Let’s talk about something real. Alyssa Milano, a star who’s been on our screens for years, is stepping into the spotlight not just as an actress but as a voice for mental health awareness. With May marking Mental Health Awareness Month, Alyssa’s sharing her own story of living with postpartum anxiety—a reality shared by 40 million Americans. This isn’t just about her; it’s about shining a light on the struggles of mental illness and making sure every American has access to the healthcare they deserve.
A Mother’s Journey: Alyssa’s Battle with Anxiety
In a heartfelt essay for TIME, Alyssa Milano, now 45, recounts her mental health journey that began with the birth of her first son, Milo. It was a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. Two years before Milo’s arrival, Alyssa suffered a miscarriage, an experience that no parent should endure. But this pregnancy seemed to be going smoothly—until the final stretch. Ten days before her due date, complications arose, throwing everything into chaos.
View this post on Instagram"Ah, the joy of suckling! She lovingly watched the fishlike motions of the toothless mouth and she imagined that with her milk there flowed into her little son her deepest thoughts, concepts, and dreams." ~Milan Kundera
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Alyssa had dreams of a natural birth—no induction, no medication. But the complications forced her doctors to induce labor, administer an epidural, and perform a C-section. It was the opposite of what she wanted, and that’s when her first anxiety attack hit—on the very first night she brought her newborn son home.
“I Felt Like I Had Already Disappointed My Child”
“I felt like I had already disappointed my child,” Alyssa wrote. “I felt like I failed as a mother because I couldn’t give birth vaginally or nourish him with breast milk that hadn’t come in yet. My heart raced. My stomach seized up. I felt like I was dying.”
Things didn’t get easier. A few months later, when Milo developed a high fever and suffered a febrile seizure, the “paralyzing anxiety” returned. Alyssa was supposed to start work on a TV show the following week. “No, no, no, I thought to myself. This can’t be happening again. I don’t have time for this,” she recalled.
View this post on InstagramNap time #selfie in mama's bed… #nomakeup
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The Weight of Guilt and Fear
While filming the show, Alyssa developed “irrational and obsessive fears.” She explained, “Like many working moms, I was overwhelmed by guilt for leaving my son during work hours, and like many others who suffer from anxiety, my pain was not taken seriously.” One doctor dismissed her symptoms, and her colleagues couldn’t understand her inner torment.
“Every day, I would drive to work and think about all the ways that Milo could die in the hands of his caretakers,” she explained. “Every night, after working 16-hour days, after I was finally able to hold my child and put him to sleep, my day’s anxiety would culminate into a debilitating anxiety attack.”
View this post on InstagramHappy Mother’s Day! Breakfast in bed and covered in sweet kisses.
Seeking Help and Finding Hope
Eventually, Alyssa reached her breaking point. One night at 2 a.m., she checked into an emergency room and asked to be committed to a public psychiatric ward. “At last, I began to feel as if my pain was recognized, but it wasn’t easy,” she wrote. She later sought the help of a psychiatrist and a therapist, finding the support she needed to move forward.
“Here’s the thing about mental illnesses: you don’t always look sick, and the answers are not always clear or black-and-white… And if you see me on the street, please come tell me that I am not alone,” Alyssa wrote.
For more information on mental illness or to find support, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness website.
