Erin Napier, co-host of HGTV’s beloved show “Home Town,” has become a household name, captivating millions with her warm personality, discerning design eye, and her passion for revitalizing the historic homes of Laurel, Mississippi, alongside her husband, Ben Napier.
Her journey to television stardom began unexpectedly when an HGTV producer discovered her online presence, showcasing her creative endeavors and the couple’s work in their community. Since the premiere of “Home Town” in January 2016, the show has garnered immense popularity, leading to successful spin-offs like “Home Town Takeover” and “Home Town Kickstart,” and solidifying the Napiers as some of the network’s most cherished stars.
Beyond television, Erin is a successful artist, designer, entrepreneur, and a New York Times bestselling author, juggling multiple business ventures and a family.
However, beneath the surface of her bustling career, Erin has faced significant and often debilitating health challenges, both physical and mental, which she has bravely shared with her audience, highlighting the critical importance of health and self-care amidst a demanding life.
One of the most profound and enduring physical health battles Erin has faced was a mysterious illness that plagued her for a decade, beginning when she was just 19 years old. She experienced recurring episodes of severe stomach pain and low-grade fevers, initially lasting about 24 hours, but gradually intensifying to several days at a time, leaving her incapacitated. Despite numerous doctor visits, CT scans, and various tests, no diagnosis was found.
Doctors initially considered conditions ranging from gallbladder issues, celiac disease, abdominal migraines, and ulcers to intestinal parasites, and at one point, even suggested it might be psychosomatic – “all in her mind.”
The true cause remained elusive until 2014, when an exploratory surgery, recommended by her OB/GYN, revealed a startling discovery: her organs were bound together by extensive scar tissue. This led to a second procedure where doctors finally identified the culprit – a perforated appendix.
Unbeknownst to her, her appendix had been repeatedly bursting and then healing itself over the years, leading to the formation of this widespread scar tissue that had essentially fused her internal organs.
While the surgery successfully removed her appendix and the problematic scar tissue, resolving the physical pain, the long-term impact on her health, particularly her mental well-being, was just beginning to be understood.
This extensive internal scarring also presented a significant concern for her future. Doctors had informed her the appendix surgery could cause complications with any future pregnancies.
This revelation understandably caused her to reconsider the idea of trying for a baby, as she feared the emotional turmoil a difficult or failed pregnancy could bring. Despite these many setbacks and the looming fear, Erin and Ben Napier were determined to grow their family. The home renovation experts ultimately beat the odds and welcomed two daughters, Helen and Mae, whom they are notably raising with a conscious effort to limit technology.
Even during her pregnancies, particularly with her first daughter Helen, Erin felt an immense sense of relief with each milestone, as she acknowledged the potential for complications due to her past health issues.
She kept her pregnancies a secret for a long time, emphasizing the sensitive nature of the process and how “tomorrow wasn’t promised.” Even with her second pregnancy, her baby bump was barely noticeable, potentially a lingering effect of her surgery and the extensive scar tissue.
Beyond the appendix and its related complications, Erin’s health struggles have continued. In May 2022, she underwent throat surgery due to an abscessed tonsil, which she later revealed was the cause of her “weird voice and super puffy faced from IV steroids” in subsequent “Home Town” episodes. More recently, 2024 brought its own set of health hurdles. Early in the year, Erin and her family were diagnosed with COVID-19.
Then, in late February 2024, a severe back injury almost prevented her from filming the first week of “Home Town Takeover.” She shared that she hurt her back “badly” by repeatedly blowing her nose with bad posture during a sinus infection. The pain was so intense that she required a steroid shot just to get through the initial filming days, and after the steroid wore off, the pain returned, revealing a dislocated rib that had pinched a nerve, leaving her “barely able to walk.”
While the physical ailments have been significant, the long-term impact of her decade-long “mystery illness” on Erin’s mental health has been particularly profound. The prolonged period of unexplained pain, fear, and uncertainty left deep “ruts in her neuro pathways,” as she has openly discussed. This experience ingrained in her an extreme fear and preoccupation with sickness, particularly nausea.
This past trauma has manifested in the form of anxiety, panic attacks, and spiraling thoughts. In a 2022 Instagram post, Erin candidly detailed how her brain, without her conscious permission, can set off on a “fight or flight” mission, even when her life is not in any real danger.
She has found relief in understanding the connection between her past physical suffering and her current mental health struggles, often crediting conversations with a therapist friend for helping her connect these dots.
This struggle with anxiety is not new for Erin. As far back as 2012, she opened up about her worries in a blog post, confessing a habit of regularly checking social media every morning to identify people who were down with “the flu [and] the stomach virus,” so she could keep her distance from them. She even chronicled in grave detail the anxieties she faced after Ben developed a fever. This deep-seated fear of illness, cultivated during her years of undiagnosed pain, continues to affect her daily life.
Recently, Erin has been experiencing a recurrence of panic attacks. This re-emergence of symptoms is a powerful testament to the fact that mental health is an ongoing journey, not a destination.
She has been very transparent about these experiences, taking to social media to highlight the critical importance of mental health. It’s highly plausible that the immense demands of her multifaceted career – the continuous filming of “Home Town” and its spin-offs, launching new business ventures like Laurel Mercantile Co. and Scotsman Co., and writing bestselling books such as “Heirloom Rooms: Soulful Stories of Home” – have contributed significantly to her stress levels. This heightened stress could easily trigger or exacerbate her panic attacks, demonstrating how external pressures can impact internal well-being.
Her recent openness about these renewed struggles serves as a powerful reminder that even those who appear to have it all together can face significant internal battles. Erin Napier’s journey underscores the vital message that while managing a thriving career and creative passions is rewarding, balancing work and health, especially mental health, is paramount.
Her transparency not only normalizes these experiences but also encourages others to acknowledge their own struggles and prioritize their well-being in a world that often demands constant output. Despite the challenges, Erin’s resilience and commitment to a holistic approach to health are a testament to her strength and an inspiration to many, proving that even with a demanding life, mental and physical health remain manageable with awareness and self-care.
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