Mariah Antetokounmpo Opens Up About Her Struggle with Postpartum Depression
Mariah Antetokounmpo, the spouse of NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo, is sharing a personal battle with fans of the basketball player.
“Opening up about vulnerability can be daunting today, but if my story can help even one individual, then I find it worthwhile to share,” Mariah expressed via Instagram on Sunday, September 28. She revealed that she faced postpartum depression after welcoming their fourth child, Aria Capri.
“I’m not sharing my story for sympathy or recognition — I’m doing this to leverage my platform to assist others who might be grappling with their mental health,” she continued. “After four kids, you’d think I have everything figured out — but I don’t. There’s no real preparation for becoming a mother, especially a mother of four. While childbirth was the most physically demanding experience I’ve gone through, battling my mental health has proven to be just as daunting. I managed to cope with PPD during our first child; however, I wasn’t truly ready for what awaited me this time.”
Mariah, 33, confessed that she started experiencing anxiety “even before I gave birth,” adding that “my mind somehow convinced me that I had a terminal illness which would keep me from watching my children grow up. Panic attacks intensified, and my dependence on internet searches as a diagnostic tool pushed me into the darkest of places.”
Mariah described the birth of Capri as “smooth,” noting that the baby was healthy, and she called their “fourth baby the sweetest little angel I’ve ever seen.”
However, shortly after her daughter’s arrival, she explained that her “mental health took a nosedive — and the dark thoughts began to resurface.”
Instead of seeking help, Mariah shared that she retreated inward.
“I found comfort in isolating myself and concealing what I was experiencing,” she noted. “Like many mothers, I did my best to hold it together for my children and my husband. In hindsight, turning to my family was what truly kept me afloat. I wasn’t myself; I was present for my family, but my mind was elsewhere.”
Although Mariah concealed her struggles “for several months,” she ultimately chose to share her story as “one step in my healing journey.” As she expressed, “this honesty feels incredibly liberating.”
Mariah also shared a collection of photos, including one of her smiling, another of her kissing a smiling Capri on the cheek, and a third of herself and Giannis laughing while trying to take a selfie.
Besides Capri, Mariah and Giannis are also parents to sons Liam and Maverick, as well as daughter Eva. The couple began dating in 2014 after meeting in Las Vegas during the NBA Summer League, where Mariah interned for two summers after graduating from Rice University.
Mariah and Giannis were in a relationship for 10 years before marrying in September 2024.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
