Hayden Panettiere talks postpartum depression and substance abuse

In a recent interview with E! News’ The Rundown, actress Hayden Panettiere opened up about the postpartum depression and substance abuse she faced following her pregnancy.

Panettiere began dating heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko – whom she is now separated from – in 2009, a relationship which resulted in the birth of her daughter, Kaya, in December 2014.

“I wish I knew to look out for it,” Panettiere said regarding her postpartum depression. “But I never heard any stories about it at all.”

Postpartum depression is defined as “depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustments to motherhood, and fatigue.”

Panettiere expressed that she turned to alcohol as a means to cope.

“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 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.’”

Battling with substance abuse

Panettiere secretly battled her addiction with opioids and alcohol for years, which nearly cost her career and her life.

“I was on top of the world and I ruined it,” she told People. “I’d think I hit rock bottom, but then there’s that trap door that opens.

“I put a lot of work into myself and I had to be willing to be incredibly honest.”

The actress underwent trauma therapy and inpatient treatment to help her get clean.

Relinquishing custody of her daughter

During the process of recovery, Panettiere relinquished custody of her daughter in 2018 where Kaya then moved to Ukraine to live with her father, Klischko.

“Because of the way that it was done, it was very heartbreaking,” Panettiere told Red Table Talk. “I mean, it was the worst signing those papers, the most heartbreaking thing I’ve ever, ever had to do in my life.”

“I was gonna go work on myself,” she adds,” I was gonna get better, and when I got better, then things would change, and she could come to me and I could have my time with her, but that didn’t happen.”

“It was the hardest thing I could do. But the best thing for my daughter was to make sure she was okay, take care of myself and make sure I could be a good mom to her.

“And sometimes that means letting go.”