That camping trip your family still talks about? Science says it’s worth more than any toy under the tree.
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wife is opening up about her “silent battle” with postpartum depression.
On Sept. 28, Mariah Antetokounmpo — who has been married to the NBA superstar since 2024, per People — took to Instagram to share her “scary and lonely” postpartum story as a mom of four.
At the start of her letter, she said that sharing her story isn’t about sympathy or accolades.
“Being vulnerable nowadays is kind of scary, but if I can help just one person, I believe sharing my story is worth it,” she wrote, adding that her message can be applied to anyone struggling with mental health.
The couple welcomed their first child — a son named Liam — on Feb. 10, 2020, according to People.
Their second son Maverick was born on Aug. 18, 2021, followed by their two daughters Eva, born on Sept. 14, 2023, and Aria, whose birth was announced on May 1.
In her letter, she described childbirth as the “most physically painful thing my body has endured.”
“Battling my mental health has proven just as challenging. I survived postpartum depression with our firstborn, but I truly wasn’t ready for what was to come this time around,” she added.
Though her battle began with no symptoms, her postpartum anxiety quickly turned into panic attacks.
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“My reliance on the internet as a diagnostic tool sent me into the darkest of spirals,” she wrote. “I have an incredible village in my corner, but I felt too afraid and ashamed of this side of myself to reach out.”
By the time the “blissful honeymoon stage of welcoming a new baby” ended, her symptoms worsened.
“I shut everything and everyone out,” she continued. “Like every mom, I held it together the best I could for my kids and my husband. Looking back, leaning on my family is what truly kept me afloat.”
“It’s a scary and lonely feeling to be physically there, but mentally somewhere else,” she added.
Mariah says she’s still “struggling” more than four months postpartum, but telling her story is “freeing” and a major “step in my healing journey.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo’s wife reveals what she has learned from her battle
Postpartum depression is defined as any type of depression that happens after childbirth.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 12.5% of women with a recent live birth reported symptoms of postpartum depression — a rate that appears to be increasing each year.
PPD is not to be confused with “baby blues,” which lasts a few days to a week postpartum.
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Common symptoms of postpartum depression include mood swings, crying, withdrawal, tiredness, lack of interest, changes in appetite, difficulty sleeping, irritability and hopelessness, per the Mayo Clinic.
While opening up about her battle with PPD, Mariah Antetokounmpo shared what she has learned.
“I’ve learned to be vulnerable with the people who love me, and that I don’t have to be afraid of being a ‘burden,’ no matter what they may be going through,” she wrote.
“Pain is pain — and whatever weighs heavy on your heart matters.”
She also learned about the importance of mental health and how to prioritize herself (without guilt), even if that means asking for help.
“I’ve learned that I can’t do everything on my own, and that it’s okay to ask for help,” she added.
She ended her letter with a message to anyone dealing with something similar.
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“You are not alone. There are people in your corner — some you may not even know yet. Let’s work together to uplift those around us. You truly never know what someone is carrying inside,” she wrote.
