Laura's Lived Experience: Truman Show Delusions, Channeling Nostradamus, and Growing as a...

In this episode, Laura reflects on her experience as both a survivor of postpartum psychosis and perinatal mental health provider. Following a painful birth, breastfeeding challenges, and a cycle of sleeplessness, her reality began to blur. She became convinced she was uncovering hidden abusers, predicting the future, and protecting her hospital from an active shooter—delusions that felt entirely real in the moment. Laura shares what postpartum psychosis felt like from the inside, how she and her family navigated hospitalization and recovery, and how this experience has shaped her work in private practice. We discuss how postpartum psychosis does not discriminate, the role of therapy, and the importance of not minimizing our experiences and instead using them to highlight the serious nature of postpartum psychosis. Resources Laura's Private Practice – Movemeant for ChangePSI Conference Talk – How Do We Keep Missing This: Postpartum Psychosis Myths Hindering DetectionPSI Helpline: 1-800-944-4773PSI Provider DirectoryCitations Bergink, V., & Burgerhout, K. (2015, February). Treatment of psychosis and mania in the postpartum period. Treatment in Psychiatry.Toor, R., & Wiese, M. (2024). Postpartum psychosis: A preventable psychiatric emergency. Psychiatry Online.