Nashville star and country singer Hayden Panettiere is seeking professional help for her postpartum depression.

Panettiere's rep tells People that the 26-year-old "is voluntarily seeking professional help at a treatment center, as she is currently battling postpartum depression. She asks that the media respect her privacy during this time."

Panettiere gave birth to her daughter Kaya in December, and in September, during an appearance on Live! With Kelly and Michael, she was very open about her struggles with postpartum depression, noting that she "can very much relate" to her Nashville character Juliette Barnes' struggle with PPD.

“When [you’re told] about postpartum depression, you think it’s, ‘I feel negative feelings towards my child, I want to injure or hurt my child,'” Panettiere says. “I’ve never, ever had those feelings. Some women do. But you don’t realize how broad of a spectrum you can really experience that on.

“It’s something that needs to be talked about,” she adds. “Women need to know that they’re not alone and that it does heal.

“There’s a lot of misunderstanding — there’s a lot of people out there that think that it’s not real, that it’s not true, that it’s something that’s made up in their minds, that, ‘Oh, it’s hormones.’ They brush it off,” Panettiere continues. “It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable. It’s really painful, and it’s really scary, and women need a lot of support.”

Panettiere and fiance Wladimir Klitschko are engaged, but they have not yet set a wedding date. There is no word on if Panettiere's treatment plans will affect her Nashville filming schedule.

The Boot sends our well wishes to Panettiere during this difficult time.

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