By Lindsey Lanquist,Self
Chrissy Teigen has anxiety, and she isn't afraid to talk about it.
In a recent interview with Marie Claire,
Teigen discussed her experiences with anxiety and postpartum depression
(PPD)—and talked about what it's really like to live with these
conditions. "Every step I take feels a little shaky," she said. "It's
such a weird feeling that you wouldn't know unless you have really bad
anxiety.… You feel like everyone is looking at you." Anxiety is the most
common mental-health condition in the United States, affecting 40
million American adults, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Teigen explained that she was officially diagnosed with anxiety shortly after her daughter, Luna, was born.
[post_ads]When Teigen was diagnosed with anxiety, she was also diagnosed with PPD, a mood disorder impacting one in every seven to nine mothers, although estimates vary, according to the American Psychological Association.
PPD involves the onset of moderate to severe depressive
symptoms—including insomnia, loss of appetite, increased irritability,
and difficulty bonding with the baby—lasting more than two weeks. Teigen
previously told Refinery29 that she experienced PPD for four months, from September to December 2016. (Baby Luna was born earlier that year, in April.)
Teigen now takes an antidepressant to treat her conditions. And though she's talked about still having "bad days"
with her PPD, she's trying not to let the condition interfere with her
desire to expand her family. "I loved being pregnant," she said. "Maybe I
should be scared [of having PPD again], but I don't know. It couldn't
be any worse than it was, could it?"
Teigen's honestly about her mental health
is both refreshing and important. Many women experience anxiety and
depression, and we're glad to see Teigen using her platform to show
these women that they aren't alone.
If you or someone you know seems to be experiencing depression and anxiety, please know that help is out there. You can talk to your primary care provider, get in touch with a mental-health professional, or visit the National Institute for Mental Health and National Alliance on Mental Illness websites for more general information and resources. If you're in need of more immediate assistance, you can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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