Kris Bernal reveals she was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety: 'Nahirapan talaga ako'
Kris Bernal opened up about how challenging her motherhood journey was when she was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety, noting how she can no longer recognize her old self.
In her interview with the “King of Talk” Boy Abunda, the actress got real on her struggles after giving birth to her firstborn, Hailee Lucca.
“Sa totoo lang, nahirapan talaga ako Tito Boy. ‘Di ko in-expect na ganito kahirap,” she began. "I was enjoying the whole time being pregnant, pero hindi ko alam na ang hirap pala pag nanganak ka na," she added.
Kris shared that apart from "crying spells," she no longer has the time and energy to take care of herself.
“[Wala na akong panahon] para magsuklay, kumain, maligo—’yung skin care ko, wala na, nakalimutan ko na," Kris said. She went on to share how painful and long the recovery is after her caesarian delivery.
“Nahirapan talaga ako,” she lamented. “Everything stopped—I stopped vlogging, yung social media ko wala ka nang makikita kasi nga parang nagbago talaga ‘yung mundo ko," she explained.
She added that while her daughter is an “easy baby” to take care of, the motherhood journey was deemed challenging with all the changes she had to go through.
"Parang feel ko bagong tao ako. Talagang I can no longer recognize my old self. Wala na—the things that I used to love," she tearfully said.
“I love myself now, pero may hinahanap pa ‘ko sa dati kong sarili,” she continued.
Being a new mom, Kris shared that she’s in the phase of exploring her new self with all the new things she learns and does over time.
"It's really not easy," she said, revealing she was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety.
"I was diagnosed with postpartum anxiety kasi nahirapan talaga ako mag-adjust. Pero so far, it's getting better, okay naman,” she said.
Despite the challenges, the Last Prince star said that being a mother is one of the most beautiful things that has happened in her life.
"This doesn't mean I'm not grateful," she stressed. "Na hindi ko gusto 'tong journey ko. Ito yung masasabi kong pinakamagandang nangyari sa buhay ko, pero hindi natin maiiwasan na may pinagdadaanang postpartum,” she continued.
The actress first opened up about her struggles as a new mom in October 2023, sharing how she cries "every day," noting how her frustration levels "are always high" and that her emotions have been "all over" the place.
Kris announced her pregnancy in March 2023 via a movie-themed maternity shoot titled When Two Become Three and welcomed her daughter in August of the same year.
She got engaged to Perry Choi in February 2020. They tied the knot in September 2021.