A moment of complete vulnerability...
I think the news and online coverage surrounding Lindsay Clancy is starting to take a toll on me. After many convos with friends, emails within the PPP Task Force, and reading a lot of upsetting comments on the Internet, I am feeling overwhelmed, mad, and sad. 💔
In the swirl of my emotions, one thing is abundantly clear — despite how you feel about the case, there needs to be more research, advocacy, and awareness of postpartum mental health issues, including postpartum psychosis.
Always an educator, I’m a firm believer in the power of sharing resources. Here are the ones that are top of mind based on what I’ve been seeing and hearing in the news, social media, podcasts, and personal conversations.
Looking back on my own TikToks that I posted a few years ago (and, unsurprisingly, have been getting some engagement lately), I was guilty of speaking about the extreme rarity of PPP. But did you know that PPP is actually just as prevalent as conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s? Discussing PPP solely as an ultra-rare anomaly further stigmatizes the experience and prevents expectant families from getting the education they need to be ready and informed. I am one of many women who experienced PPP and got better. Not every case has to be reduced to a sensationalized true crime story.
When discussing this with my book club recently, we all agreed — my husband Derek saved my life. If you know me or have read my PPP content, you know that him noticing the signs and springing into action was crucial. PPP can be serious, but it is completely treatable if caught early. Things could have escalated quickly at home if I wasn’t monitored by medical professionals or, worse, left alone with my children. I understand that for partners, this can seem like a daunting task. That’s why the PPP Task Force developed this PPP Discussion Tool with a checklist of symptoms to watch out for — to help partners and families feel empowered to get help before it’s too late.
I’m not going to lie — I was still completely out of it when I first met with my doctor at the hospital. I barely remember that conversation. But luckily, she recognized what was going on and knew how to treat PPP. The women I’ve heard from in support groups and within the Task Force were not as lucky. There are many medical professionals who aren’t equipped to identify and treat PPP. Fortunately, Postpartum Support International provides Advanced Postpartum Psychosis Training for providers to build their skills and avoid the "doctor shuffle" for women who need emergency help. What's amazing is they also incorporate lived experience into this training so providers can hear firsthand from PPP survivors for a more humanized context.
When you’re experiencing PPP, there is a severe disruption in mood regulation, perception, and thinking. Reality bends — for example, I genuinely thought I was in a show, a movie, or a musical. It is nearly impossible for us to separate these altered thoughts from reality while inside them because insight is completely lost.
Additionally, PPP symptoms are not constant — they often wax and wane, creating “periods of lucidity” between psychotic episodes. That’s why this can be so tricky to catch initially; a conversation can seem totally grounded one moment and psychotic the next. Just because there is a brief moment of lucidity doesn’t mean the person has recovered. For me, there were definitely moments in the hospital when I knew what was going on for a bit, only to slip back under and lose whole chunks of my day. Years later, I’m still recalling pieces of what happened when I was sick. It can be hard to witness and even tougher to experience.
Honestly, I have no idea. This is all I've got for now. Feel free to let me know if I've missed a crucial resource or misconception about PPP. In the meantime, I'd like to say that I plan to take a step back from the news, but I know myself and I know it will be hard to step away. Witnessing the national conversation about something so personal for me stirs up a lot, but it also motivates me to work even harder to be an advocate and spread awareness. If my sharing helps another person see things differently or save a resource or share information, then I know this won't be all in vain.
If you or a loved one are pregnant or postpartum and notice sudden changes, please know you are not alone, you are not to blame, and help is available. Visit Postpartum Support International (PSI) at postpartum.net or reach out to the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA.