Survivor Stories

Please note that reading or hearing a survivor's story may be sensitive for some, and that no story is representative of what all moms with postpartum psychosis experience.

Mother breastfeeding baby son in bedroom

Katherine's Story

My first experience of postpartum psychosis was at age 24 when I had our first son Keileb and after five years of being married. I never...

Emma's Story

On Wednesday February 22, 2023, I had a moment of awakening. I am still unsure of how long I survived without sleep. It had been weeks....

You are not your diagnosis.

Introduction: It was dark in my room in the psychiatric ward, but there was some light coming in from the open door. I looked in the...

Kay's Story

All my life, I had experienced episodes of depression, and I had postpartum depression after my first child. When I got pregnant with my...

Terri's Story

I’m a therapist, always have been, always will be. I just watched the movie Tully, and although I relate to the apathy, withdrawal, and...

Christine's Story

I experienced postpartum psychosis after being hospitalized for a month. I had been hospitalized before with manic episodes due to my...

Olivia's Story

It was a happy pregnancy until election day, November 1968. Eight months pregnant, Wayne walked in at lunch time and announced we're...

A's Story

This is a letter that A wrote, addressed to her diagnosis. A became pregnant after a long journey of trying to grow their family,...

Amy's Story

It’s been over 2 years since I experienced PPP. Hi, my name is Amy and I am a survivor of PPP. Before my pregnancy, I had only briefly...

Reflecting, I wish...

I wish I didn't look back at pictures from that time and pity the pain the stranger that is myself was in. I wish I had accepted...

Theresa's Journey

I am a mother to four children, a piano teacher and musician, a yoga instructor and birth doula. I love my family and I was very happy to...

Jess's Story

Jess is a hearing itinerant teacher for Deaf and hard of hearing students, as well as an equity leader for her school. In her spare time,...

Emily's Story

I’ve been pretty open with the fact that Daniel and I had to use fertility treatments. In my opinion there is not a child that is more...

Tony Pacitti's Story: COVID-19 and Postpartum Psychosis

My wife, Sondra, and I struggled for six years with unexplained infertility, miscarriages, and failed efforts to get pregnant through IUI...

Postpartum Psychosisterhood: Stephanie's Story

I never knew I suffered from bipolar until giving birth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic launched me into a manic/psychotic episode...

Amy Shares Her Story from Birth to Hospitalization

"You are not alone." I have been trying to start writing this article for a while now. My story and walk with postpartum psychosis,...

Kristina Dulaney shares "Beast of an Illness"

Kristina Dulaney is a maternal mental health advocate and PP survivor. She also is the founder of Cherished Mom. In this video, she...

Bridget Shares How Postpartum Psychosis Changed Her Expectations of Motherhood

Every step of the way I lost a bit of the idealized dream of having a baby.

Laura Dockrill Shares "Things You Only Know if You've Had Postpartum Psychosis" with Grazia

I have never experienced a mental illness in my life. Not until I had a baby. And then I went mad.

Sharon Gerdes Shares her PP Experience and Recovery

I feel that it’s important to share my story so that other women who experience postpartum psychosis can have hope for a complete recovery.

An Excerpt from Catherine Cho's Book on Postpartum Psychosis

I go back to my truths. I am Catherine. I am married to James. I have a son.

The New York Times Shares Lisa's Story of PP, and the Signs We Should Know to Recognize It

"There is no prize for sucking it up and continuing to suffer. Even if struggling mothers feel isolated, help is available."

Tarah Shares Her Story on the Mom and Mind Podcast

Tarah, a postpartum psychosis survivor, joins the Mom and Mind podcast to discuss her experience.

Catherine Carver's Story - Video from the BBC

"It probably sounds strange that I needed help to play with my kid, but I did!" Catherine discusses her psychosis and her recovery in an MBU

My Fourth Trimester Psychosis Recovery

I have no prior history of mental illness. My husband & I thought "postpartum" was only depression. I wish doctors told us what to look for.

Teresa Twomey - A Powerhouse Postpartum Psychosis Advocate

Leading postpartum psychosis advocate and author Teresa Twomey shares her story and why she decided to discuss her experience publicly.

Elizabeth's Two-Time PPP Survivor Story

My husband and I were quite traumatized by our early parenthood experience and knew a second pregnancy would come with high risk of relapse.

Kristina's Story of Faith and Support

3 years ago, I endured the toughest trial of my adult life. There’s no birth or baby class to prepare for the challenges I was about to face

Erica's Story - How ECT Saved Me from Postpartum Psychosis

My daughter was our IVF miracle, but it was hard to see her there. I was afraid of her and for her. I was afraid of everyone and everything.

S.'s Story - Yearning for Reality

Key to my mental health success was being committed to myself. That meant being fastidious about taking my medicine and valuing therapy.

Cheerful positive young brunette smiling

Learn more about our research

Massachusetts General Hospital Postpartum Psychosis Project (MGHP3)