Katie Bates is sharing more about the emotional struggles that pushed her to leave Tennessee and focus on healing after a difficult year for her family.

On May 20, the 25-year-old reality star revealed on Instagram Stories that she lost relationships with nearly 90 percent of her family after speaking up about painful experiences from her childhood.

Bates said many followers had questioned why she decided to move away despite appearing to have strong support nearby. She explained that private family problems were far more painful than what people saw online.

Bates shared that she recently addressed something that happened throughout her childhood, something she wished she had spoken about years earlier.

"Unfortunately after doing so I lost relationships with about 90 percent of my family," she wrote. "This has been incredibly heartbreaking and heavy to walk through."

Although she did not share details about the situation, Bates said she no longer wanted to pretend everything was fine just to protect appearances.

According to US Magazine, she also admitted that remaining in Tennessee was "no longer healthy" for her and her children. The former reality TV personality said she is now focused on building a peaceful life and finding healing through faith and therapy.

Bates added that not everyone supported her decision to be honest about her past, but she believes moving forward is necessary for her peace and for her children's future.

Katie Bates Opens Up on Marriage Struggles

The family struggles came months after Bates and her husband, Travis Clark, publicly addressed problems in their marriage.

In January, Clark admitted he had cheated on his wife and said he repeatedly broke her trust, People reported. At the time, Clark called his actions his "failure" and said he was ashamed of the hurt he caused.

Two months later, he shared another emotional message, saying he was "desperately fighting" for his wife and family every day while continuing therapy and personal growth.

Bates recently said the couple is making progress, even though difficult days still happen. She explained that both of them are continuing to show up for each other and their children while working through the painful season together.

Therapy has also become an important part of Bates' recovery. She revealed that she first connected with a therapist in February and described the experience as life changing.

"It's helped me understand myself better," she shared, adding that therapy has allowed her to process emotions in a healthier way.

Bates and Clark married in 2021 after first meeting in 2019. They share two young children together.

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