In this episode, Sarah - a nurse, mom, and mental health advocate - takes us inside her whirlwind journey through postpartum psychosis. From a premature birth and NICU stay to walking into her own workplace in the grips of psychosis and professing her love to her once boss, Sarah shares the moments that shocked her and those around her.

She uses a tornado as a metaphor for the chaos of postpartum psychosis, reflects on her bipolar diagnosis, and wonders about the connection between thyroid health and mental health. Most importantly, Sarah shows how recovery is possible and why whole-family support, sleep, and community matter.

Trigger warning: we discuss some death related delusions, and suicidal thoughts. Take care as you listen.

Resources:

• Sarah’s instagram
• PSI Online Support Groups
• PSI Peer Mentor Program

Citations:

1. Bergink, V., Kushner, S. A., Pop, V., Kuijpens, H., Berg, M. P. L. den, Drexhage, R. C., Wiersinga, W., Nolen, W. A., & Drexhage, H. A. (2018, January 2). Prevalence of autoimmune thyroid dysfunction in postpartum psychosis: The British Journal of Psychiatry. Cambridge Core.
2. Caropreso, L., de Azevedo Cardoso, T., Eltayebani, M., & Frey, B. N. (2019, December 4). Preeclampsia as a risk factor for postpartum depression and psychosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Archives of women’s mental health.
3. Cohen, L. S., Arakelian, M., Church, T. R., Dunk, M. M., Gaw, M. L., Yoon, H. E., Kobylski, L. A., Vanderkruik, R., & Freeman, M. P. (2024, December 6). The phenomenology of postpartum psychosis: Preliminary findings from the Massachusetts General Hospital postpartum psychosis project. Nature News.
4. Soh, X. C., Majeed, N. M., Sim, L., Reyes, M., Ling, N., & Hartanto, A. (2025, August 18). Prevalence of depression, anxiety, burden, Burnout, and stress in informal caregivers: An umbrella review of meta-analyses. ScienceDirect.