Dancer Christina Hänni Opens up About Postpartum Mental Health Struggles
A candid social media post from dancer Christina Hänni reveals a year-long battle with mental health challenges following the birth of her daughter, offering a powerful message of self-compassion to new mothers.
Christina Hänni, wife of singer Luca Hänni, is known for presenting a picture of family bliss on social media and through their joint podcast, “Don’t Worry, Be Hänni.” The couple, who are fiercely protective of their daughter’s privacy, often share glimpses of their family life. Though, a recent Instagram post unveiled a deeply personal struggle that unfolded behind the scenes.
For over a year after giving birth, the 35-year-old felt profoundly disconnected and overwhelmed. “My thoughts were in a tunnel, like under water, for over a year,” she shared with her followers. This sensation manifested as a feeling of mental absence, a disconnect from her surroundings, and an inability to prioritize anything beyond her daughter’s needs. “I listened and yet didn’t listen… Was calm and actually not relaxed at all… I took everything far too much to heart and wasn’t ready for anything that didn’t concern my daughter,” she explained.
Hänni admitted to feeling unlike herself in the months following the birth, acknowledging that the idealized expectation of an immediate return to normalcy simply didn’t align with her experience. “Maybe for some people it will work straight away… the child comes out and I’m back to my old self and off we go… obviously not for me,” she stated. A notable contributor to this struggle was the immense pressure she placed on herself to excel in her new role as a mother.
“I was so focused on doing justice to this new role that I had no capacity for myself or anything else,” Hänni revealed. While she readily addressed the physical demands of postpartum recovery, she considerably underestimated the mental toll. She attempted to juggle motherhood, career, and personal time, but ultimately found herself lost in a “fog,” unable to fully engage with anything outside of her daughter’s care. “I achieved a lot, went back to work early and everything, except for the time with my daughter, disappeared into the fog,” she confessed.
Now, seventeen months after giving birth, Hänni reports that the fog is beginning to lift. “It’s onyl now that I really feel like myself again.” She hopes her story will resonate with other mothers who may be experiencing similar challenges, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and recognizing individual timelines for recovery. “Everyone has their own pace and I wasn’t able to admit that to myself. I hope this helps someone.”
Why did this happen? Christina Hänni experienced a prolonged period of disconnection and overwhelm following the birth of her daughter, stemming from the immense pressure she placed on herself to immediately excel in motherhood and a significant underestimation of the mental toll of postpartum recovery.
Who is involved? The primary individual involved is Christina Hänni,a dancer and wife of singer Luca Hänni. Her story impacts other new mothers who might potentially be experiencing similar struggles.
What occurred? Hänni battled mental health challenges for over a year after giving birth, characterized by a feeling of being “in a fog” and disconnected from her surroundings. She initially attempted to maintain her career and other commitments while caring for her daughter, but found herself unable to fully engage with anything outside of her daughter’s needs.
**How did it end?
