Update, 10/14: Following the news that Panettiere was dealing with postpartum depression, the actress has entered a treatment facility, reports Us Weekly.
"Hayden Panettiere is voluntarily seeking professional help at a treatment center as she is currently battling postpartum depression. She asks that the media respect her privacy during this time," her rep told Us Weekly in a statement.
Thanks again, Hayden, for spreading awareness—here's hoping you get the help you need.
Original story, 9/29: Hayden Panettiere is, like any relatively new mom, learning more about her baby and her body every day. But the one thing she didn't expect? Dealing with depression.
The Nashville star, while appearing on Live! with Kelly and Michael, talked frankly about her postpartum experience and how she related to her character Juliette, who goes through her own very serious bout of postpartum depression, People reports.
"I can very much relate. It's something a lot of women experience. When [you're 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. 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. "You're not alone or crazy, ladies!"
"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," she continued. "It's really painful and it's really scary and women need a lot of support."
According to the American Psychological Association, 9 - 16% of women who give birth will experience postpartum. The mom, who gave birth in December of 2014 to baby daughter Kaya Evdokia, wants to help remove the stigma so women understand just how powerful they are—even if they're dealing with depression. "Women are amazing. We do something that no man can do on this planet. I mean, we grow a human being in our body!"
Amen, girl.
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