Courtney Stodden is having a difficult time with her first pregnancy.
The former teenage bride — most famous for marrying character actor Doug Hutchison, who is 30-plus years her senior, when she was just 16 — revealed that she has been struggling with her mental health in recent months.
“I suffer from depression,” the expectant 21-year-old explained to Us Weekly. “My depression affects my appetite, sleeping patterns and overall perspective on life.”
Stodden is among the 14 to 23 percent of women who struggle with prenatal depression, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
“At times, I have severe insomnia and other times I find myself sleeping too much,” she continued. “I have feelings of hopelessness but experience many moments of absolute euphoria.”
As the TV personality navigates her roller coaster of emotions, she remains joyous about the couple’s first child together.
“I already love this baby so much,” she told the weekly magazine. “I just fear the thought of motherhood. It’s such an overwhelming responsibility and I want to be the very best mommy that I can possibly be.”
Stodden has tempered her anxiety with a combination of Xanax and writing.
“I’m working on a self-help book called ‘Blonde & Blue,’” she revealed. “It’s an explicit in-depth account of my saddest, darkest moment as well as my highs … My hope is by being painfully honest, my story can inspire others.”