Tish Cyrus has revealed that she turned to marijuana to cope with the emotional turmoil following her divorce from Billy Ray Cyrus and the death of her mother, leading to a severe mental health crisis that she has since overcome with therapy. In a candid interview on the Jan. 14 episode of ‘The Squeeze’ podcast, Tish Cyrus, 58, shared her struggles with mental health following two major life events. She described the back-to-back tragedies as the ‘most probably tragic things’ in her life, which she failed to process at the time. Cyrus admitted that she turned to weed as a form of plant medicine to numb the emotional pain, a habit she now recognizes as self-medication.
Cyrus’s mother, Loretta Finley, whom her daughter Miley Cyrus affectionately called ‘Mammie,’ died at age 85 in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finley had been a central figure in the family, living with them while Miley filmed ‘Hannah Montana’ and later in a house next door. Cyrus emphasized the deep bond between her mother and her children, particularly Miley, who often had her grandmother on set. The loss was profound, setting the stage for further emotional challenges.
Shortly after her mother’s passing, Cyrus’s marriage to country singer Billy Ray Cyrus began to unravel. She filed for divorce in April 2022 after 29 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences and noting that they had not lived together since February 2020. The split compounded her grief, leading to what she called a ‘freaking rough’ period in her life. Cyrus confessed that she was ‘literally terrified’ to leave the marriage, fearing loneliness and triggering a psychological breakdown.
During this time, Cyrus, who had always dealt with some anxiety, increased her marijuana use to cope. She believed it served as medicine, numbing the pain from her loss and marital breakdown. However, she did not realize she was self-medicating until later, when she decided to quit smoking weed. She reflected that the habit ‘kinda numbed all that pain,’ but it masked underlying issues that would soon surface.
When Cyrus stopped using marijuana, she experienced severe anxiety to the point of non-functionality. She described being ‘just in full-on anxiety’ and ‘not functioning,’ with symptoms including inability to eat or sleep for a month. This crisis led her to seek professional help, recognizing that she was merely trying to survive during that year. The anxiety was so debilitating that she felt isolated and overwhelmed, struggling to see a way out.
Therapy became a turning point for Cyrus. She credits it with helping her process the trauma and understand her behaviors. Her therapist was reportedly shocked by the extent of her struggles, and Cyrus found solace in discussing her life openly. Additionally, her daughter Miley recommended the book ‘The Body Keeps the Score,’ which helped her understand how unprocessed emotions manifest physically. This insight allowed her to address the root causes of her anxiety more effectively.
Cyrus has since found stability in her new marriage to actor Dominic Purcell, whom she wed in August 2023. She described their relationship as ‘safe’ and ‘drama-free,’ providing her with a foundation to stand still and feel her emotions. Despite this, she acknowledges that anxiety still occasionally surfaces, but she has learned to manage it better. Cyrus now feels ‘so much better’ and is actively working on her mental health, though she admits to occasional bouts of anxiety about minor issues.
Her experience has inspired Cyrus to advocate for mental health awareness. She expressed a desire to get involved with organizations that support people with mental health issues, emphasizing that hearing others’ stories can be immensely helpful. Cyrus hopes that by sharing her journey, she can reduce the stigma and isolation often associated with anxiety and depression. She believes that open dialogue and support networks are crucial for recovery, and she aims to contribute to this cause moving forward.
