Reality star and creator Taylor Frankie Paul just got unusually candid on Instagram about her mental health and where things stand after that messy legal situation earlier this year. It is a lot, and yes, some of it is pretty raw.
What she shared about her diagnosis
On Sunday, April 19, the 31-year-old 'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' cast member told followers she was diagnosed with PTSD about two years ago and believes that now falls under complex PTSD. She said the diagnosis came from more than one therapist, which read a bit like a response to people accusing her of self-diagnosing.
For context, Cleveland Clinic describes CPTSD as stemming from long-term, repeated trauma — think prolonged child abuse or ongoing domestic violence — rather than a single traumatic event.
- She reposted a 2024 clip of herself staring off and biting her lip, writing: "Just incase you didnt know what dissociation and anxiety look like."
- She added a 2025 clip explaining she realized she had disassociated when she tried to open a hotel room door with her car keys — and sat there for a couple minutes before it clicked.
- She also shared a smiling photo from the 2025 TIME100 Creators event and a quick lip gloss video, noting that plenty of people are experts at looking fine while falling apart. Her goal, she said, is to actually heal so she can help others.
The production fallout and the custody fight
Back in March, production on 'Mormon Wives' paused season 5 after an alleged domestic violence incident between Taylor and her ex, Dakota Mortensen. Around the same time, ABC also pulled what was described as her season 22 run on 'The Bachelorette' (that detail was reported at the time).
Since then, both Taylor and Mortensen have filed temporary restraining orders against each other. He currently has custody of their 2-year-old son, Ever. Taylor has supervised visitation — at least six hours a week — until a protective hearing on April 30, when a judge will reassess her parenting time limits.
She also shares two older kids — daughter Indy, 8, and son Ocean, 5 — with ex-husband Tate Paul.
No charges filed after February incident
On Tuesday, April 14, Us Weekly confirmed that prosecutors declined to file charges against Taylor tied to the alleged February dispute.
"After reviewing reports and evidence submitted to the Draper Police Department and West Jordan Police Department, the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office has declined to file charges against Taylor Frankie Paul," Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill's office said.
Her take on healing, in her own words
Also on Sunday, Taylor posted a longer reflection on what recovery looks like for her right now. She said she is not shying away from owning her mistakes and acknowledged that the very public chaos — which she says she has now lived through twice — ended up being the price of her freedom. She would not wish it on anyone, including the people who amplified it, and described crying on her knees in pain while also feeling grateful.
She wrote that she feels "freed from a certain living hell" she could not escape, even if she is barely hanging on some days. The metaphor she used was intense: someone watching her "bleeding out" and then pouring salt on the wound — and yet she is still here. She credited God, said help showed up when she needed it, and thanked people who supported her without knowing the full story.
One oddly specific detail she highlighted: after waiting seven weeks, she says that on the seventh day exactly she got the call that all charges were dropped. She sees those sevens as a sign that there is a plan for what comes next — and for now, she is focused on the basics.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support.