Emilie Kiser clarifies she is not currently taking medication while navigating grief

10 October 2025

Emilie Kiser and her husband Brady Kiser with their two sons Trigg and Theodore in April 2025. Emilie Kiser/Instagram

In an emotional but clarifying moment, influencer Emilie Kiser addressed a question from followers about whether she is using medication in her grief journey following the tragic drowning of her three-year-old son, Trigg, in May. She shared the response in a TikTok video posted on October 8, telling viewers that she is not currently medicated and that she arrived at that decision after attending a grief retreat.

The question came during her “get ready with me” video, when one commenter asked, “Are you taking medication right now?” Another added that they were also grieving and trying to figure out how to “navigate it all.” Kiser replied directly in the comments, explaining that after her retreat she had been given guidance and chose not to move forward with medication. But she was careful to emphasize that everyone’s path is different, adding that she would always encourage people to speak to a professional and “do what’s best for you.”

Emilie’s journey back into social media has been gradual and intentional. She paused posting after Trigg’s death, returning publicly on September 20. Since then she has intermittently shared reflections about grief, therapy, and her evolving emotional state. In an Instagram Story on October 7 she wrote that she was on her way to a therapy appointment and expressed gratitude for health professionals supporting her process. She noted how emotional it is to reflect on “our/my grief journey” and what she discusses with her therapist.

Kiser’s disclosure presents a candid moment in her public grieving process one that balances transparency with boundaries. Rather than permitting speculation, she chose to answer a sincere question directly while also making it clear that her decision is personal. She did not cast judgment on those who opt for treatment, making space for others’ experiences even as she insists on her own autonomy.

Her choice not to medicate does not mean she rejects help or emotional support. Her answers reflect a complex calculus: what feels right for her body and mind at this moment, how she understands vulnerability, and how she navigates public scrutiny as someone whose life is observed by millions. She is open about therapy and mental health while guarding against assumptions that she must follow a single path.

For many of her followers, the moment of clarification is also a mirror. Losing a child is an almost unimaginable grief, and for a public figure whose life is intertwined with social platforms, every gesture is subject to interpretation. In refusing medication she is staking a middle ground not abstinence from help, but a personal decision rooted in her present needs, retreat experiences, and counsel.

This moment also pushes back on a kind of expectation that public figures must follow a specific script when responding to trauma. Kiser’s response is neither defensive nor performative. It is raw, self-aware, and respectful. She acknowledges that her path is not universal, that mental health requires personalization, and that grief does not always arrive with tidy options.

As Kiser continues to post about motherhood, family, and grief, her shared boundaries may become touchstones for those following in her upset wake. Her insistence on openness balanced with discretion may shape how her followers see healing, accountability, and voice. In a landscape where influencers often navigate curated darkness, this moment is a small but meaningful crack of light into the real interior interior of pain and choice.