When Postpartum Psychosis Makes Headlines: What You Need to Know

Postpartum psychosis is in the news.

If you're pregnant, postpartum, or supporting someone who is, you may have seen the headlines, watched the coverage, or found yourself wondering, Could this happen to me? How would I know? What would I do?

The stories can be frightening. And while postpartum psychosis is serious, there is something important that can get lost in the headlines:

Perinatal psychosis is a serious medical emergency, but it is also treatable, and recovery is possible with timely care and support.

Knowing what psychosis can look like during pregnancy or after birth can help you recognize when something isn't right and when it's time to seek help.

What Is Perinatal Psychosis?

Perinatal psychosis is a rare but serious mental health condition that can occur during pregnancy or after giving birth. It effects approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries, and involves a loss of connection with reality and can develop quickly.

Someone experiencing psychosis may have difficulty recognizing what is real, experience hallucinations or delusions, become extremely confused or suspicious, or experience significant changes in mood, sleep, or behavior. Perinatal Psychosis requires immediate professional help.

What Can Perinatal Psychosis Look Like?

Symptoms can look different from person to person and may change quickly.

They may include:

✧ Being unable to sleep or needing very little sleep (insomnia or decreased need for sleep)

✧ Seeing images or hearing voices that others can't (auditory or visual hallucinations)

✧ Believing things that aren't true (delusions)

✧ Becoming unusually suspicious or distrustful of others (paranoia)

✧ Periods of confusion or difficulty communicating (disorganized thinking or speech)

✧ Significant changes in mood, including mania or depression

✧ Memory problems or behaving very differently than usual (changes in cognition or behavior)

The person experiencing psychosis may not realize that they need help. If someone who is pregnant or recently gave birth is behaving very differently than usual, isn't sleeping, seems confused or paranoid, or is seeing or hearing things others don't, don't wait to see if it gets better on its own.

Perinatal Psychosis vs. Intrusive Thoughts

If you've been following the headlines, you may be wondering about your own thoughts.

Intrusive thoughts are common during pregnancy and postpartum and can occur with postpartum anxiety (PPA) or postpartum OCD (PP-OCD). You might suddenly imagine something terrible happening to your baby, worry that you could hurt your baby, or have a thought that feels completely out of character.

Having an intrusive thought does not mean you want it to happen, and it does not mean you're experiencing psychosis.

With anxiety or OCD, these thoughts are typically unwanted and distressing. The person generally recognizes the thoughts as thoughts and may feel frightened, guilty, or anxious about having them. With psychosis, a person may believe something is true even when it isn't or have difficulty distinguishing what is real from what isn't. The difference isn't simply what the thought is about. It's also how you experience and understand it.

If you're worried about intrusive thoughts or anxiety during pregnancy or postpartum, you don't have to figure it out alone. This is something we can work through together.

Who Can Experience Perinatal Psychosis?

Perinatal psychosis can happen to someone with no previous mental health history. Certain factors can increase risk, including a personal or family history of bipolar disorder, a previous episode of psychosis, or significant sleep deprivation may also play a role. And, psychosis does not mean someone is a bad parent, that they don't love their baby, or that they've failed in some way. It is a medical condition that requires medical care.

What Should You Do If You're Concerned?

If you think you or someone you love may be experiencing psychosis during pregnancy or after birth, immediate professional evaluation is important.

Contact a healthcare provider or seek emergency medical care. If there is an immediate safety concern, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

You don't have to be certain that someone is experiencing psychosis before reaching out for help. And if you reach out for help but something still doesn't feel right, keep speaking up. Ask questions. Let another healthcare professional know what you're seeing or experiencing. Seeking another evaluation or a higher level of care may be appropriate.

When Perinatal Psychosis Is in the News

If you've been following recent stories about perinatal psychosis, you may notice yourself checking the news repeatedly, reading comments, watching coverage, or searching for more details.

Be mindful of what you're consuming.

You don't need to watch every headline. You don't need to read every comment. And you don't have to follow a trial or story as it unfolds. If the coverage is making you more anxious, it's okay to step away. Limit the amount of time you spend watching the news. Take a break from social media. Skip the comments section. Put your phone down. Or don't watch at all.

Being informed doesn't mean you have to overwhelm yourself with information. Especially during pregnancy or postpartum, protecting your mental and emotional wellbeing matters too.

You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone

Sometimes the hardest part isn't knowing that you're struggling—it's knowing what's actually going on. Is this anxiety? Are these intrusive thoughts? Is my lack of sleep becoming a problem? Why don't I feel like myself? Do I need more support? You don't have to have the answers before reaching out.

As a perinatal mental health specialist, I work with adults throughout California who are navigating pregnancy, postpartum, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, parenting, and the emotional changes that can come with this season of life. If you're feeling overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, or unsure about what's happening, therapy can give you a place to slow down, make sense of what you're experiencing, and get the support you need.

If you or someone you love may be experiencing psychosis, please seek immediate medical care rather than waiting for a therapy appointment. Perinatal psychosis requires urgent evaluation and treatment.

You don't have to figure out what's happening by yourself—but you do need the right kind of support.

Need more information or support?

The Postpartum Support International offers resources specifically for perinatal and postpartum psychosis, including a Postpartum Psychosis Discussion Tool.

Learn more about perinatal psychosis through Postpartum Support International.

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency or are concerned about someone's immediate safety, seek emergency medical care.

About the Author

Koalani Lahr is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist specializing in perinatal mental health in San Diego, CA. She provides virtual therapy to adults throughout California, supporting clients through pregnancy, postpartum, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, parenting, and other life transitions.