Adele on her postnatal depression: 'I was obsessed with my child'

Specifically, the fiercely private star spoke candidly about her experience with postnatal depression in a new interview with Vanity Fair, when asked if she wanted to have a second child.

“I’m too scared," she said. "I had really bad postnatal depression after I had my son, and it frightened me.”

“I didn’t talk to anyone about it. I was very reluctant... My boyfriend said I should talk to other women who were pregnant, and I said, ‘F**k that, I ain’t hanging around with a f****n’ bunch of mothers.’

“Then, without realising it, I was gravitating towards pregnant women and other women with children, because I found they’re a bit more patient."

She also admitted to something many of us will understand: not really knowing the different ways PND can manifest itself...

“My knowledge of [postnatal depression] is that you don’t want to be with your child; you’re worried you might hurt your child; you’re worried you weren’t doing a good job. But I was obsessed with my child.

“I felt very inadequate; I felt like I’d made the worst decision of my life... it can come in many different forms.”

And while she says she didn’t take any anti-depressants for her PND, she did carve out some time for herself in her new mum schedule.

“Eventually I just said, I’m going to give myself an afternoon a week, just to do whatever the f**k I want without my baby. A friend of mine said, ‘Really? Don’t you feel bad?’ I said, I do, but not as bad as I’d feel if I didn’t do it.

“It makes you a better mum if you give yourself a better time.”

Adele also admitted that while she’s enjoying being back at work, she does still feel guilty she's not tending to Angelo 100% of the time… even though she’s able to have Angelo with her on tour.

“I’m enjoying touring, but at times I feel guilty because I’m doing this massive tour, and even though my son is with me all the time, on certain nights I can’t put him to bed.”

We aren't popstars (sadly) so we can't really relate to the demands of being on tour… but we do know those pangs of guilt all too well. And the desire to have a little alone time every once in a while.

There’s not much we need to add here - other than it’s amazing to have someone with Adele’s influence talking about issues that affect so many of us.

?

Read more

• Essential guide to dealing with PND
• Adele says her womb is 'aching' for baby no 2
• The weird craving Adele had during pregnancy