The birth of a child is one of the best things that can ever happen to a family; however, what happens when something originally designed to bring joy and happiness turns out to be a source of sadness to its owner?
Postpartum depression is a condition that is not paid enough attention to; however, it is also one that a lot of women in our society have had to go through.
Too little has been done to spread awareness about postpartum depression, and as a result, women who go through this stressful ordeal tend to feel alone and not get the kind of support they deserve.
In this article, we will be exposing you to some strong women in the entertainment industry who have had to go through postpartum depression.
1. Hayden Panettiere
In a talk with Yahoo, she made it clear that people try to suggest that postnatal depression isn’t a real thing.
Hayden even said that if anybody would think for a second that any mother would want to feel that way towards her offspring, the person must be out of their mind.
Adding that postpartum depression is one of the most debilitating, guilt-causing, and scary feelings that any woman would ever have to endure.
She went further to say that being unable to connect with your child and not getting a grip, coupled with not knowing what will happen next, is not easy to handle.
So, anyone who suggests that it is a false alarm or a condition deliberately created by a woman is wrong, and the person should get her head examined.
2. Kendra Wilkinson
Kendra Wilkinson is a reality star who has opened up about her battle with postpartum depression.
Kendra said that after giving birth, she never had the motivation to brush her hair, take a shower, or even brush her teeth.
She got up to take a look of herself in the mirror, and there it was, staring right back at her, the face of a depressed woman.
Kendra said, ‘I thought to myself, look at me, I had this glamorous life in Los Angeles, and now I didn’t have it. I even said I have nothing to live for a couple of times”.
3. Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow has also shared with sales how she could not feel and behave like a doting mother after giving birth to her son Moses in 2006.
Gwyneth recalled that she was at her lowest and felt like a robot at that point.
She said she didn’t feel anything at all. “When my son, Moses, came into the world in 2006, I expected another euphoric period following his birth. Instead, I was confronted with one of my life’s darkest and most painfully debilitating chapters.”
It was also strange because she didn’t feel anything for her son, and the worst part was that she did not recognize anything was wrong with her.
4. Courteney Cox
Courtney Cox was hoping about her experience with a delayed case of postpartum depression after she gave birth to her daughter Coco.
Cox said that she went through a really hard time, but not immediately after the birth of her child. When Courtney’s daughter was six months old, the celebrity found sleeping difficult. She reported that I had kept racing, and she got depressed.
5. Natasha Hamilton
Natasha explained how she battled with postpartum depression in two of her pregnancies.
Natasha said that the experience was characterized by exhaustion and having emotions everywhere.
Further revealing that postpartum depression feels like having extra stress on a person’s shoulders.
It all returned to me having this fear of being unable to go back to work and not being able to provide all that my children need. But now I know I must work it out or let it go. Inside, I know I feel a lot relaxed.”
6. Bryce Dallas Howard
The Jurassic World star also wrote about her postpartum depression experience in the Goop.
Bryce said, “It is strange to remember what I was like then. I seemed to be suffering from emotional amnesia.
I could not genuinely laugh, cry, or be moved by anything at all. I pretended for the people around me, including my child.
But when I began taking a bath again in the second week, I’ll let loose in my privacy of the bathroom with water flowing over me as I heaved controllable sobs”.
7. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore opened up to People about what she experienced during her second child’s birth.
Drew said that when she had the first baby, she didn’t know to text me about some depression, so it was difficult for her to understand what he felt like.
After having her first baby, she felt great, but the second time, her expression was more like, “Oh, wow, I see what people are asking about now.”
She finally understood that it was a different type of overwhelming feeling when Drew saw herself getting under the Cloud after the birth of a second child.
8. Celine Dion
Popular singer Celine Dion has also shared her experience with postpartum depression after the birth of her twin sons.
Dion said for her, it was one moment of joy followed by a long period of unhappiness, stress, and shedding of tears for absolutely no reason.
“Some of the first days after I came home, I was a little outside myself. I had no appetite, and that bothered me. My mother remarked that she noticed I had moments of lifelessness but reassured me that this was entirely normal. It’s for things like that after having a baby that mothers need emotional support.”
9. Stacy Solomon
The former X Factor contestant has opened up about her postpartum depression crisis and stigma.
She said the feeling was one of being trapped and not good enough or strong enough to carry out the responsibility of being a mother.
10 Alanis Morissette
Alanis opened up during an interview with People about how she was still struggling with postpartum depression even fourteen months after the birth of her baby girl.
Alanis said There are days I’m debilitated to the point where I can barely move.… As a kid, I imagined having children and being with an amazing partner.
