Mom Breaks: Science and Stories of Postpartum Psychosis

Meg
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Mental Health

What happens when motherhood collides with a mental health crisis that even doctors struggle to recognize? Postpartum psychosis is a mental health condition that is said to affect about 1–2 in every 1,000 births. This is less common than other mental health conditions - though with 130–140 million births worldwide each year, we’re talking about 130,000–364,000 new cases annually. Across years, as many as 4 million survivors of postpartum psychosis may be living today - yet too often, our stories go unheard. We're creating space to hear those stories. In this podcast, we explore postpartum psychosis in all its complexity - our researched understanding as well as human experiences. We'll weave perspectives into an honest, compassionate conversation - making space for both the heaviness and the hope. We bring together: Survivors who’ve lived through the stormResearchers uncovering what we know (and what we still don’t)Clinicians on the frontlines of carePartners and loved ones who witnessed the unthinkable Here, we normalize Mom Breaks - both the psychotic kind no one asks for, and the everyday kind everyone needs. A delusion I had during my psychosis was that I could reach an altered state where I wouldn’t have to care for myself at all, and could endlessly serve others. The truth - the cure, in many ways - is the opposite. We all need breaks. The small, regular pauses we build into our days and family routines are just as relevant as the bigger, harder interruptions that force us to stop. Mom Breaks remind us that caring for ourselves is not selfish—it’s what allows us to thrive and care for the people we love. We’re here to shine light, offer understanding, and remind each other that nobody has to walk this path alone. If you’ve lived it, love someone who has, or simply believe these stories need to be heard - welcome.

  1. 2d ago

    The What, Why, How & Who of Postpartum Psychosis: Frequently Asked Questions

    What exactly is postpartum psychosis? How is it classified in the ICD and DSM, and what do we know about why it happens? In this episode, Julia and I – with our shared love of neuroscience and empirical research – talk through the “basics” of postpartum psychosis after digging into the literature together. We discuss genetics, sleep, hormones, brain imaging, and other factors researchers are investigating – plus what we know about risk, proactive treatment for people who are at risk, and ways to support people without a prior history of mental illness. And then there’s recovery: What does the research tell us about treatment and timelines? What helps people rebuild and make sense of what happened? And where are the biggest gaps in what we know? We are two survivors of postpartum psychosis sharing what we’ve learned from the research and our own experiences. This episode is for informational purposes and is not medical advice; please discuss medical questions with a qualified healthcare provider. Resources: Mom Breaks SubstackCitations Bergink et al (2026, May 1). Postpartum psychosis and bipolar disorder: Review of Neurobiology and Expert Consensus Statement on Classification. Biological psychiatry.Borghare, P. T., Methwani, D. A., & Pathade, A. G. (2024, August 5). A comprehensive review on harnessing wearable technology for enhanced depression treatment. Cureus.Engqvist, I., & Nilsson, K. (2014, February 21). The recovery process of postpartum psychosis from both the woman’s and next of Kin’s perspective - an interview study in Sweden. The open nursing journal.McKenna et al (2026, April 15). Postpartum psychosis is associated with elevated neuromelanin-MRI signal in the midbrain. Nature News.Sambataro, F., Cattarinussi, G., Lawrence, A., Biaggi, A., & Fuste, M. (2021, May 12). Altered dynamics of the prefrontal networks are associated with the risk for postpartum psychosis: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study | translational psychiatry. Translational Psychiatry.

    The What, Why, How & Who of Postpartum Psychosis: Frequently Asked Questions

  2. Sep 11

    Kara’s Journey: Twin Angels, the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Emerging from a Cloud of Doom in Postpartum Psychosis

    Kara is a special education teacher, runner, and survivor of postpartum psychosis. She lives in Pennsylvania with her partner and daughters in a blended family — she and her partner each had a child from previous relationships, then together they welcomed twins. She shares how she went from never expecting to be a mom to a mom of four, as well as her experience with C-sections, twin pregnancy, the NICU, and navigating flu season with two newborns. We discuss how her postpartum psychosis began after her babies were born last year, as worries about repeat hospitalizations and a series of scares along the way developed into a delusional narrative that her babies had died. We also talk about breastfeeding and medication, self-compassion, making space to care for yourself through early parenthood, and what recovery looked like for Kara as she worked to make sense of her experience — including listening to Mom Breaks and recording voice memos to herself along the way. Resources: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US) — Call or text 988U.S. Maternal Mental Health Hotline — Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMACitations: Bornand, D., Toovey, S., Jick, S., & Meier, C. (2016, March 3). The risk of new onset depression in association with influenza – a population-based observational study - sciencedirect. ScienceDirect.Cimino, S., & Cerniglia, L. (2023, September 27). Breastfeeding apps: A descriptive report. Behavioral sciences.

