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Bryce Dallas Howard Opens Up About Postpartum Depression

01/12/2010 at 02:00 PM ET
Bauer Griffin

No one was more shocked than Bryce Dallas Howard herself when she discovered she was battling postpartum depression following the birth of her first child in 2007. “It’s brutal. I’m a total optimist and it was shocking to face that; I didn’t expect that at all,” the actress opened up during a recent appearance on The View.

“At first I called it postpartum denial because you’re like, ‘I just feel like a zombie,’ and then it gets worse and worse.”

However, having recently signed on to film The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond, Bryce’s dose of therapy came in an unusual form.

“I felt really lucky to do this film because this is a character that’s really struggling. She doesn’t feel like herself at all and feels suffocated by the world around her,” she explains. “And for the period of time I felt like I could hold on to that.”

According to Bryce, stepping into the role provided her with the prime opportunity to confront her depression.

“Everything I was feeling, I could at least explore it in a character.”

In addition to using acting as an outlet, Bryce admits much of her recovery was due to her close circle of friends and family. “I felt really, really fortunate because I had an incredible support group around me –  a lot of women don’t,” she says, adding that their positive encouragement made “all the difference in the world.”

Click below to read about how Bryce’s son Theo is already a film critic!

The daughter of famed director Ron Howard, Bryce laughs that this holiday season was certain to be nothing short of lively! After introducing her son Theodore ‘Theo’ Norman to the world of movies only a few short months ago, the proud mama reports the toddler is already a critic in the making.

“We showed him a movie the other day and I said, ‘Did you like that?’ And he said, ‘No.’ He said it was too funny,” she shares.

“I was like, ‘Was it silly? Was it kind of stupid humor?’ He said, ‘Oh yes!’ I was like, gosh, that’s the last thing we need in this family — someone who has another opinion about movies. But it’s really good that at 2 ½ he’s asserting himself artistically.”

Theo is Bryce’s first child with husband Seth Gabel. The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond is now in select theaters.

Source: The View

– Anya

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Showing 3 comments

Mary-Helen on

As someone who has struggled with PPD with two of my children, I’m glad Bryce had the courage to speak out. It took me awhile to get help because I felt so alone and like a bad mom and all sorts of things. It’s such a hard feeling.

mrsh on

I know what you mean, Mary-Helen. I had PPD with my daughter and still struggle with the “bad mom” feelings. Now, when I look back on her early months, I’m riddled with guilt for not appreciating every moment. But, at the time, I was so depressed, anxious and overwhelmed that I was basically just treading water. It’s a really brutal thing to experience, at what should be such a happy time in your life, but it definitely helps to know you’re not alone. And that you’re not a bad mother because of it.

katie on

i don’t have children but i have to say that i really don’t why people seem to equate ENJOYING motherhood with BEING A GOOD MOTHER

just because you are miserable doesn’t mean you aren’t an awesome mom. actually, caring for an infant despite having a really crappy time would be my DEFINITION of being an awesome mom

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