Katie Stevens and daughter Rome.Photo:Katie Stevens Instagram
Katie Stevens Instagram
Katie Stevensis getting candid about her experience withpostpartum depression.
The Bold Typealum, 30, welcomed her daughterRomein February, and on Monday, the actress shared aseries of videoson her Instagram Story detailing how her anxiety worsened and she had panic attacks after giving birth.
She continued to the camera while doing her skincare routine, “I feel like people don’t talk about it enough. It looks different for everyone. For me, my anxiety got way worse. I was just overwhelmed all the time. And I personally have a severe allergy to asking for help, so I didn’t want to do that.”
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Katie Stevens.Katie Stevens Instagram
Stevens, who played Jane Sloan in the hit Freeform series, then went on to open up about how she struggled with “not recognizing myself” after becoming a mom.
“Also a layer of my postpartum which I feel women don’t talk about, because they harbor some guilt around it, is just not recognizing myself,” she said. “Obviously, my role as a mother is one of the best jobs I’ve ever had in my entire life, but you go through a period that no one told me about where you justdon’t recognize yourself.”
Stevens added that she thinks it’s“healthy” to grieve your former lifebecause “you change so much and your body has changed so much, your brain can’t catch up with the speed at which you’ve changed.”
Katie Stevens with husband Paul DiGiovanni and daughter Rome.Katie Stevens Instagram
She also praised her family, friends and husbandPaul DiGiovanni, whom she married in 2019, for their support during her difficult times and nighttime panic attacks.
“I had many nights where I was having panic attacks and sleepless nights because of it [postpartum depression] and I’m very lucky that I have a wonderful partner, I have wonderful family and friends that really rallied around me and helped me through that,” she said, adding that things have got better for her. “I still have my down days, but everybody told me, it gets better and there will be days that the sun shines more that’s definitely been true for me,” she said.
But Stevens said a part of herpostpartum depression that is still “lingering”is “just not feeling like I’m in my own body — the body that I recognize.”
The actress and singer added, “But I definitely have been struggling with my motivation and my desire to work out and to just feel good again.”
“AndI want to be healthy again, because I also just haven’t been eating well or taking care of myself in that department because my focus has been on my daughter, and to be the best mom I can be I also have to be the best version of myself,” the new mom continued.
Stevens then revealed that she has started doing her friend Ellen’s‘Get Fit in Twenty’program, which is “slowly helping me get back into working out in a way that feels attainable. I can do it at home when my daughter naps,” she added, noting that she now feels “stronger and more confident in this new body.”
“My energy is back, and I’mrelearning how to take care of myselfwith food,” she said.
“Been reading all of my DMs and truly blown away from all the messages I’ve gotten from all of you,” Stevens wrote in afollow-up Instagram Story. “So many of you have shared your experiences with me, some very personal, and I’m just so grateful. Feels like I’m among some warrior mamas ❤️ Thank you for sharing with me.”
Stevens and husband DiGiovanni, 35, previously announced thearrival of their daughteron Instagram with aseries of sweet photos.
“She’s here 💗 2.23.23,” the new mom captioned her three family snapshots. “Our sweet Rome, we are so in love with you.”
If you or someone you know needs mental-health help, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.
source: people.com
