Sarah Michelle Gellar is joining the ranks of Hollywood celebrities speaking openly about battling postpartum depression.
In a touching Instagram post shared with her 1.5 million followers overnight, the actress spoke for the first time about struggling with postpartum depression after welcoming her first child seven years ago.
“I love my children more than anything in the world,” she began. “But like a lot of women, I too struggled with postpartum depression after my first baby was born.”
The Buffy The Vampire Slayer actress went on to state that she was able to receive the help she needed.
“I got help, and made it through, and every day since has been the best gift I could ever have asked for.
“To those of you going through this, know that you’re not alone and that it really does get better,” she continued, ending with an impassioned plea to rally all those who “believe that postpartum depression should be covered by healthcare”.
Sarah has two children, seven-year-old Charlotte and four-year-old Rocky, with husband Freddie Prinze Jr.
The actress isn’t the only one to have spoken out about her experience with postpartum depression. Nashville star Hayden Panettiere spoke at length about her battle with it during an appearance on Good Morning America, telling the hosts, “I think I’m all the stronger for it. And I think I’m a better mom because of it because you never take that connection for granted”.
In March, Chrissy Teigen also opened up about her postpartum depression in an open letter for Glamour.
“I’m speaking up now because I want people to know it can happen to anybody and I don’t want people who have it to feel embarrassed or to feel alone. I also don’t want to pretend like I know everything about postpartum depression, because it can be different for everybody,” she wrote.
“But one thing I do know is that—for me—just merely being open about it helps.”
