Welcome to the very first full episode of Mom Breaks! 🎙️

In this episode, I share my personal "why" for starting this podcast - a journey shaped by surviving postpartum psychosis, navigating recovery, and finding meaning in advocacy. I’ll also talk about the broader why behind Mom Breaks: creating space for education, healing, and awareness around postpartum psychosis.

You’ll hear about:

• My background in cognitive neuroscience, grad school, and motherhood
• My experience with postpartum psychosis, from onset to hospitalization to recovery
• How accessing my medical records and diving into research helped me heal
• Why this podcast matters for survivors, families, and the wider community

The goals of Mom Breaks are simple but powerful:

✨ Empower families impacted by postpartum psychosis

✨ Promote healing and wholeness after trauma

✨ Raise awareness beyond those directly affected

✨ Encourage treatment and support for mental health across life stages

This episode is part personal backstory, part mission statement — and an invitation to join me as we break silence, build hope, and learn together.

⚠️ Trigger warning: This episode includes discussion of postpartum psychosis, including symptoms of paranoia, suicidal thinking, and hospitalization.

Resources & Support

• Postpartum Support International (PSI) HelpLine – Call or text 1-800-944-4773
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (U.S.) – Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA

Citations:

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

Osborne, L. M. (2019, September 1). Recognizing and managing postpartum psychosis: A clinical guide for Obstetric Providers. Obstetrics and gynecology clinics of North America. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6174883/

VanderKruik, R., & Barreix, M. (2017, July 28). The global prevalence of postpartum psychosis: A systematic review. BMC psychiatry. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28754094/