Kelly Chase Reflects on Mental Health Challenges After "Love Is Blind"
Kelly Chase, who appeared on the first season of Netflix's "Love Is Blind", has opened up about the mental health struggles she faced after filming the show in 2018. The reality star, known for turning down fiancé Kenny Barnes at the altar, revealed that her mental` health was in a difficult place post-show.
"You're in such a confined container for eight weeks, getting to know people on a deep level quickly, and then it's just gone," Chase shared at the Wildly Better Well-Being event in NYC, celebrating the launch of Roxanne Kaiser's Proxy gummies on June 21. "Everything's gone, and you're like, ‘What do I do with my life right now?’”
Chase realized she was depressed and sought help from a mindset coach. "She brought to light a lot of the things I was struggling with. Although I sought her out for something else, she said, ‘We need to address this,’” Chase explained. The coach helped her process the trauma from the show.
At the time, Chase was running her own health coaching company but felt unable to support her clients due to her mental state. "I wasn't in a good place to show up for clients, so I felt like my business was failing," she admitted. It was only in the last six months that she began to feel more like herself.
Reflecting on her journey, Chase acknowledged the challenges and blessings that came with the experience. "Meeting people and the opportunities have been a blessing. I don't regret saying ‘yes’ to being a part of it," she said.
Chase also struggled with the sudden influx of social media followers after "Love Is Blind" aired in February 2020. "I'm a recovering people pleaser, and I was doing what I felt my audience wanted versus showing up 100% authentically," she told. The pressure led her to mimic other castmates' content rather than being true to herself.
The stress was compounded by her habit of waking up at 3 a.m. to watch new episodes as soon as they aired. "Of course, I'm sleep-deprived now. I just remember sitting on the couch being so emotional and crying," she recalled.
During this difficult time, Chase leaned on her castmates for support. She remains in touch with season 1 alums Jessica Batten, Giannina Gibelli, Lauren "LC" Chamblin, and Damian Powers, as well as newer cast members like season 3’s Nancy Rodriguez and season 5’s Stacy Snyder. Chase also reached out to later season cast members to offer support, understanding the unique challenges they might face.
Despite the mental health challenges that followed her reality TV experience, Chase is open to returning to the genre. "When we were wrapping my last filming day, my producer asked, ‘Would you do this again?’ I'm like, ‘Absolutely. If there was not a wedding at the end,’” she said. "Honestly, put me on anything else. I really like the spotlight. I'm not camera shy. And seeing the impact and the connection that you can create from it, I want to do more.”
"Love Is Blind" is streaming now on Netflix.
The Quran - Chapter Al-Waqi'ah : 88 - 89
So, if the deceased is one of those brought near ˹to Us˺,
then ˹such a person will have˺ serenity, fragrance, and a Garden of Bliss.
