"Teen Mom" alum Tyler Baltierra is breaking his silence about his mental health journey, revealing he has officially been diagnosed with autism after years of being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. The 33-year-old MTV star, best known for appearing alongside his wife, Catelynn Lowell, on "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom," said that finally learning the truth behind his mood swings and struggles has been both “a big sigh of relief” and a heartbreaking realization about his childhood. Tyler Baltierra, who now works as a certified personal trainer, opened up about his autism diagnosis and how it has changed his life.
‘Teen Mom’ Star Tyler Baltierra Reveals Autism Diagnosis After Years Of Misdiagnosis
On Wednesday’s episode of his PodcastOne show "Cate & Ty: Break It Down." Reflecting on his younger years, he admitted, “I just felt so sad for that little kid who wondered, ‘What’s wrong with me? Something’s wrong, why am I not normal?’”
Baltierra, who said he “ranked super high in masking," recalled being “kicked out of schools” and “multiple daycares” as a hyper kid struggling with ADHD and constant meltdowns. His mother tried to help him manage, but it wasn’t until adulthood that he realized the real source of his struggles.
According to his doctor, Tyler’s mood swings are tied to disruptions in his “weird little routines,” something that can be difficult for others, even his wife, to fully understand.
Inspired By His Daughter
The MTV alum said he decided to take the autism test after noticing similar behaviors in his six-year-old daughter, Vaeda Luma.
“First thing I noticed is that small things [that] should not be a big deal are a huge deal to [Vaeda],” he shared. Tyler and Catelynn, both 33, are also parents to 10-year-old Novalee Reign and their youngest, Rya Rose, who turns four this week.
Their eldest daughter, 16-year-old Carolyn Elizabeth, was placed for adoption in 2009 with Brandon and Theresa Davis. Tyler and Catelynn haven’t spoken to Carolyn in two years.
Tyler Baltierra Says Autism Diagnosis Brings ‘Self-Awareness,’ Not Change
As for treatment, Baltierra says he doesn’t plan to change much and, instead, he just feels more self-aware now.
“I think knowing this information makes me better aware,” he said. “I’m just going to try to live with this thing. It’s just the way my brain works.”
Fans first met Tyler and Catelynn back in 2009 on MTV’s "16 and Pregnant," later following them through "Teen Mom," "Teen Mom 2," "Teen Mom OG," and most recently "Teen Mom: The Next Chapter." On television screens, the two revealed that they had gone from high school sweethearts to lifelong partners, first meeting in 7th grade before officially dating in 2005. Just three years later, while still juniors in high school, they learned they were expecting a baby together.
Catelynn Lowell Recalls Fear And Anxiety Ahead Of Placing Daughter Carly For Adoption
When their first daughter Carly was born in May 2009, the couple made the difficult decision to place her for adoption, a choice that went against their own parents’ wishes but one they believed was best at the time. Their emotional journey was chronicled on MTV’s "16 and Pregnant," with "Teen Mom" continuing to follow the pair through the ups and downs of early adulthood.
"I just remember the initial anxiety and being very scared," Lowell shared in 2021 about what went through her mind when she first learned she was pregnant. "The scared is me thinking that I don't have anything. At that time, I didn't even have a cell phone. I didn't even have my driver's license yet. I didn't have a car. My mom and Tyler's dad were kind of bad in addiction during that period of time also."
Welcoming Their Rainbow Baby
Over the years, Catelynn and Tyler’s love story has included multiple engagements, marriage, and the expansion of their family.
On February 21, 2018, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra welcomed their third daughter, Vaeda Luma. The milestone came just a year after the couple endured the heartbreak of a miscarriage, which took a toll on Lowell’s mental health.
Calling Vaeda her “rainbow baby,” Lowell told Us Weekly at the time, “This baby is our rainbow after the storm. I’m super excited. It was a huge shock at first. We were not planning it, especially after the miscarriage and how I went downhill with my mental illness.”
Beyond reality TV, the high school sweethearts, who once shared the complicated family tie of being stepsiblings, are now keynote speakers, set to appear at the Adoption Changemakers Conference on November 8 in Manhattan.