Christina Perri on Postpartum Depression and Being a Working Mom: 'My Entire Life Changed'

Christina Perriis getting real about her life as a mom.

In this week’s issue of PEOPLE, the “Jar of Hearts” singer, 32, opens up aboutwelcoming her first child, her transition back to work — and dealing with postpartum depression.

Christina Perri and daughter Carmella.Emily Winiker

“My whole entire life changed,” Perri says. “The first nine months, the fact that I got to spend every millisecond with her meant the world to me. I know how lucky I am. A lot of women can’t do that. I did not take it for granted.”

Once she’d adjusted to parenthood, though, the star was ready to flex her creative muscle again.

“Carmella’s my favorite person to sing for. I thought, Wouldn’t it be cool if I could tiptoe back into being an artist?” says Perri, who began putting togetherSongs for Carmellalast fall.

The singer says life, of course, is different now that she’s a working mom.

Perri’s journey as a mother hasn’t always been easy, though. The artist — who has been open about managing depression and anxiety — reveals she dealt with postpartum depression late last year.

“That got me the hardest when I stopped breastfeeding around Christmas. I was so sad and so dark,” Perri says. “We’re almost made to pretend it’s not happening, like, ‘It’s fine. I’ve got this.’ ”

After sharing her struggle on social media, Perri says more than 15,000 mothers reached out over Instagram, sending messages of support.

Nathan Congleton/NBC/Getty

“What really helped was talking about it,” she says. “It was just overwhelming. It made me feel so much better. All the women said ‘me too, me too, me too’ and really got me through it. I’ve got my mommy tribe that got bigger because of that.”

Now happy and healthy, Perri is looking forward to what’s next.

For more on Christina Perri’s life as a mom, pick up the latest issue ofPEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

source: people.com