We know that motherhood is a big upheaval, but we can’t imagine that giving birth can make us lose our minds. Having a completely broken mental state can happen, and it’s called “puerperal psychosis”. But what exactly is it? How is this type of psychosis diagnosed? Can it be cured? It’s vital that we talk about puerperal psychosis so that everyone can be better prepared. Let’s explain.
Puerperal psychosis is a rare and serious psychiatric disorder, that affects 1 mother for every 1,000 births. It’s not a neurosis; the person suffering isn’t aware of it. It’s a psychosis with an emotional and psychological collapse accompanied by a state of delirium and extreme agitation. Likewise, it’s therefore usually the spouse and close family who become aware of this state 😥.
You can be affected by this form of psychosis without any previous psychiatric history. Generally, it’s triggered between 1 and 2 weeks after the birth of the child.
>>> Read: I'm scared of losing my friends after having a baby
What causes this psychosis❓ According to psychiatrist Wissam El Hage, a specialist in post-traumatic stress disorder, there’s no apparent cause and no particular elements to anticipate puerperal psychosis. Childbirth provokes a trauma and a great emotional shock that can lead to this disorder. However, there may be risk factors, such as a traumatic birth, a complicated pregnancy, or being a single mother. |
👋 You may be interested in this article: Tokophobia: the fear of pregnancy and childbirth
When you suffer from puerperal psychosis, you can’t spot the signs of the disorder yourself. Those around you need to be alert, particularly if there are any thymic disorders, i.e. mood-related disorders. There may be symptoms of depression, but also episodes of intense joy called “hypomanias”, which are characteristic of bipolar disorder.
👉 Those around you may also spot other symptoms, such as:
These signs can be found in 70% of cases of puerperal psychosis. You should bear in mind that not all mothers are affected by all the aforementioned symptoms or in the same way.
>>> Read; I don't want to leave my baby, and that's okay
To be distinguished from postpartum depression ⚠️ Although there are signs of depression in both cases, postpartum depression is a state of intense sadness with a lack of interest in everything. The mother is aware of this state, unlike puerperal psychosis. The latter is really characterized by a disconnection from reality. |
It’s very important for those close to a woman who’s just given birth to be aware of the signs described above, without fearing the disorder. However, the sooner the disorder is identified, the sooner the person can be treated.
💬 “In my delirium, I relived my birth, the expulsion, the bottleneck that’s the mother, the pain and then the awakening of the senses... Now, when I think about it, I tell myself that it was the symbol of my second birth: as a mother. I left the hospital still on medication. I was still very anxious. I was asking myself lots of questions about what had happened to me, what I was taking, about my son’s development... So I did some research at the library and on the internet. Unfortunately, I didn’t find much on puerperal psychosis. It’s pretty badly described compared to what you can experience inside. All that’s said is that there’s a high risk of suicide or infanticide, and there are things to warn of the seriousness of it, but no explanation of how or why...” |
You should contact a perinatal professional as soon as possible: psychologist, midwife, psychiatrist, etc. Seeking help as soon as possible will minimize the risk of developing another pathology, such as bipolar disorder or dysthymia, which will persist over time. Full support will be offered to the patient, and hospitalization may be suggested for both mother and baby.
What’s more, therapeutic follow-up can be a way of accepting that there isn’t necessarily a reason for all this. We often look for concrete reasons, but when there aren’t any, it can be very difficult to move on. Whatever the case, it’s important not to stigmatize the sufferer or the illness and to wait for a return to “normal”.
Editor’s note: Act quicklyPuerperal psychosis can be very scary as it affects our lucidity. However, it’s a disorder that can be treated well with therapeutic care. It’s important that those around you react quickly to avoid serious risks for both mother and child, so if you notice this in someone close to you, don’t hesitate to talk about it. The sooner, the better, to help both her and her baby. 🤗 Understanding yourself, accepting yourself, being happy... It’s here and now! #BornToBeMe |
Be sure to also check out the following articles;
Article presented by Lauren Hart
Writing is a beautiful means of expression that I cannot do without. It has allowed me to channel my hypersensitivity, plus I love writing about psychology and personal development. For me, self-understanding is the best way to move forward!
