Jessica Simpson Opens Up About Testing Positive For COVID-19
The following article includes mentions of substance abuse.
Jessica Simpson has been very open and honest about her health struggles over the years, and even got extremely candid about her addiction to alcohol and pills in her 2020 memoir, Open Book. Per People, Simpson admitted in the book that she "was killing myself with all the drinking and pills" as she bravely shared how she worked hard to be in recovery from her addiction after an extremely difficult period in her life. "Giving up the alcohol was easy I was mad at that bottle. At how it allowed me to stay complacent and numb," she wrote, admitting that her addiction was so severe that a doctor told her it was putting "her life in danger." She shared that she decided to get sober in November 2007 and hasn't had a drink since, also confirming that she'd spent a lot of time in therapy to better herself.
Simpson has since gotten candid about another private health issue, this time in a very honest post on Instagram. Keep reading for what the mom of three had to say.
Jessica Simpson opens up about her positive COVID-19 test
Jessica Simpson revealed on Instagram on March 29, 2021, that she'd previously tested positive for COVID-19. In the Instagram post, she unveiled the cover for her Amazon Original Stories essay, Take The Lead, which is about "self-acceptance, parenthood and overcoming fear." She wrote in the caption that the year leading up to the release had been "especially intense" as she recalled how writing helped her to cope with the fear of being diagnosed with the disease that has killed more than 2.7 million people across the globe (per Statista).
Simpson confirmed she started writing the essay the same day as she found out she had tested positive. "I decided instead of being driven by fear, I would manifest a hopeful conversation with you. I felt strong, resilient, and God- inspired through my pen teaching me as I was sharing with you ways to get to the other side of fear," she wrote. The "With You" singer didn't confirm how severe her symptoms were, though, luckily, appears to have recovered well from the disease as she's made a number of public appearances in March 2021 to promote her essays and the paperback edition of her book, Open Book, including a virtual chat with Tamron Hall.
Simpson gets even more candid in the paperback version of the tell-all, including sharing a heartbreaking journal entry she wrote shortly after her 2006 divorce from Nick Lachey as he confirmed his romance with his now wife, Vanessa Lachey.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health, please contact SAMHSA's 24-hour National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).