Reese Witherspoon is opening up about a deeply personal chapter from early motherhood — one she says caught her completely off guard.
The actress revealed that after giving birth to her first child at just 23, she experienced what she described as “really bad” postpartum depression.
Looking back, she said the first six months were especially difficult, as she felt both happiness and overwhelming sadness at the same time.
“I just cried all the time,” she shared, adding that she was constantly exhausted and struggling to cope with the emotional changes.
She also explained that she wasn’t prepared for how drastically hormones could shift after childbirth — especially after she stopped nursing months later.
On top of that, the pressure of being a young mom made things even harder, with constant opinions and expectations from others adding to the stress.
Witherspoon said a friend eventually encouraged her to seek help, something she now emphasizes is crucial for new mothers going through similar experiences.
She also acknowledged that while she had access to professional support, many women struggle in silence without the same resources.
Today, she’s using her experience to highlight how common — and often misunderstood — postpartum depression can be.
