Alanis Morissette Opens Up About How Quickly Her Post Natal Depression Hit!

Alanis Morissette says it only took a few seconds after giving birth to her second child for the post natal depression to hit her.

Morissette,43 first experienced depression when her son Ever was born six and a half years ago. The singer says that while she knew something wasn’t quite right she didn’t seek professional help from a doctor until Ever was 16 months old. She put down her symptoms of pain, lethargy and night terrors to being a new mum. Help was only sought after family members expressed concern with her radically different behaviour and demeanour following the birth of her first son.

With the birth of her second child to husband Mario ‘Souleye’ Treadway in June, the entertainer says she felt the crippling effects of post natal depression within seconds of giving birth to Onyx.

During an interview, the Grammy award winner revealed that she never thought she would feel like this after becoming a mother. For many years all she longed for was to have a baby and there was a certain guilt associated with having the feelings of being depressed. But she’s taking the necessary steps to get better and wants to speak out to shatter the stigma surrounding the topic.

“There are days I’m debilitated to the point where I can barely move,” she told People, adding, “It’s very isolating. I’m used to being the Rock of Gibraltar, providing, protecting and maneuvering. It had me question everything. I’ve known myself to be a really incredible decision-maker and a leader that people can rely on. Now I can barely decide what to eat for dinner.”

“My main priority is that I want to make sure both of my children are loved and bonded with and provided for,” she said. “I want to keep as much semblance of normalcy for my kids as I can because I don’t want [PND] to be their burden.”

Morissette spends her time speaking to groups of women about Post Natal Depression and says she wants them to know they’re not alone and that “there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” The singer feels a certain connection with mums who have been through the same thing and assures them all will be okay. “There’s this version of eye contact that I have with women who have been through postpartum depression where it’s this silent, ‘Oh my God, I love you. I’m so sorry,” she says.

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