Mom Breaks: Science and Stories of Postpartum Psychosis

Laura's Lived Experience: Truman Show Delusions, Channeling Nostradamus, and Growing as a Therapist after Postpartum Psychosis

In this episode, Laura reflects on her experience as both a survivor of postpartum psychosis and perinatal mental health provider. Following a painful birth, breastfeeding challenges, and a cycle of sleeplessness, her reality began to blur. She became convinced she was uncovering hidden abusers, predicting the future, and protecting her hospital from an active shooter—delusions that felt entirely real in the moment. Laura shares what postpartum psychosis felt like from the inside, how she and her family navigated hospitalization and recovery, and how this experience has shaped her work in private practice. We discuss how postpartum psychosis does not discriminate, the role of therapy, and the importance of not minimizing our experiences and instead using them to highlight the serious nature of postpartum psychosis. Resources * Laura's Private Practice – Movemeant for Change [https://www.movemeantforchange.com/] * PSI Conference Talk – How Do We Keep Missing This: Postpartum Psychosis Myths Hindering Detection [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhjS6V6U6k0] * PSI Helpline [https://postpartum.net/get-help/psi-helpline/]: 1-800-944-4773 * PSI Provider Directory [https://psidirectory.com/] Citations 1. Bergink, V., & Burgerhout, K. (2015, February). Treatment of psychosis and mania in the postpartum period. [https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.ajp.2014.13121652]Treatment in Psychiatry. 2. Toor, R., & Wiese, M. (2024). Postpartum psychosis: A preventable psychiatric emergency [https://psychiatryonline.org/doi/pdf/10.1176/appi.focus.20230025]. Psychiatry Online.

Bridget’s Breakthrough: Anxiety to Paranoia, the Infamous Car Wash, and Recovery after Undiagnosed Postpartum Psychosis

Bridget is a health coach, mother of two, and maternal mental health advocate. In this conversation, she shares her experience with undiagnosed postpartum psychosis following the birth of her second child in 2013, which unfolded during the early postpartum period while she was on maternity leave. Although she sought support and received treatment for postpartum anxiety and depression, the more severe symptoms—including paranoia, delusional thinking, and a disconnect from reality—were not recognized at the time as postpartum psychosis. Her experience eventually resolved without hospitalization, but left her with many questions. It wasn’t until years later that Bridget learned there was a name for what she had experienced. Together, we discuss how difficult it can be to recognize postpartum psychosis with waxing and waning symptoms, the fear and uncertainty that can surround seeking higher levels of care, and the importance of talking openly about mental health and suicide prevention. Resources: * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline [https://988lifeline.org] (US) — Call or text 988 * International suicide hotline directory [https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines] * U.S. Maternal Mental Health Hotline [https://mchb.hrsa.gov/national-maternal-mental-health-hotline] — Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA Citations: 1. Gould, M., & Marrocco, F. (2005, April 6). Evaluating iatrogenic risk of youth suicide screening programs: A randomized controlled trial. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15811983/]JAMA. 2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). 5 action steps to help someone having thoughts of suicide. [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/5-action-steps-to-help-someone-having-thoughts-of-suicide?utm_source=chatgpt.com] National Institute of Mental Health.

My Reflections: A Pause for Patterns from Partner & Family Conversations

After six conversations with spouses and family members affected by postpartum psychosis, I wanted to pause and reflect on the patterns that emerged across these stories—from sleeplessness and behavioral changes to the uncertainty families face in recognizing when something is wrong and figuring out how to get help. In this solo episode, I reflect on what happens after the crisis: the challenges of navigating care, the transition home from hospitalization, and the role family members play in recovery. Along the way, I discuss research on family dynamics in psychosis, evidence supporting counseling after traumatic births, and a few ideas for how we can build better systems of support for postpartum families moving forward. If you find value in these conversations, please follow the show wherever you're listening. I'd also love to have you join me on Substack [https://mombreakspodcast.substack.com/], to hear episode updates, resources, and reflections between releases. Citations 1. Dekel, S., Papadakis, J. E., Quagliarini, B., Pham, C. T., Pacheco-Barrios, K., Hughes, F., Jagodnik, K. M., & Nandru, R. (2023, December 18). Preventing posttraumatic stress disorder following childbirth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11168224/]American journal of obstetrics and gynecology. 2. Verma, M., Bagul, K. R., Gangwal, R., Rastogi, P., Mudgal, V., & Singh, A. (2025, April 23). Expressed emotions in families of patients with bipolar disorder. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12101606/] Cureus. 3. Williamson, E., & Pipeva, A. (2021, November). The Birth Trauma Psychological Therapy Service: An audit of outcomes - sciencedirect. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0266613821001790] ScienceDirect. Resources: * National Maternal Mental Health Hotline - Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA * 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call or text 988 * National Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741 * Postpartum Support International HelpLine (non emergencies) - Call or text 1-800-944-4773

