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'Nashville' star Hayden Panettiere seeks treatment for postpartum depression
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"Nashville" star Hayden Panettiere voluntarily entered treatment for postpartum depression, a mental illness she's raised awareness about recently. - photo by Payton Davis
For fans of "Nashville," Hayden Panettiere's recent announcement she's seeking treatment for postpartum depression seems familiar.

Panettiere's "Nashville" character, Juliette Barnes, faces a similar struggle in seasons three and four of the show, according to People magazine. At the third season's end, the new mother tosses a snow globe past her husband and baby during an emotional outburst escalated by the maternal mental illness, and Barnes' hurdles brought on by postpartum depression continue in the next season.

People reported Barnes' storyline was planned long before Panettiere sought help, but the actress hasn't shied away from discussing health issues since she gave birth to her daughter, Kaya, in late 2014.

In particular, Panettiere appeared on "Live! With Kelly and Michael" to discuss stigmas surrounding post-birth issues mothers grapple with, Morgan Shanahan wrote for BuzzFeed.

Barnes' troubles "hit close to home" for Panettiere, Shanahan reported.

"Theres a lot of misunderstanding," Panettiere said on "Live! With Kelly and Michael." "Theres a lot of people out there that think that its not real, that it's not true, that it's something that's made up in their minds, that 'Oh, it's hormones.' They brush it off. Its something that's completely uncontrollable. It's really painful and it's really scary and women need a lot of support."

Though people are noting parallels between Panettiere and Barnes, she's more like her character Claire Bennet in the show "Heroes" because of her willingness to be open about postpartum depression, Tara Haelle wrote for Forbes.

Panettiere might lack the "cell-rejuvenating" skills Bennet possessed but she's a different type of hero for letting other moms know they aren't alone, Haelle reported.

If Panettiere found help, maybe others will too, which is crucial.

"Not seeking help can be dangerous even fatal," Haelle's piece read. "Approximately 1 to 2 out of 1,000 women will experience postpartum psychosis, an even more serious condition that requires immediate treatment and does risk causing harm to the woman herself, her baby, or other members of her family."
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