Why did Amber Portwood lose custody of son James? 'Teen Mom OG' star claims mental illness was ‘used against’ her
Amber Portwood has lost custody of her four-year-old child, James, bringing an end to her three-year legal struggle with ex-boyfriend Andrew Glennon. Per The Sun on Wednesday, July 27, an Indianapolis judge gave the 'Teen Mom OG' star's ex exclusive legal and primary physical custody of their son.
Furthermore, the judge granted Glennon's desire to relocate with James from Amber's native state of Indiana to his family's home in California. According to the site, the judge instructed Glennon to seek and consider the mother's view before making any important choices concerning the child's medical treatment, education, or religion. Glennon and Portwood were both ordered to have monthly drug tests for the next six months, and the television personality was also required to participate in individual treatment with the counselor of her choice and follow any suggestions offered by the counselor. The judge did, however, accept a new custody agreement, allowing Portwood to have overnight visits with James for the first time since 2019. Amber will get three days of visitation each month, rotating between Indiana and California, under the new arrangement, which will be implemented in stages.
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Portwood was arrested and charged with two charges of domestic abuse and one count of criminal negligence with a dangerous weapon in July 2019 after she was accused of attacking Glennon while he was carrying James. Portwood took a plea deal to two felony charges of domestic assault and intimidation in October 2019. She was sentenced to 906 days on probation and forced to attend parenting programs for 26 weeks. Portwood has a lengthy legal history, including felony convictions for domestic abuse on Shirley and cocaine possession.
The '16 and Pregnant' starlet and Glennon started dating in 2017 and delivered their first child, James, in May 2018. Amber also has a 13-year-old daughter, Leah Leann, with her ex, Gary Shirley.
Amber Portwood's mental health battle
Amber Portwood says her mental illness was "used against" her when ex-boyfriend Andrew Glennon got custody of her 4-year-old son James. Portwood went live on Instagram shortly after news surfaced through The Sun on Wednesday, that the cinematographer had been granted full physical and legal custody of the child. 'Teen Mom OG' actress claimed that she should not be held liable for sins from her "past" as long as she is attempting to better herself. The MTV celebrity, who has been open about her bipolar condition and borderline personality disorder difficulties, raved about her "great" bond with her and Gary Shirley's 13-year-old daughter, Leah. James, according to Portwood, likes their time together and frequently tells her, "I love you."
Amber Portwood's memoir, 'So, You're Crazy Too?,' has an unfiltered account of her life narrative, including the ups and downs of her mental health fight. "Honestly, this book had to be cut down," the 'Teen Mom OG' actress exclusively told Page Six of her second literary endeavor, which was released on February 22 with a warning label since it contains intimate details. She said that she worked very hard to get the warning label.
Portwood's personal problems have been relentlessly scrutinized by online trolls and prominently covered by the media since her reality TV debut on MTV's '16 and Pregnant' in 2009. While managing unexpected popularity, she overcame the difficulties of becoming a teen mother, battled addiction, and served a 17-month jail sentence in 2013 — all terrible but transforming events that she revisits in her book. But what Portwood is most proud of, she says, is learning to live with five mental diseases, including borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorder, which were previously difficult diagnoses for her to accept.
In December 2021, she told Page Six that she clears her mind through counseling, medicine, meditation, sobriety maintenance, and other types of self-care. “I go to psychotherapy once a week. I am not playing around here,” she shared. “I put in the work. I do everything that I need to, from drawing to writing poetry to reading to educating myself," the college student, who was seeking a Bachelor's degree in psychology in applied behavior analysis at the time, explained. "I’m never going to stop [bettering myself].”