Watch on YouTube:
A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis
I’m joined today by Aaisha Alvi, a writer and fierce postpartum psychosis awareness advocate. In her recent book, A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis, she shares her experience and explains how her symptoms of psychosis were missed, ignored, and overlooked by many healthcare providers until she finally got the help she needed. Aaisha shares her story with us and discusses the differences between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis, along with the biggest misconceptions about postpartum psychosis. Aaisha works in many ways as an advocate and educator, bringing awareness to postpartum psychosis and volunteering with various mental health organizations, including PSI. Join us to hear Aaisha’s story!
A Mom Like That: A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis Show Highlights:
- Aaisha’s journey into the world of perinatal mental health and postpartum psychosis
- Aaisha’s postpartum experience of depression and intrusive thoughts extended to fears about her family members harming her baby.
- A repeat of symptoms after Aaisha’s miscarriage
- Delusions, more intrusive thoughts, and voices telling her bizarre things—with no help until Aaisha saw her sixth doctor (Finally—a postpartum psychosis diagnosis!)
- “Provider ignorance” and Aaisha’s ironic attempts to hide her real symptoms while simultaneously seeking help
- Thoughts about anti-psychotic meds
- Being dismissed and ignored by healthcare providers—even as Aaisha begged for help
- What her doctors were missing
- The real statistics of postpartum psychosis—and why we shouldn’t say it’s a “rare condition”
- Differences between postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis
- Aaisha’s words of advice to families about a loved one
- Religious delusions–what we should understand
- BIPOC women and the reality of postpartum psychosis—Why the disparity in care?
- The biggest misconceptions about postpartum psychosis
- End the stigma! Postpartum psychosis is another type of mental illness that CAN and MUST be treated!
- What Aaisha hopes her book does for women and their healthcare providers
About Aaisha Alvi
Aaisha Alvi is a writer and fierce postpartum psychosis awareness advocate. She works in many ways as an advocate and educator, bringing awareness to postpartum psychosis and volunteering with various mental health organizations, including PSI.
Resources:
Connect with Aaisha Alvi: Website and Instagram
Call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA or visit cdph.ca.gov
Please find resources in English and Spanish at Postpartum Support International, or by phone/text at 1-800-944-4773. There are many free resources, like online support groups, peer mentors, a specialist provider directory, and perinatal mental health training for therapists, physicians, nurses, doulas, and anyone who wants to better support people for whom they provide services.
Visit www.postpartum.net for resources and support!
Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.
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