Porsha Williams' personal life has played out onThe Real Housewives of Atlantafor the last decade, but for the first time ever, the reality star is revealing painful parts of her past that she’s kept hidden for years.
In hernew memoirThe Pursuit of Porsha,available Nov. 30, Williams opens up about her lifelong struggle with depression, contemplating suicide as a child, and surviving multiple abusive relationships.
“It was very therapeutic and hard as hell,” Williams, 40, tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue of writing the book. “I wanted to talk about those moments of despair, how I came out of them, and what it took to get there. Everything I have been through has made me the woman I am today.”
For more fromPorsha Williams, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday, or subscribehere.
Lynsey Weatherspoon
Williams began struggling with depression at an early age. While attending middle school in Georgia, she was bullied about her body, and in her darkest days, she considered suicide. At the time, “I was too young to even understand what I was dealing with,” she recalls. “It wasn’t until I was about 29 that I really identified with the word ‘depression.'”
“I developed different skills to survive,” she says. “Like speaking positively to myself and not focusing in on all of the negative.” (Williams adds that while she took a break from attending therapy during the writing of her book, she plans to pick up with regular sessions again.)
When it comes to her fiancéSimon Guobadia— who was previously married to fellowHousewivesstar Falynn Guobadia — Williams saysfalling in lovewith the entrepreneur, 57, came naturally.
“He’s a big advocate for going to therapy, so he’s done a lot of work on himself, and I have been doing a lot of work on myself,” she says. “I knew very early on that he was the one for me.”
Porsha Williams/Instagram
Williams announced in September that she wasleaving theReal Housewivesfranchiseafter nine seasons. As she embarks on her next chapter, she feels gratitude for everything she’s been though.
“I was just saying to my mom, ‘Look where my life is today,'” says Williams. “I feel absolutely blessed. No matter what has happened, I still thank God for all of it.”
The Pursuit of Porsha: How I Grew Into My Power and Purposehits bookshelves on Nov. 30.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or go tosuicidepreventionlifeline.org.
If you or someone you know needs mental health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
