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- Halle Bailey shared a video discussing her struggle with postpartum depression and separation anxiety.
- According to the Little Mermaid star, she struggles with being separated from her son Halo and is also having trouble adjusting to her new body.
- Her admission has opened the door for other mothers to discuss what they went through and are currently experiencing after welcoming their children into the world.
In January this year, American singer and actress Halle Bailey welcomed her first child, Halo, with her boyfriend, rapper and YouTuber DDG.
The Little Mermaid star has now opened up about battling with "severe" postpartum depression.
In a now-viral Snapchat video, the 24-year-old explains how being separated from her little one for longer than 30 minutes "freaks her out."
"I have severe, severe postpartum [depression]," she said in the video that was reshared by a fan account on Instagram.
She touched on how the changes to her body have contributed to her struggles.
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"The only thing that's been hard for me is feeling normal in my own body," she explained.
"I feel like a completely different person when I look in the mirror. I just feel like I'm in a whole new body, and I don't know who I am."
Bailey also admitted to not realizing how hard the struggle was before she became a mother herself while adding how her mental health problems have nothing to do with little Halo.
She then went on to remind her fans and followers to choose kindness – especially to new mothers.
Meanwhile, her admission raised a platform for other women to open up about their experiences with postpartum depression.
"I can relate. I had that with my first kid and would just start crying for no reason," one mom wrote, while another said:
"I understand exactly what Halle Bailey is saying. Doesn't matter if it’s your first child or fifth, that postpartum period is very hard to get through. Doesn’t matter if you have a cry baby or a good baby, it takes a while to feel like yourself again. Support is important."
READ ALSO | 'It’s normal not to want to be touched': New mom on how motherhood has impacted intimacy
Dealing with postpartum depression
Samantha Slaven, an occupational therapist who has a special interest in maternal mental health, previously told News24 that it is important for new mothers to seek support.
She also says that looking beyond just medication is vital.
"Support for mental health concerns goes beyond just medication; support groups run by a professional, one-to-one counselling or occupational therapy where practical tools to manage routines and rhythms of the day along with specific coping strategies to address anxiety, etc. are most helpful.
“A holistic approach to supporting a mom who is struggling is vital for moms who have experienced many overwhelming experiences along their journey of motherhood."
