What moms need to know about postpartum psychosis and anxiety
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – The charges against Lindsey Clancy in the deaths of her three children have drawn intense national attention to maternal mental health and postpartum psychosis.
While prosecutors argue Clancy is fully accountable and capable of understanding her actions, the case has sparked broader conversations about maternal mental health conditions and their warning signs.
We talked with an Idaho-certified perinatal mental health therapist about what new moms — and their families — need to know, including when to seek help.
The difference between Postpartum Psychosis and other mood disorders
Postpartum depression and anxiety are much more common than postpartum psychosis — and they can be treated.
Brianna Nuttall, an Idaho licensed clinical social worker and perinatal mental health certified therapist, says it's important to know the difference.
“We treat postpartum psychosis differently than the rest of the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.”
Postpartum psychosis is rare — affecting about one to two out of every 1,000 births — but it is a medical emergency.
Nuttall says some of the warning signs include severe confusion, going days without sleep, fixed beliefs that aren't true or hearing voices.
“A mother in psychosis genuinely believes that false reality. And so, because symptoms can ebb and flow, a mom can lose touch with reality. Getting to an emergency room or calling 911 immediately is what's important for postpartum psychosis.”
Other Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, or PMADs, are among the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Nuttall says one in five new mothers will experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder.
Those include postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. For women experiencing those conditions, the struggle and symptoms can look different from postpartum psychosis.
Nuttall says these conditions can show up two weeks to two months after giving birth and can look like extreme irritability, rage, brain fog — or an inability to sleep, even when the baby is sleeping.
She also wants moms to know that scary, intrusive thoughts can happen with postpartum anxiety and OCD.
“I want to normalize the fact that moms suffer from scary, intrusive thoughts, unwanted images coming to their mind of harm to their baby. I want to say having these thoughts doesn't mean that you're a bad mom, and especially if you are feeling distressed by them. There is interventions that we can do to help you with that.”
Nuttall also wants moms to watch for one big warning sign.
“The biggest red flag … is if you are unable to sleep even when your baby's sleeping. That's an indication that your nervous system is stuck in overdrive. And we need to help you with getting that, because lack of sleep is going to exacerbate all of these problems.”
You're not a bad mom
Nuttall reassures moms that having scary or intrusive thoughts does not make them bad mothers.
“Having these thoughts doesn't mean that you're a bad mom. This is a classic, classic symptom of postpartum anxiety and OCD that you do not need to feel ashamed about. And the sooner you can talk about it, the sooner you can receive some relief.”
And if you're not sure where to start, you don't have to figure it out by yourself.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is free, confidential and available 24/7.
You can call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA — that's 1-833-852-6262.
Another resource is Postpartum Support International, which offers a helpline, support groups and a directory to help connect families with perinatal mental health professionals.
“You are not alone. You are not to blame,” says Nuttall. “And with the right support, you will get better. This doesn't need to be what motherhood means to you. And research has shown that if you get the support that you need, relief is on the horizon.”
