New York

Lisa Rinna Shares Daughter Delilah Belle's Mental Health Struggles Caused by Childhood Infection

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills mom said that her daughter's anxiety and depression was triggered by a strep throat infection

"Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Lisa Rinna revealed the root of her oldest daughter’s struggles with depression and anxiety after Delilah opened up to her Instagram followers just days prior. 

Rinna began her Instagram story post praising both of her daughters being “brave and courageous.” Her youngest daughter, Amelia Gray Hamlin, shared in March 2018 that she suffered with an eating disorder.

[[C,513097741]]

The mother of two went on to reveal that Delilah is diagnosed with PANDAS: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. PANDAS Network says that the disorder is brought on by a “misdirected immune response and results in inflammation on a child’s brain.”

From there, the child will exhibit “changing symptoms,” such as OCD, anxiety, tics, personality changes, decline in math and handwriting abilities, sensory sensitivities, restrictive eating, and more.

“In Delilah’s case the condition was extreme and caused serious anxiety and multiple phobias,” Rinna wrote. “Thankfully we found the appropriate therapies and overtime she is doing much better.” 

She also shared that roughly 10% of the pediatric population will develop some form of PANDAs.

Delilah said she opened up on Instagram because her story "could help at least one person struggling with anxiety and or depression.” Last year, she began experiencing terrible depression when she moved to New York to attend NYU. 

“I started attracting negative people into my life because my thoughts were so negative,” Delilah wrote. “I got trapped in a severely unhealthy relationship that pushed me over the edge. I couldn’t get out of the relationship because I thought I was deserving of it.”

Eight months later, in February, she called Rinna and flew home to Los Angeles, where she was admitted to a rehabilitation facility. She returned to the facility in June for two months.

She says that her decision to call her mom and seek help was “the BEST thing that has ever happened to me.”

“I learned so much about being independent, feeling less shameful and guilty, I learned about self love instead of self deprivation and so much more," she said. "Saying no is OKAY! Take control of your own life and get rid of all negative people and energy that may surround you."

Contact Us