Back in December Hayden Panettiere welcomed a baby girl.
It was the first child for both Hayden and her boxer fiance, Wladimir Klitschko, and the couple gushed with pride as they shared the first photos of baby Kaya.
Unfortunately, it now seems that Hayden;s well-publicized struggles with postpartum depression have shown no sign of relenting, and sources confirm she recently decided to check into an in-patient therapy center to receive treatment.
“Hayden Panettiere is voluntarily seeking professional help at a treatment center as she is currently battling postpartum depression,” says a statement issued by reps for the actress.
“She asks that the media respect her privacy during this time.”
Hayden has been remarkably candid about the emotional difficulties she endured in the months following her daughter’s birth:
“You don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on,” Hayden said during a recent appearance on Live! With Kelly & Michael. “It’s something that needs to be talked about. Women need to know that they’re not alone, and that it does heal.”
In recent weeks, it looked as though Panetierre was beginning to overcome her depression, as she frequently posted upbeat tweets, such as, “I feel like I’m finally coming into my own body!”
Sadly, as anyone who’s life has been touched by depression knows, and upswing can be followed by an abrupt downturn.
Interestingly, Hayden’s character on the ABC series Nashville also suffers from postpartum depression. Panettiere has stated that she drew from personal experience in depicting her characters emotional struggles.
