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Hayden Panettiere reveals mental health struggle that led to her giving up custody of daughter

Hayden Panettiere said that she wished she was told more about the condition before giving birth to her daughter Kaya
UPDATED MAR 26, 2023
Hayden Panettiere says she wished she knew more about postpartum depression before giving birth to her daughter (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Hayden Panettiere says she wished she knew more about postpartum depression before giving birth to her daughter (Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Hayden Panettiere is opening up about being pregnant and a mother. After the birth of her daughter, Panettiere spoke about her struggle with postpartum depression, just months after admitting that information about the custody arrangement between her and her ex Wladimir Klitschko had been misrepresented in the past.

During this week's episode of E! News' 'The Rundown,' the 33-year-old Golden Globe nominee talked about postpartum depression and her ordeal giving birth to daughter Kaya Edokia, 8, saying she wishes "somebody told me" about the condition earlier and "told me it's okay," reports People.

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'It hurts for you'

The 'Scream' actor talked about her past substance addiction and how her postpartum depression prompted her to consume more alcohol. She said, "I wish I knew to look out for it. But I never heard any stories about it at all. I just thought there was something seriously wrong with me, so I thought, '[Alcohol] will fix this. Duh!' And it didn't. It does for a moment, but then it made everything worse."

She also shared with host Erin Lim Rhodes the lonely feeling of listening to people dismiss or not take seriously the condition. Panettiere said, "And then it hurts for you. Because you're like, 'They're saying I should be able to get over this all by myself.' "

In December 2014, Panettiere gave birth to Kaya alongside her fiance at the time, Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko. She checked herself into a treatment facility the following year after her agent told People she was "battling postpartum depression." In the midst of Hayden's struggle with postpartum depression and alcoholism, Klitschko was granted custody of Kaya.

Hayden Panettiere (L) and Jansen Panettiere arrive at a screening of Freestyle Releasing's
Hayden Panettiere is currently dealing with the death of her younger brother Jansen Panettiere  (Edwards/Getty Images)

How Hayden Panettiere is dealing with postpartum depression?

In a 2016 interview, the 'Nashville' alum said, "You feel mommy guilt — it's for real," reports People. That's "the biggest message that I've been trying to promote for women is that it's okay to ask for help." She went on: "It's like being in a tunnel. You can't even remember when you felt good. You try and think back to when you felt good, when you felt positive, when you felt happy, and you can't. All you see is this enveloping darkness."

Last year, Panettiere said to People that Kaya "has more love than anybody I've ever met." She struggled with addiction to alcohol and drugs, but she still has a good relationship with her daughter despite giving up custody.

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