    Kara’s Journey: Twin Angels, the Ghost of Christmas Past, and Emerging from a Cloud of Doom in Postpartum Psychosis

  3. Aug 31

    Shelby’s Story: Bathroom Crickets, Boiling Frogs, and the Whirlwind of Postpartum Psychosis

    Shelby joins us to share her experience with postpartum psychosis. A mental health counselor in Kentucky and mom of two, Shelby reflects on what first drew her to become a therapist, her experience with a miscarriage and depression, and navigating medication during a subsequent pregnancy and postpartum period. Despite trying different meds after giving birth, Shelby became manic and then psychotic. During her psychosis, she believed she was jumping between timelines—and, because of her professional background, was able to mask some of her symptoms even as they intensified. Shelby also reflects on how her experience has shaped her as a mental health counselor, deepening her empathy and compassion for others in similar situations. We talk about healing after postpartum psychosis, the role of medication in her experience, navigating a narcolepsy diagnosis, and more. Resources: Shelby’s Practice - Central Kentucky Counseling AssociatesCitations: Anderson, I. (1998, December 7). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors versus tricyclic antidepressants: a meta-analysis of efficacy and tolerability. ScienceDirect.Carr, C., Borges, D., Lewis, K., Heron, J., Wilson, S., Broome, M. R., Jones, I., Di Florio, A., & Morales-Muñoz, I. (2023, December 7). Sleep and postpartum psychosis: A narrative review of the existing literature. Journal of clinical medicine.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. The British journal of clinical psychology.Ross, L. E., Murray, B. J., & Steiner, M. (2005, July). Sleep and perinatal mood disorders: A critical review. Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN.Verstraete, L. (2025, January 30). Narcolepsy and psychiatric comorbidity: A review of the literature - sciencedirect. Elsevier.

    Shelby’s Story: Bathroom Crickets, Boiling Frogs, and the Whirlwind of Postpartum Psychosis

  4. Aug 17

    Bobbie’s Story: A Lion on the Savannah, Baby Robots, and Navigating Psychosis as a Neurologist

    Dr. Bobbie Decker is a neurologist, mom of two, and survivor of postpartum psychosis. Her work focuses on the ways reproductive hormonal changes intersect with neurological health, and her own experience with postpartum mental health has given her a personal perspective on the gaps in how we care for women. After the birth of her second child, Bobbie experienced postpartum OCD, depression, and psychosis. In this conversation, she shares what it was like to experience postpartum mental illness as a physician who specializes in the brain—and how surprisingly little she understood about postpartum disorders from her own medical training. Her story is a powerful reminder that postpartum psychosis can happen to anyone, including someone whose career is devoted to understanding the brain. We discuss what we understand—and don’t understand—about the postpartum brain, and how Bobbie’s experience has shaped the way she thinks about caring for women through pregnancy and postpartum. Resources: Bobbie’s Oped in USAToday Brain on Fire MovieCitations: Kate, S., Holt, R., & Puryear, L. (2023). Mental Health and placenta accreta spectrum : American Journal of Perinatology. Ovid. https://www.ovid.com/journals/ajper/abstract/10.1055/s-0043-1761913~mental-health-and-placenta-accreta-spectrum?redirectionsource=fulltextviewNonacs, R. (2022, January 19). Is preeclampsia a risk factor for postpartum psychiatric illness?. MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health. https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/is-preeclampsia-a-risk-factor-for-postpartum-psychiatric-illness/

    Bobbie’s Story: A Lion on the Savannah, Baby Robots, and Navigating Psychosis as a Neurologist

  5. Jul 13

    Julia’s Journey: Rearranging Furniture, Telepathic Connections, and Finding Answers After Postpartum Psychosis

    In this episode, Julia shares her experience with postpartum psychosis after the birth of her son in 2021. She takes us through her journey navigating care in the Netherlands—from early attempts to support her at home, to a general psychiatric unit, and ultimately to a Mother and Baby Unit. We discuss what it feels like to not grasp your own illness, navigate treatment and recovery, and make sense of life after the acute episode. Julia has a background in neuroscience and is currently completing her PhD in neuroimaging. She lives in Dubai, where she serves as an International Coordinator for Postpartum Support International. She is also a member of the PSI Postpartum Psychosis Task Force. Shortly after launching this podcast, Julia generously offered to help organize and review the growing body of relevant literature I've been gathering—a collaboration we plan to share more about in a future episode. Resources: Netherlands Crisis Resources:Emergency services: 112Suicide prevention line: 0800-0113Crisis hotline: 088 0767 000Postpartum Support InternationalCitations: Bahji, A., Sepehry, A., & Cabrera, C. (2019, March). ECT beyond unipolar major depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis of electroconvulsive therapy in Bipolar Depression. PubMed.Quevedo, J. (2024, July). The misrepresentation of electroconvulsive therapy in movies - Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. McGovern Medical School.

