Alanis Morissette reveals struggle with postpartum depression after birth of 2nd child
"I was devastated," the Grammy winner said.
— -- Singer Alanis Morissette revealed she is currently suffering from postpartum depression after the birth of her second child.
"I was devastated and it had me question my identity. It had me question everything," Morissette recently told People magazine.
Morissette, 43, said the crippling effects of the disorder kicked in the moment after she gave birth to her daughter Onyx Solace, now 14 months old. Morissette also experienced postpartum in 2012 when her son, Ever Imre, was born.
"I fake smile really, really well in a way that I'm not proud of and ashamed of at the same time," Morissette said.
She went on, "It was just a really intense time. And if I could share anything with anyone that's going through it, it would be to encourage them to seek help."
According to ABC News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton, postpartum depression can start anytime after the baby's birth and can last up to a year.
"When you deliver, your hormone levels drop and it effects those neurotransmitters in our brain," Ashton said today on "GMA."
She added that obstetrics and gynecology has learned that the mood disorder can start antipartum, or during pregnancy.
Morissette said her goal is to reduce the stigma that surrounds postpartum depression.
"It doesn't matter what sort of lifestyle you have or how much you're traveling or how much you're home or whether your kids are in school, you know, there's no ... postpartum depression doesn't discriminate," the singer said.
Ashton explained that the key to treating postpartum depression is medication. "This can be a life threatening medical emergency so anti-depression medication is key. Peer support, psychotherapy and behavioral therapy are all very important," she said.