Hayden Panettiere Opened Up About Her Postpartum Depression. You Are Not Alone
It’d be difficult to guess just by looking at the adorably cute and perky star of Heroes and Nashville that she once hid a difficult secret. It’s a burden that many, many women around the world deal with on a daily basis but don’t talk about out of shame, fear of judgment, or any other number of reasons: postpartum depression.
Photo credit: Venturelli/WireImage
Panettiere, who played a spunky blonde cheerleader on Heroes, first went public with the admission on the Kelly & Michael Live show. She said that she had been struggling with postpartum depression since the December 2014 birth of her daughter Kaya Klitschko (with husband Wladimir).
One of the primary reasons for addressing this personal issue in a public arena was that Panettiere wants other women suffering from depression to know that they are not alone, and that there’s help available.
“It’s something a lot of women experience. When [you are told] about postpartum depression you think it’s ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child; I want to injure or hurt my child.’ I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do,” Hayden said on Kelly & Michael Live. “But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on. It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal,” she said.
These numbers may be a bit low since many women are reluctant to admit struggling with the condition, but experts estimate that roughly 10 to 15% of women suffer from postpartum mood disorders.
Photo credit: BSIP/UIG via Getty Images
Symptoms of postpartum depression, which are more intense than the mood swings and crying jags of the “baby blues,” include:
- Depressed mood and/or severe mood swings
- Excessive crying
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Withdrawal from family and friends
- Change of appetite, can be a loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
- Inability to sleep (insomnia), or sleeping too much
- Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy
- Loss of interest and pleasure in activities formerly enjoyable
- Irritability and anger
- Paranoia that you’re not a good mother
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
- Inability to concentrate or make decisions
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Thoughts of self-harming or hurting the baby
- Thoughts of death or suicide
If these symptoms continue for two weeks or more, it’s time to see a doctor. There are treatments, and you don’t have to suffer alone. As Panettiere said, “There’s a lot of misunderstanding. There’s a lot of people out there that think that it’s not real, that it’s not true, that it’s something that’s made up in their minds, that ‘Oh, it’s hormones.’ They brush it off. It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable. It’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support.” Please, get the help you need. And don’t be afraid to ask loved ones for their support.
Photo credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Treatment for postpartum depression depends on the patient’s individual needs and on the severity of their condition. Generally, those with postpartum depression do well with talk therapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
Panettiere herself entered a rehabilitation facility for her postpartum depression. She did one rehab stay in October 2015, and in 2016 revealed that she was ready for another. She tweeted, “The postpartum depression I have been experiencing has impacted every aspect of my life,” she shared. “Rather than stay stuck due to unhealthy coping mechanisms I have chosen to take time to reflect holistically on my health and life. Wish me luck!”
Photo credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
She now says that she is a better mother because of her experiences. On Good Morning America in 2017 she said that postpartum depression “helped me identify what was going on and let women know that it’s OK to have a moment of weakness. [It] doesn’t make you a bad person—doesn’t make you a bad mother. It makes you a very strong, resilient woman.” These are inspirational words for anyone who has shared Panettiere’s struggles.
