Adele’s candid admission that she experienced “quite bad” postpartum depression offers a reminder that recovery after childbirth can look different for every new mother.
The Skyfall singer opened up about her struggles with fame as well as postpartum depression, a disorder that strikes hundreds of thousands of women each year, post childbirth.
“I was obsessed with my child. I felt very inadequate; I felt like I’d made the worst decision of my life,” the star said of the birth of her son, Angelo.
Adele continued, “You can’t talk about the downside of fame, because people have hope, and they cling to the hope of what it would be like to be famous, to be adored, to be able to create and do nice things.”
“My knowledge of postpartum – or post-natal, as we call it in England – is that you don’t want to be with your child,” the Rolling In The Deep hitmaker told Vanity Fair.
She mentioned, “You’re worried you might hurt your child; you’re worried you weren’t doing a good job.”
How Adele coped up postpartum depression
Simon Konecki, Angelo’s dad, encouraged Adele to open up to other women, and she eventually found comfort in talking with mothers who shared similar feelings.
She said four friends had experienced the same struggles but were “too embarrassed to talk about it.”
Adele set aside one afternoon a week for herself after experiencing postpartum depression following her son’s birth.
She said opening up to a friend and seeking therapy helped her cope, adding that taking time for herself can make someone a “better mom.”
Adele chose not to take antidepressants, instead turning to peer support and therapy.
Ways new moms can recover from postnatal depression
Talk to a doctor, midwife or mental-health professional about persistent symptoms.
Treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help manage depression.
Let loved ones help with childcare, meals and household tasks.