An Intense Birth, NICU Sleeplessness, and a Diagnosis Without Treatment: Clint on the Need for Postpartum Psychosis Protocols

Clint shares his family’s experience with postpartum psychosis after the birth of their first child. Following a long and difficult labor that ended in a hospital transfer and NICU stay for their newborn, Clint found himself trying to make sense of rapidly escalating symptoms in his wife, Courtney — a chiropractor with a solid understanding of the human body and no psychiatric history. In this conversation, Clint reflects on the confusion of navigating a psychiatric emergency with little guidance, what it was like bringing home a wife still actively psychotic after hospital discharge, and the lasting impact the experience had on their family. He also shares how faith, advocacy, and the birth of their second child became part of a deeply healing chapter in their lives. You can follow Courtney’s advocacy and educational work around postpartum mental health on Instagram at @drcourtneywinter [https://www.instagram.com/p/DVEpKeZEoPG/]. Trigger warning: this episode includes discussion of suicide attempt and a family story involving schizophrenia and homicide shared in the context of recognizing delusional behavior. Resources: * Courtney’s PP Resource Guide [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p4jGk5dr0NpRi2rvFYOx3BAlzYe6-nxU/view] * Postpartum Psychosis: a guide for partners [https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/media/filer_public/2e/09/2e095442-4ebf-4e5b-b9c9-65ebb577f0f0/postpartum-psychosis-a-guide-for-partners.pdf] * PSI Support Group - Family Members [https://postpartum.net/group/support-for-families-touched-by-postpartum-psychosis-ppp/] Citations: 1. Bruce, M. J., & Weaver, T. L. (2021, December 27). Testing cognitive models to characterize trauma anniversary reactions marked by stress and growth. [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34955071/] PubMed. 2. Chaney, L. (2024, October 1). Treatment of postpartum psychosis in breastfeeding females. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11451898/#i2168-9709-14-5-277-b04] The mental health clinician. 3. Xia, M., Wang, J., & Liang, Y. (2022, July 1). Association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression: A meta-analysis [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35460745/]. Journal of affective disorders.

Grief, Loss, and an Invisible Postpartum Mental Illness: Polly and Frank on Advocacy After Tragedy

In this episode, we speak with Polly and Frank, advocates who have turned profound loss into a commitment to raising awareness about postpartum mental illness. In 2018, their daughter Mary Jo, along with her husband and newborn daughter, died in a tragedy they have since come to understand as the result of postpartum psychosis. Since then, Polly and Frank have spoken openly about the complexity and invisibility of severe postpartum illness, including how symptoms can be missed even in supportive, attentive families. Through their work with Postpartum Support International and their church community in St. Louis, they continue to advocate for earlier recognition, access to care, and treatment. Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide, homicide, infanticide, and gun violence. If you are in a sensitive postpartum period or feeling emotionally vulnerable, you may want to listen at another time. This conversation includes discussion of an uncommon and devastating outcome associated with postpartum psychosis. Research indicates that infanticide occurs in a very small minority of untreated cases. Most people who experience postpartum psychosis are not violent, and the condition is highly treatable, particularly with timely care and support. Resources: * Postpartum Support International - Get Help [https://postpartum.net/get-help/] Citations: 1. Alford, A. Y., Riggins, A. D., Chopak-Foss, J., Cowan, L. T., Nwaonumah, E. C., Oloyede, T. F., Sejoro, S. T., & Kutten, W. S. (2024, September 2). A systematic review of postpartum psychosis resulting in infanticide: Missed opportunities in screening, diagnosis, and treatment [https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00737-024-01508-3] - archives of Women’s Mental Health. SpringerLink. 2. Evans, C., Kreppner, J., & Lawrence, P. J. (2022, June 28). The association between Maternal Perinatal Mental Health and perfectionism: A systematic review and meta-analysis [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9796248/]. The British journal of clinical psychology. 3. Pfeifer, S. (1994, September). Belief in demons and exorcism in psychiatric patients in Switzerland [https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.2044-8341.1994.tb01794.x]. PubMed. 4. Wittkowski, A. (2017, February 3). The relationship between postpartum depression and beliefs about motherhood and perfectionism during pregnancy [https://openaccesspub.org/jwrh/article/422] - OpenAccessPub.