This is a whole other wrench I didn’t anticipate.” During the interview, which was an emotional one for the beautiful mum, she explained how she noticed her first symptoms after giving birth to her son in 2010.
She was afraid that she would get depressed the second time, which was exactly what happened. This time, the PPD returned in four folds.
“It’s very isolating. I’m used to being the Rock of Gibraltar, providing, protecting, and maneuvering. It had me question everything.
I’ve known myself to be an incredible decision-maker and a leader that people can rely on. [Now] I can barely decide what to eat for dinner,” She reported.
She also expressed her support for other women who were dealing with similar and also discussed how she is very hopeful for the future ahead of her.
“The stigma remains in a really big way. I have this version of eye contact with women who have been through postpartum depression where it’s this silent, ‘Oh my God, I love you.
I’m so sorry.’…Some people are like, ‘Where’s the old Alanis?’ and I think, ‘Well, she’s in here. She’s having a minute.’ I know there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and I try not to beat myself up.”
11. Andrea Mclean
The British TV presenter wrote about her postpartum depression ordeal. Andrea said it was difficult for her to admit she was dealing with such a condition because she saw herself as one of life’s ‘copers.’
She repeatedly tried to pull herself together, but every new trial became even more difficult.
She recalled ensuring the experience didn’t ruffle her and keeping the children happy and the house neatly organized.
However, she felt like she was cracking up wherever she was alone. She said she could be in the middle of an important meeting and break down suddenly.
12. Brooke Shields
Shields has also let the cat out of the bag with her postpartum depression ordeal.
She revealed how she learned about what was happening inside her body and brain, which was the first step to understanding that it wasn’t her fault that she felt the way she did.
She explained that she realized the situation was out of her control, and if she had been diagnosed with some other disease, she would have found a way to rush out in search of help. “
If I were diagnosed with another disease, I would have run to get help. I would have worn it like a badge. I didn’t in the first place, but finally, I fought and survived.
13. Elle Macpherson
Macpherson discussed how she was ready to get all the help she needed.
Macpherson shared that she took the steps necessary for her to gain recovery: “The truth was I just did what I needed to do and addressed a lot of issues that needed to be addressed. And I had a well-earned break, which I needed as well.”
14. Valerie Plame Wilson
This former United States CIA operations officer shared with NPR that she had earlier suffered postpartum depression.
According to Valerie, what she could remember, even though a lot of it was blood, was that she just wanted to go away, and it made no logical sense because she was married to the person she loved.
She said she had two beautiful children, and they had a very supportive family, so feeling the way she did not make any sense to her, and she knew it wouldn’t make any sense to anyone else.
Valerie mentioned she had to deal with the feeling of emptiness, which felt very dull without being emotionally responsive.
15. Lena Heady
This Game of Thrones actress revealed that she had suffered clinical depression right from her teenage age, and when it hit her again after the birth of her child, she was completely broken.
According to Lena, she had postpartum depression and didn’t realize that for a long time. “I went a bit nuts, and eventually, I had to go see a guy who mixes Western and Eastern philosophy in terms of medicine, and this guy put me on a cause of something that changed everything.”
16. Angelina Jolie
Even though Angelina Jolie did not officially come out to say that she battled postpartum depression after she had her twin babies, her life struggles were very challenging. They became evident after the birth of the kids.
A source close to the actress revealed that she often slipped into depression, saying, “She has been trying to control her emotions around her older children, but her mood swings have been hard on the entire family…She has been staying in bed most of the time; all she does is sleep.
She has little energy and has to force herself to remember to eat because she is still breastfeeding. She cries at the drop of a hat and laughs at inappropriate times.”
17. Chrissy Teigen
After the birth of Chrissy and John legend’s daughter Luna in 2016, the model revealed that she dealt with postpartum depression. She shared her experience via an open letter.
The model and wife of famous singer John Legend said, “I had everything I needed to be happy. And yet, for much of the last year, I felt unhappy.
What everyone around me—but me—knew up until December was this: I have postpartum depression…I looked at my doctor, and my eyes welled up because I was so tired of being in pain, of sleeping on the couch.
Of waking up throughout the night. Of throwing up. Of taking things out on the wrong people. Of not enjoying life. Of not seeing my friends.
Of not having the energy to take my baby for a stroll. My doctor pulled out a book and started listing symptoms, And I was like, “Yep, yep, yep.”
Chrissy also shared how she felt selfish to tell people that she was struggling, but as time goes on, she finds out that it takes strength to come out and let people know how you’re dealing with such a condition.
Have you ever dealt with postpartum depression, or do you know anyone who has? Please do not hesitate to leave a comment below.
