“I Had Everything I Needed To Be Happy.” Chrissy Teigen Opens Up About Coping With Postpartum Depression
Aside from being married to the swoontastic John Legend, Chrissy Teigen is pretty well know for her twitter fingers. We particularly love her for her ruthless trolling of President Dump. Case in point:
We love and and appreciate her candor even more after reading her open letter in Glamour Magazine. In her essay, Teigen reveals her own battles with mental health, particularly postpartum depression.
“I had everything I needed to be happy. And yet, for much of the last year, I felt unhappy. What basically everyone around me—but me—knew up until December was this: I have postpartum depression.”
Chrissy goes on to reveal her symptoms, which included: being very tearful and not enjoying her normal activities. However, she ignored these signs, instead attributing these feelings to the fatigue associated with being a new mommy to her daughter, Luna. During the time the new family also had to do a lot of moving around, which Chrissy also blamed for her mood.
..Our home was under construction, so we lived in a rental home, then a hotel, and I blamed whatever stress or detachment or sadness I was feeling at that time on the fact that there were so many odd circumstances. I remember thinking: “Maybe I’ll feel better when we have a home.”
But she didn’t feel better. And through it all Chrissy credits her husband, John Legend, for being her rock through this journey. He provided endless love and support. John even slept on the couch with Chrissy, up to four nights at times, to support her.
Chrissy was eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety, and John right by her side. The symptoms of postpartum depression decreased with the assistance of an antidepressant. Although relieved, Chrissy reveals:
“I still don’ t really like to say I have postpartum depression, because the word depression scares a lot of people. I often just call it postpartum. Maybe I should say it, though. Maybe it will lessen the stigma a bit.”
Postpartum Depression is unfortunately very common. It is reported that postpartum depression affects more than 3 million women a year. Yes, more than 3 million. Of the 3 million, postpartum depression is more prevalent in the 19-40-year-old age range.
Statistically, black women are at an higher risk for postpartum depression, but we are often not appropriately treated as “mental health” continues to be taboo in the black community. As it holds true, black women are every day superheroes. But even superheroes need a little help. So, lets break the stigma and begin the necessary conversations.
This article is great! I think that every woman should know that postpartum does not discriminate. We are all human and it can affect any of us after childbirth. Even famous people are not above going through this type of depression, and it is good to know that there is help out there and no one is alone. Great Article Sheba!!