The Brown family of Sister Wives is no stranger to controversy, and they stirred it up again on last Sunday’s episode.
The family decided to air footage of 17-year-old Aurora having a panic attack. The decision angered some fans, who believed that it was inappropriate to publicly show Aurora in such a vulnerable state.
The Sister Wives family, however, has defended their decision, believing that it could help others.
Aurora joined the family at age 8
Aurora is the daughter of Robyn and Kody. Her biological father is Robyn’s first husband, but he and Robyn divorced when Aurora was young. Robyn married Kody in 2010, when Aurora was just 8 years old. Robyn became the fourth wife in the family and joined 16 years after Christine, the third wife.
Aurora wasn’t Robyn’s only child from her first marriage- Aurora’s siblings Dayton, 20, and Breanna, 15, also joined the family when Robyn and Kody were married. Robyn and Kody went on to have two more children together: Solomon Kody, born in 2011, and Ariella Mae, born in 2016.
Normally, polygamist men are only legally married to their first wives, but Kody, his first wife Meri, and Robyn decided on a different arrangement.
Although Meri and Kody were legally married when Robyn joined the family, they decided to legally divorce (but remain in a committed marital relationship) so that Robyn could legally marry Kody. The legal status of their marriage made it possible for Kody to adopt Aurora, Dayton, and Breanna in 2015.
Aurora’s panic attack shocked viewers
Panic attacks can be debilitating, and that seems to be the case for Aurora.
“It’s like, difficult to think and process things because it feels like my thoughts are simultaneously going a million miles an hour and nowhere at all” she explained.
Robyn noted how serious things can get for Aurora. “When she has them, she can’t talk and she can’t walk.”
Robyn responded to critics on Twitter, explaining that “Aurora was given the choice whether to let her panic attack be included on the show. She wanted to be able to talk about what it is like to have a panic attack too. She wants to bring awareness so people are more sensitive and to support those who have them.”
Aurora started having real panic attacks when things got super stressful when were told we had to move. It was hard for her to think about moving again and she had a lot going on since it was her Junior year. It was super hard to see her struggle.
— Robyn Brown (@LuvgvsUwngs) March 9, 2020
She has seen doctors to help her and we did a lot to support her through everything she was going through. She is so accomplished and still is doing very well in school. She is my over achiever and expects a lot of herself. It was a very stressful hard time for her.
— Robyn Brown (@LuvgvsUwngs) March 9, 2020
Aurora was given the choice whether to let her panic attack be included on the show. She just wanted to be able to talk about what it is like to have a panic attack too. She wants to bring awareness so people are more sensitive and supportive to those who have them.
— Robyn Brown (@LuvgvsUwngs) March 9, 2020
According to Robyn, Aurora has been to doctors to treat her attacks. They began when the parents delivered news of the family’s move to Arizona- the stress of the upcoming move really impacted Aurora and she had a tough time adjusting.
Aurora is still doing well despite her struggle with anxiety. According to Robyn, she is making good grades in school and accomplishing many of her goals.
Sister Wives airs on Sundays at 10/9c on TLC.