Newly married Gwyneth Paltrow (she recently wed Glee creator Brad Falchuk) has opened up about her experience with post-partum (also called post-natal) depression in a Goop podcast with her mother, Blythe Danner.
In the podcast, titled Gwyneth x Blythe: On Mothers and Daughters, Paltrow explains how she developed the condition after the birth of her second child, Moses, marie clarie US reports.
“I think it was really shocking to me because I never thought that I would be a person who got postnatal depression,” she begins. “I was so euphoric when Apple was born, and I assumed it would happen with Mosey and it just… it took a while. I really went into a dark place.”
Paltrow continues: “I couldn’t connect with my son the way that I had with my daughter and I couldn’t understand why. I couldn’t connect to anyone. I felt like a zombie. I felt very detached.”
Paltrow is far from the only celebrity to open up about postnatal depression – Chrissy Teigen, who is currently pregnant with her second child, has been vocal about her experience with the mental health issue.
“Post-partum depression does not discriminate,” she wrote in March. I couldn’t control it. And that’s just part of the reason it took me so long to speak up: I felt selfish, icky and weird saying aloud that I’m struggling. Sometimes I still do.”
Post-partum depression (also known as post natal depression) affects 1 in 7 Australian women who give birth in Australia each year. While many new mothers experience the ‘baby blues’ in the first few days after giving birth, this usually only last 2-3 days. When symptoms last longer than this, it may be a sign of developing post-partum depression.
According to HealthDirect.gov.au, common signs of postnatal depression include:
- have a very low mood
- feel inadequate and a failure as a mother
- have a sense of hopelessness about the future
- feel exhausted, empty, sad and teary
- feel guilty, ashamed or worthless
- feel anxious or panicky
- have trouble sleeping, sleep for too long or have nightmares
- worry excessively about their baby
- are scared of being alone or going out.
For help and support contact:
PANDA – 1300 726 306
beyondblue – 1300 224 636
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby – 1800 882 436
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