel overwhelmed and that working through difficult emotions gradually was necessary. With guidance, she began rebuilding confidence and learning coping mechanisms.

Books can open new perspectives

Miley recommended The Body Keeps the Score, which reshaped Tish’s understanding of trauma. She learned that even unprocessed grief has a physical impact on the body and that anxiety is a response, not a personal weakness or failure.

This perspective allowed her to approach healing with more compassion for herself. Understanding how trauma works helped Tish realize she could process feelings without fear. It gave her practical strategies to manage stress and anxiety.

Stability comes with new love

Tish married actor Dominic Purcell in August 2023, and she has said that the relationship brought a new measure of stability and safety to her life. This stable relationship created space to pause and feel her emotions fully without fear of chaos or judgment.

The calm in her life allowed her to process grief and anxiety at her own pace. With a supportive partner, Tish could explore her feelings, reflect on her past experiences, and learn to rebuild her confidence.

Anxiety still visits sometimes

Even now, Tish experiences moments of sudden anxiety. She shares that some mornings bring unexplained worry, leaving her feeling tense despite a generally stable life. These moments remind her that mental health is an ongoing journey.

Learning to cope is now part of her daily routine. She has discovered techniques to stay grounded during anxious moments, allowing her to regain calm more quickly. Recognizing triggers and practicing mindfulness give her control.

You are never truly alone

Tish emphasizes that many people feel isolated when struggling with anxiety or grief. Hearing other people share their experiences helps reduce that sense of being alone, reminding us that mental health challenges are common.

Connection becomes a lifeline. Knowing that others face similar battles offers hope and reassurance. Sharing stories of struggle and resilience creates a sense of community and reminds us that support exists. It also encourages empathy and understanding.

Turning pain into purpose

Tish now uses her experience to help others. She has become involved with mental health organizations, advocating for awareness, education, and resources to support those experiencing anxiety or grief in their own lives.

She hopes her story encourages people to seek help and understand they are not alone. Transforming personal hardship into purpose provides meaning and shows that even difficult experiences can create positive change.

Healing is a gradual journey

Recovery from grief and anxiety takes time, and Tish reminds us that progress may be slow. Each small step toward feeling better counts, and setbacks are a normal part of the process. Celebrating small victories keeps momentum alive.

Tish focuses on managing days that feel difficult without judging herself for feeling stressed. Patience, consistency, and self-compassion are key. Over time, these practices create lasting change, allowing her to live with less fear and more control.

Learn more about how Noah Cyrus credits Billy Ray as one of her biggest musical inspirations.

Life can feel brighter again

Today, Tish enjoys a sense of peace and stability in her life. She has learned to feel her emotions fully and navigate moments of anxiety without fear or judgment, embracing calm and happiness. Her story shows that recovery is possible after profound loss.

Even when life feels heavy, healing, love, and joy can return. By facing emotions and seeking support, anyone can move toward brighter days. Tish’s journey reminds us that even after hardship, resilience and hope can help us rebuild a meaningful and fulfilling life, one step at a time.

Curious about more celebrity twists? See what happened next with Billy Ray Cyrus and his split.

Have you ever faced big life changes like Tish Cyrus? Share your thoughts in the comments, and don’t forget to leave a like.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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