In this episode, we hear from Kendra, a patient care technician, first-time mom, and psychosis survivor. Kendra shares her experience with a psychotic break during her pregnancy in 2022 - involving a cross-country drive, psychiatric hospitalization, and the challenges of navigating motherhood with limited support. She also offers advice for other survivors - your psychosis is one moment in your life, and it doesn’t define you.

We discuss:

• The role of social support during pregnancy, postpartum, and psychiatric crises
• Voluntary vs. involuntary psychiatric admission
• Mandatory reporting and CPS involvement in perinatal mental health situations
• How childhood adversity can influence mental health outcomes
• The need for clearer definitions of perinatal psychosis

Trigger Warning: This episode contains descriptions of a suicide attempt and references to cases of infanticide (Casey Anthony and Lindsay Clancy). Listener discretion is advised.

Resources:

• Postpartum Support International
• Action on Postpartum Psychosis
• MGHP3

Citations:

1. Fekih-Romdhane, F., El Hadathy, D., Malaeb, D., Barakat, H., & Hallit, S. (2024, August 29). Relationship between childhood trauma and postpartum psychotic experiences: The role of postnatal anxiety and depression as mediators. BMC psychiatry. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11360526/
2. Hutchens, B., & Kearney, J. (2020, January 22). Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression: An Umbrella Review. Wiley. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jmwh.13067
3. Involuntary commitment in Texas. Texas Law Help. (2025, October 9). https://texaslawhelp.org/article/involuntary-commitment-in-texas
4. Kendell, R. E., Chalmers, J. C., & Platz, C. (2018, January 2). Epidemiology of puerperal psychoses: The British Journal of Psychiatry. Cambridge Core. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/the-british-journal-of-psychiatry/article/abs/epidemiology-of-puerperal-psychoses/F2861FD5151AE5B8FB9949F1638436FB
5. Nonacs Center for Women’s Mental Health, R. (2022, January 11). Essential reads – postpartum psychosis: A diagnosis for the DSMV - MGH center for women’s mental health. MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health - Perinatal & Reproductive Psychiatry at Mass General Hospital. https://womensmentalhealth.org/posts/postpartum-psychosis-dsmv/