Overview

• Karissa and Kristina Shannon describe their four-year stay in Hugh Hefner's Playboy mansion as deeply traumatic, marked by bullying, favoritism, and the suppression of their religious beliefs.
• The twins faced significant identity challenges, with Hefner's environment forcing them into a 'twin persona' and isolating them from their faith and family support.
• After leaving the mansion, they struggled with weight gain, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation, reaching what they describe as rock-bottom in their early 20s.
• Relocating to Michigan allowed them to focus on their mental health, leading to diagnoses of bipolar disorder, ADHD, and generalized anxiety disorder, and a renewed connection to their faith.
• Now 35, the twins emphasize daily meditation, organic living, and setting personal boundaries as key to their ongoing recovery and emotional well-being.