Jennifer Lawrence candidly discussed her experiences with postpartum depression during a recent episode of **The New York Times** podcast, “The Interview,” aired on **November 1, 2023**. The actress, who welcomed her son Cy in **February 2022**, explained the challenges of balancing motherhood and her acting career. “Having kids is sacrificial. It’s gratifying and it’s amazing and rewarding, but it’s not not sacrificial,” she shared.
Lawrence, married to **Cooke Maroney** since **October 2019**, expressed her internal conflict about wanting to continue her career while prioritizing her family. “I’d never had to say no to something before that I really wanted to do,” she noted, admitting it sometimes felt “vain and selfish” to pursue acting amidst her family responsibilities.
In her journey as a mother, Lawrence initially found great fulfillment in her role. She believed that acting was ideal for a hands-on mom. Yet, she soon realized the reality was more complex. “So I’m reckoning with, ‘How much is it OK to love this and not want to give it up?’” she reflected.
As her family expanded with the arrival of her second child this year, Lawrence encountered heightened anxiety and intrusive thoughts. Describing her experience, she remarked, “I felt like a tiger was chasing me every day.” These feelings of anxiety led her to seek refuge in stories and books, a method she has used to process her emotions throughout her life.
A significant moment in Lawrence’s career came when **Martin Scorsese** approached her to star in the film **Die My Love**, based on the novel by **Ariana Harwicz**. The story follows a young mother grappling with postpartum depression while her husband faces psychosis. Lawrence revealed that reading the book was overwhelming yet enlightening, occurring shortly after the birth of her first child. “I read it in one sitting,” she said.
While filming **Die My Love**, Lawrence was pregnant with her second child, which added another layer of complexity to her performance. She discussed the film’s dark themes and how they resonated with her personal experiences. “I spoke to a postpartum specialist who told me that a No. 1 cause of death in mothers in the first year is suicide,” she shared, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness.
Despite having a relatively positive postpartum experience with her first son, Lawrence’s second journey was marked by significant challenges. “I had nonstop intrusive thoughts that I was at the whim of. They controlled me,” she explained. These fears often manifested as self-doubt, prompting her to turn to therapy and medication.
In her quest for relief, Lawrence began using a medication called **Zurzuvae**, which she described as beneficial in managing her symptoms. “I got on a drug called Zurzuvae and I took it for two weeks and it really helped,” she stated, humorously adding, “I’m not paid by them, but they could maybe throw me something.”
Jennifer Lawrence’s openness about her struggles with postpartum depression highlights the complexities of motherhood and mental health. By sharing her journey, she not only sheds light on her personal experiences but also encourages discussions around mental health challenges that many mothers face.