    Julia’s Journey: Rearranging Furniture, Telepathic Connections, and Finding Answers After Postpartum Psychosis

  6. Jul 2

    Motherhood, Mental Health, and the Courtroom: Dr. Diana Barnes on Expert Witness Work and Postpartum Psychosis

    Dr. Diana Barnes is a psychotherapist, educator, and forensic expert who has spent more than 30 years advancing the field of maternal mental health. After her own experience with postpartum anxiety, she dedicated her career to supporting women and families through the reproductive years as they navigate a wide range of perinatal mental health conditions, including postpartum psychosis. In this episode, Dr. Barnes reflects on the evolution of maternal mental health care and discusses her work as an expert witness in legal cases involving postpartum mental illness. She shares why specialized expertise is essential as these cases navigate the legal system and reflects on a motto of "making lemonade out of lemons"—finding purpose through life's most difficult experiences. Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of several cases involving infanticide in the context of severe perinatal mental illness. Resources Center for Postpartum Health - Dr. Barnes PracticeBaby Doe FilmPSI Postpartum Psychosis TaskforcePSI Legal ToolkitPSI Legal AdvocacyCitations: The Mcnaughton Rules. Forensic Psychiatry Experts. (n.d.).PTSD and DSM-5 - PTSD: National Center for PTSD. US Department of Veterans Affairs. (2025).Wessel, J., Endrikat, J., & Buscher, U. (2002, November 1). Frequency of denial of pregnancy: Results and epidemiological significance of a 1‐year prospective study in Berlin - wessel - 2002 - Acta obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica - Wiley Online Library. Wiley.

    Motherhood, Mental Health, and the Courtroom: Dr. Diana Barnes on Expert Witness Work and Postpartum Psychosis

  7. Jun 29

    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 ChangePSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773PSI Provider DirectoryCitations Bergink, V., & Burgerhout, K. (2015, February). Treatment of psychosis and mania in the postpartum period. Treatment in Psychiatry.Toor, R., & Wiese, M. (2024). Postpartum psychosis: A preventable psychiatric emergency. Psychiatry Online.

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

  8. Jun 10

    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 (US) — Call or text 988International suicide hotline directoryU.S. Maternal Mental Health Hotline — Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMACitations: Gould, M., & Marrocco, F. (2005, April 6). Evaluating iatrogenic risk of youth suicide screening programs: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024). 5 action steps to help someone having thoughts of suicide. National Institute of Mental Health.

    Bridget’s Breakthrough: Anxiety to Paranoia, the Infamous Car Wash, and Recovery after Undiagnosed Postpartum Psychosis
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What happens when motherhood collides with a mental health crisis that even doctors struggle to recognize? Postpartum psychosis is a mental health condition that is said to affect about 1–2 in every 1,000 births. This is less common than other mental health conditions - though with 130–140 million births worldwide each year, we’re talking about 130,000–364,000 new cases annually. Across years, as many as 4 million survivors of postpartum psychosis may be living today - yet too often, our stories go unheard. We're creating space to hear those stories. In this podcast, we explore postpartum psychosis in all its complexity - our researched understanding as well as human experiences. We'll weave perspectives into an honest, compassionate conversation - making space for both the heaviness and the hope. We bring together: Survivors who’ve lived through the stormResearchers uncovering what we know (and what we still don’t)Clinicians on the frontlines of carePartners and loved ones who witnessed the unthinkable Here, we normalize Mom Breaks - both the psychotic kind no one asks for, and the everyday kind everyone needs. A delusion I had during my psychosis was that I could reach an altered state where I wouldn’t have to care for myself at all, and could endlessly serve others. The truth - the cure, in many ways - is the opposite. We all need breaks. The small, regular pauses we build into our days and family routines are just as relevant as the bigger, harder interruptions that force us to stop. Mom Breaks remind us that caring for ourselves is not selfish—it’s what allows us to thrive and care for the people we love. We’re here to shine light, offer understanding, and remind each other that nobody has to walk this path alone. If you’ve lived it, love someone who has, or simply believe these stories need to be heard - welcome.

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