After giving birth to octuplets in 2009, Nadya Suleman became known as “Octomom,” caring for not just those eight, but all 14 of her children while living in the spotlight. Life was chaotic and money was scarce, the latter of which led Suleman to reach out to Oprah and Suze Orman for help in 2010. What she got was a Suze smackdown wherein she was told to get rid of all her nannies and “pray like you’ve never prayed before.”
In this clip from the season premiere of OWN’s “Where Are They Now,” Suleman shares how her life has changed since speaking with Suze -- including a “life rehab,” a PTSD diagnosis, an adult video and a new home -- and opens up about the difficult path she’s followed for the last few years.
“One thing I listened to was when [Suze] said I should do it all on my own. No help,” Suleman says in the clip. “It did help financially, but it took a toll emotionally and physically. It took a huge toll.”
Suleman says that as a result, she became beyond exhausted. “I was starting to crack,” she says. “And it got worse… I had all these panic attacks.”
Suleman says it was time to ask for help. “I went to a treatment program for 30 days," she says. "There was a team of doctors and psychiatrists assessing me and diagnosing me. I was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Severe post-traumatic stress. In order words, [like] someone who’s a soldier in war, I feel like I’m still in war sometimes. But we have to win, right? There are 15 lives at stake.”
In the clip, Suleman also reveals her true feelings about hearing the term "Octomom," discusses whether or not she regrets making an adult video and offers a room-by-room tour of her new California home.
Catch up with more guests from “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on season two of “Where Are They Now?” airing on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on OWN.
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