Alanis Morissette has revealed more details about her battle with postpartum depression, saying she had thoughts about “death and terrible things” and suffered from psychosis after the birth of her third child.
The tongue-in-cheek hitmaker, 52, shares Ever, 15, Onyx, 10, and Winter, 7, with husband Mario “Souleye” Treadaway, 46.
She talked about the trip during an interview on Call her daddy with pregnant host Alex Cooper, who asked her about the differences between depression and PPD.
“Unfortunately and fortunately, I already knew the depression part within PPD. It was all those other things,” Morissette said. ‘It was the invasive thoughts and the terror. All I could imagine was death and terrible things.’
According to Mayo Clinic and Postpartum Progress, PPD is a disorder among the group of diseases called perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
There may be problems bonding with the baby, enjoying motherhood, periods of anger or rage, sadness and crying.
Alanis Morissette, 52, says she had thoughts of “death and terrible things” and fell into psychosis amid her battle with postpartum depression; Seen in 2024
The tongue-in-cheek hitmaker shares Ever, 15, Onyx, 10, and Winter, 7, with husband Mario “Souleye” Treadaway, 46
There may also be a constant feeling of being overwhelmed, or possible thoughts of hurting yourself or running away and escaping.
Although she is now “happy,” Morissette told Cooper it was a “shame” to lose people’s trust in her mental health.
The star explained that people looked at her ‘differently’ out of concern.
“They looked at me like maybe I couldn’t be trusted or like I was going to freak out,” she continued. “And that’s not my thing.”
Morissette’s first child was born on Christmas Day in 2010 and her youngest arrived in August 2019.
Although she has experienced PPD with each pregnancy, she says it doesn’t get any easier.
“From my experience, any postpartum depression becomes more and more difficult,” she admitted. The star added that she “just wanted to meet my kids, so bad, so I kept going.”
She explained how she eventually lost touch with reality after the arrival of her third baby.
“From my experience, any postpartum depression becomes more and more difficult,” she said in an interview on Call Her Daddy with pregnant host Alex Cooper.
“I actually became a different person,” she continued. ‘There is a version of menopause, combined with depression, invasive thoughts that are so harrowing, terrible and incessant’
The Canadian-born artist recalled how she navigated her tour dates during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she was secretly struggling: Seen during a performance in 2025
She married Treadaway in 2010; The duo can be seen in an Instagram snap
Morissette was engaged to Ryan Reynolds for three years before they called it quits in 2007; The exes pictured in 2004
Join the discussion
How should society better support mothers dealing with serious postpartum issues, such as psychosis?
“I actually became a different person,” the musician continued. ‘All the hormones are flying in all directions. There is a version of menopause, combined with depression, invasive thoughts that are so harrowing, terrible and incessant.”
For that reason, Morissette also told the podcast host that she uses the term “postpartum activity” because it isn’t necessarily depression that causes the majority of symptoms.
“The first time I waited a year and two months,” she said of admitting she needed help. ‘The second time I waited eight months. And the third time I think I waited three days. I just thought, “Oh no, I’m not doing this again.” And I did it again.’
The Canadian-born artist recalled how she navigated her tour dates during the COVID-19 pandemic and managed to handle finances and remain a boss, but she was secretly struggling.
In reality, Morissette felt “completely out of control.”
“I still showed up. I went into psychosis,” she admitted. “It’s been a wild ride.”
She married Treadaway in 2010. She was also engaged to Ryan Reynolds for three years before they called it quits in 2007.