A little belittling remark here, minimizing our emotions there... So many little things that show us that we’re being psychologically abused. It may seem trivial, but that’s the problem. We downplay it too much, which makes it the most common type of abuse. So, how do you identify psychological abuse? What should you do if you’re a victim? Let’s explain.
I suffer from an eating disorder, and several people around me have a mood disorder. I’m not completely unfamiliar with behavioral disorders, or at least not these. However, there are several types of disorders and they can even affect sexual behavior. So how do you define them? Here’s a list and some definitions related to behavioral disorders.
If the title of this article hasn’t totally scared you away, then you are no doubt wondering what this beast of a person is really like. Well, a malignant narcissist is a step up from a typical narcissist and adds an antisocial personality disorder to the already intimidating mixture. Combined, these two personality disorders represent the relentless need for control, admiration, and power for selfish reasons, making folks with this diagnosis that bit scarier than classic manipulators. Here’s why these people are so terrifying, and how you can get your own back on them.
Each one of us has our own weaknesses that hold us back in life; be it at work or in relationships. However, on a more positive note, most of us have the will to work on them and transform them. That being said, once narcissists are brought into the picture, the idea that they want to work on their weaknesses doesn’t exactly seem feasible. For a deeper understanding of these narcissists and more insights into the workings of their minds, discover their weak spots and which pointers they struggle with on a daily basis, yet aren't willing to admit or work on.
Whenever I have trouble sleeping, whenever I’m bored or whenever my thoughts wander, it’s not uncommon for me to find myself reliving my childhood vacations, or a delightful weekend in bed or even my wedding day. Sometimes I even shed a tear thinking about these moments in my past… Yes, I’m nostalgic, and I love revisiting memories, but that has to stop! Discover the steps to put in place if you want to live in the present!
Work has always been a synonym of repression for me because it takes up so much of our precious time. Let’s be honest, a 9-5 job with a horrendous daily commute often means that work is sadly our sole occupation. So, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck over a year ago, and we were all ordered to stay home, I found it hard to hide my joy in front of my distraught coworkers; although thankfully my acting talents saved me. You can probably already tell, but going into the office every day was nothing less than torture for me. Yet, all these months later, I’ve realized that I despise working from home and would do anything to sit in my uncomfortable office chair once again!
Today, I’m focussing on a habit that drives me crazy: wanting to have the last word. It’s probably because I’m not very good at comebacks or self-confident enough that I’m both fascinated and annoyed by people who always want to be right. But why do they always want to have the last word? What’s behind it?
In general, thumb sucking ends around the age of 6. I say “in general” and not “normally”, because as an adult I don’t feel weird or particularly bothered by it. When I get stressed, I allow myself to let go and return to my childhood self by sucking my thumb. Those who know about it or catch me by surprise make me realize I should be ashamed… But is this habit a big deal? What if it makes me feel better? It’s certainly no worse than lighting up a cigarette or biting your nails…
There are people who don’t like to be touched at all, and who are almost disgusted by physical contact. There are people who like to caress and be caressed for anything and everything, and there are people like me who always recoil when someone tries to touch them. Why do I shy away from physical contact? What if it’s all linked to the past?
Narcissists definitely move with the times, which is why many of them constantly troll dating sites for new victims. Chatting with a manipulator of this magnitude can be a rollercoaster experience, with dizzying heights that might lead you to believe you are in love, to gut-wrenching lows which will make you question your worth. For any raving narcissist, text message exchanges are a great way to reel in victims and follow through with their master plans for ultimate control over them. Are you texting someone you suspect to be a narcissist? The examples below could confirm your suspicions.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."
- Oscar Wilde
