Even celebrities aren’t immune to the intense, often invisible anxieties of early motherhood. Jennifer Lawrence, the Oscar-winning star of The Hunger Games, has spoken candidly about the postpartum anxiety she experienced after the birth of her second child, a struggle many new moms silently endure.

“I just thought every time he was sleeping he was dead,” Lawrence told The New Yorker on Monday. “I thought he cried because he didn’t like his life, or me, or his family. I thought I was doing everything wrong, and that I would ruin my children.”

Lawrence, who has two sons with husband Cooke Maroney, described a moment that highlights just how isolating postpartum anxiety can feel. She found herself crying while asking ChatGPT for breastfeeding advice, and was comforted by the AI’s response: “You’re doing the most amazing thing for your baby. You’re such a loving mother. The interaction left her questioning whether any reassurance from real people could feel as sincere.

Related: Jennifer Lawrence says postpartum made her feel “like an alien”—as a new mom, I get it

Medical support made a difference

For Lawrence, medical support also played a key role. She took Zurzuvae, an oral medication approved by the FDA in 2023 for postpartum depression, and credited it with easing her symptoms.

Reflecting on her experiences, she noted a marked difference between her first and second postpartum periods: “I had a worse postpartum with my second, but the first time the only thing I was at war with was the rest of the world,” she shared with The New Yorker.

Experts emphasize that Lawrence’s experience is far from unusual. According to what Mayra Mendez, a psychotherapist shared with Business Insider, postpartum anxiety occurs when normal worries become overwhelming and start interfering with daily life. “Unlike postpartum depression, which is marked by sadness, irritability, and fatigue, postpartum anxiety often shows up as constant worry, hypervigilance, and intrusive thoughts,” Mendez explained.

According to AAP aligned guidance, postpartum depression typically presents with symptoms such as persistent sadness, low energy and diminished interest in daily activities. In contrast, postpartum anxiety more often centres on intense and ongoing worry, racing thoughts or physical symptoms such as restlessness or a pounding heart.

The two conditions can coexist, but anxiety often focuses on what might happen, a state of hyper-vigilance or fear for the baby’s safety, even when everything appears normal.

The invisible nature of anxiety

The National University Health System Singapore notes that this kind of anxiety can feel invisible and isolating because it doesn’t always match the stereotypical image of postpartum depression.

Lawrence described the sensation during a Cannes press conference as “extremely isolating… you feel like an alien.” Her story also highlights a growing cultural shift: when reassurance from family, friends, or healthcare providers feels scarce, new mothers are increasingly turning to technology for comfort.

While AI like ChatGPT isn’t a substitute for professional support, it can offer a moment of validation that helps break the cycle of self-doubt.

Related: Jennifer Lawrence opens up about experiencing miscarriages and D&C in new interview

A message of hope for mothers

For mothers navigating postpartum anxiety, the takeaway is clear: help is real, help works, and no one is alone. Whether through therapy, medication, support networks, or even a quick message to a chatbot, reaching out can make the invisible struggle a little more manageable, and remind every parent that feeling fear or doubt doesn’t mean they are failing.

Source:

  1. The New Yorker. 2025. “Jennifer Lawrence Goes Dark”
  2. Business Insider. 2020. “What to know about postpartum anxiety and how it goes beyond typical new baby worries.”
  3. FDA. 2023. “FDA Approves First Oral Treatment for Postpartum Depression.”
  4. AAP. 2023. “Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).”
  5. NUHS. 2022. “Postpartum depression, anxiety, and baby blues: What’s the difference?”