Saw a posting on the "What to Expect" website by "Juice" who was wanted more information on postpartum psychosis. Unfortunately the responses IMHO did not come near to offering adequate information.
One stated that postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are the same thing (WRONG!). Another described her experience which sounded more like postpartum OCD than PPP! Several gave advice such as having your loved ones watch you closely or having a plan. Not bad advice, but rather useless if you don't know what to tell your loved ones to look for or if you don't know what to plan for, or how.
The basics about postpartum psychosis I wish every woman knew:
1. It can happen to anyone and those with existing bipolar disorder are at increased risk.
2. Hallmarks are hallucinations and/or delusions
3. A woman can have intrusive thoughts about harming her child or have depressive thoughts about harming herself and not have ppp.
4. If you have those thoughts and you don't have ppp -- you still should get treatment ASAP. There is no honor in simply suffering through.
5. Women with ppp often have paranoia, they may be manic and have insomnia and racing thoughts/speech, they may be unable to do basic cognitive tasks (reading, math, etc.). They may be agitated, confused, disoriented. They may think, say or do bizarre things.
6. Not all women with ppp have all these symptoms.
7. PPP may be obvious - and it may not. And it can wax and wane.
8. It occurs with the same frequency as Down Syndrome.
9. This, and all postpartum mood disorders, is treatable.
10. It is temporary - it will not cure an underlying disorder - but women do recover completely from the ppp.
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