Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins Talk Postpartum Depression
By Movieguide® Contributor
In a June 13 episode of the LIVE IN LOVE WITH LAUREN AKINS podcast, country star Thomas Rhett and his wife discussed their experience with postpartum depression.
Akins shared a snippet of the podcast on her Instagram and wrote, “We are so excited! #LiveInLove is back for Season 3! Find it on your favorite podcast app, subscribe today, and get ready for some really helpful, fun, important, and inspiring conversations! Tell your people- we’re back! 🙌🏼♥️”
In November 2021, their youngest daughter, Lillie, was born and Akins was diagnosed with postpartum depression.
TODAY reported of Akins, “After Ada James, our marriage had a falling apart. After Lennon, the world had a falling apart. After Lillie, I had a falling apart.”
Rhett then remembered his own emotions and how he could have affected his wife.
“After Lillie, I do remember it was scary for me and there’s not many people you can talk to about that because you don’t want it to sound like you’re gossiping behind your wife’s back,” Rhett said. “It’s not like you want to call a buddy and be like, ‘Hey, my wife is acting super strange.'”
“Lifeless is not the right word, but along the lines of dull,” Rhett continued. “It felt like a hopeless place for me.”
Akins explained that counseling with her husband and confiding in friends and family helped her find the problem.
“In the back of my mind, I was like, ‘This is not normal,’” she said. “I have experienced birthing children before and I’ve not felt this.”
She continued, “Having that community that you know, and trust is crucial because then you know that they are coming from such a place of truth and loving you (that) you don’t get offended by very much.”
“We had a lot of people walk through that with us and I’m grateful for all of those people,” she concluded.
Akins has been open about how her faith has sustained her throughout the years.
“I cannot believe God gave me you three precious angels to raise on earth. My heart could explode just thinking about how much I love each of you girls,” Akins said.
“It is very evident to me that the Lord is just like, ‘hey you don’t want to do this sometimes, but you’re just gonna have to suck it up, because this is what you’re supposed to be doing, and so just keep doing it,’” Akins explained. “There are so many good things that come from that and we try to always see the positives in that and trusting that for whatever reason, God has this faith in us to carry out whatever purpose that is, and that makes me feel good to know that He is walking us through it and that we are doing it for His glory, and not ours.”
Rhett continues to tour the country and receive endless love and support from his family while he is away.
He posted on his Instagram a piece of artwork made by his kids which wrote, “We are so proud of you daddy!”
Rhett captioned the Instagram post, “My team trying to make me cry first night of tour… sheesh.”
