It’s official! Dr. Nicole Martin will not be featured on the upcoming seventh season of The Real Housewives of Miami.
After telling a curious fan earlier this week that her departure was not yet official, Nicole, 39, took to her Instagram page with a lengthy message for her fans and followers in which she confirmed that due to her struggles with post-partum anxiety, she had decided not to return after joining the Bravo series in season four.
“Taking a moment to shine a light on something I’ve been quietly navigating in my personal life,” Nicole wrote on September 13. “On March 26th, we proudly welcomed our daughter, baby Genevieve, arriving 5 weeks ahead of schedule and spending almost 2 weeks in the NICU.”
After giving birth to her second child, Nicole said she started to suffer from “significant postpartum anxiety,” which she didn’t experience after welcoming son Greyson, now 5.
“It all started about a week after giving birth when I found myself having an overwhelming sense of worry and fear out of nowhere. It felt like my mind was constantly on high alert, panicked and worrying endlessly about the health of my baby, myself, and my family,” she recalled. “Postpartum anxiety is more common than we hear about, and it’s crucial that we talk openly about it. 1 in 5 mothers experience mental health disorders during or after pregnancy, with most issues going unreported and untreated. By sharing our experiences, we can offer each other comfort and strength, and remind one another that we’re not alone.”
As Nicole attempts to navigate her mental health challenges, which she described as an “emotional rollercoaster,” she’s walking away from RHOM after four seasons.
“Given where I am right now, I have decided not to return to RHOM. Prioritizing my health and my family is something I need to do at this moment. It’s a step towards healing and finding balance, and I hope you can understand and support this choice,” she explained. “Thank you for being a part of this journey with me and for creating a space where I feel comfortable sharing these parts of my life.”
“I hope that my openness can help others who might be struggling and encourage us all to support one another through our most challenging times,” she added.
PEOPLE is also reporting that they can confirm Nicole was offered a full-time contract for season seven.
She tells the outlet she plans to make occasional appearances on the series amid her ongoing friendships with most of her co-stars.
“It’s not goodbye forever, I’ll pop-up here and there, just not in a full-time capacity,” said Nicole. “I just need to shift my focus on other things right now.
