In an new interview with Life & Style, Gena Lee Nolin, 37, opens up for the first time about her long struggle with postpartum depression (PPD).
“It’s a roller coaster of emotion,” she says. “It’s so intense and comes on so quickly. Your hormones are completely out of whack.”
Unfortunately, the feelings of despair that came with her third delivery — daughter Stella Monroe arrived last December — were painfully familiar: Gena had experienced PPD following the birth of her sons, Spencer, 12, and Hudson Lee, 3.
“It was really hard with the first one because I didn’t see it coming,” Gena explains. “I couldn’t figure out why I was so sad when I had this beautiful, healthy baby and a great job. Baywatch was the No. 1 show in the world at that time. I had nothing to be upset about. I thought I was nuts.”
But when her uncontrollable crying didn’t stop after six months, Gena, who was married to Greg Fahlman at the time, knew she needed help. So the actress sought guidance from a counselor and spent seven months on a low dose of antidepressants. Read on…
Note by Dr. Shosh:
Once a woman has one bout of postpartum depression, she’s high risk to have another. This is what Gena experienced another two times. Her last experience with ppd is a perfect example of what happens when a woman receives help quickly – she can typically recover quickly and move on with her life. This article also discusses the important role nutrition can have in the recovery of the illness.
Tags: postpartum depression
