Hayden Panettieres Heartbreaking Custody Decision for Kaya

Hayden Panettiere spoke candidly about the 'heartbreaking' decision to give up custody of her daughter amid struggles with addiction and postpartum .

The actress, 36, , now 11, to ex-fiance , 50, back in 2018. Her daughter currently lives in Europe with the former professional boxer while Panettiere resides in the United States.

The Nashville star revealed she 'desperately' needed help at the time and insisted that Kaya does not feel 'abandoned' while appearing on Monday's episode of the On Purpose with Jay Shetty podcast.

'The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be okay with it is heartbreaking. Couldn't be further from the truth,' Panettiere said.

'I was struggling with mental health and anxiety and postpartum and having to act my way through it, and just feeling like I completely lost myself,' she added.

Panettiere - who also spoke of being at just 18 - said that she was spiraling in her personal life and that it was her idea to seek help.   

'A misconception is that I have been in the past forced into treatment, when in fact I have been the one who sought it out, who was saying I desperately need help. I know that this is going to look terrible, but I cannot live like this.'

As for her current relationship with Kaya, Panettiere said they have a strong bond and that they see each other frequently.

Elsewhere in the interview Panettiere fought back tears as she relived a traumatic experience which saw her put in bed with a 'very famous man' when she was aged just 18; Seen in 2005