How to get your life back together

[Mamadubois22]

I've been diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. I lived with it for 7 months before I knew I had it. I believed everything I was thinking, hearing, seeing, feeling up until i was so terrified by what i thought was demons trying to kill me.

I have been treated for 3 months now. I still have some paranoia here and there but lately I have felt actually normal. I'm almost to the finish of it and I'm so happy! But how did some of you force yourself through your fears? I'm just able to shower by myself now and do things but I'm terrified to do all the things I couldnt do by myself for the past 3 months. How did you guys cope with getting better? How did you get through with in your marriage?

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello Mamadubois22

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the birth of your baby! Here you will find lots of support and shared experiences. It's amazing that you feel well in such a short time and it must be such a relief after going through such trauma. Are you in the UK? Have you seen the PP Insider Guide, "Recovery after Postpartum Psychosis" at app-network.org/what-is-pp/... which might be helpful and there is also a link to shared experiences on the page.

I had PP twice many years ago and it took me a long time to recover. It took time for me to get back on my feet. I think it's best not to expect too much of yourself as you have been through such a trauma. Just take things a step at a time and you will build your confidence to cope with routine and your bundle of joy Take care, we are all here to talk.

[Little_jay]

Hey mamadubois22.

Really happy that you are making great progress with your recovery. My sister was diagnosed of PP 9 months after her delivery. She is in anti psychotics at the moment. But doesn’t seem to be responding well to them. Just wanted to know which medications you have been on?

[Mamadubois22 in reply to Little_jay]

I've been taking risperdal for 3 months now. I also take hydroxyzine 4 tines daily for anxiety because it helps with the paranoia. They also put me on seroquel with it. It definitely helps with sleep so hallucinations stops (it also is for hallucinations too, not just sleep) risperdal and seroquel are both anti psychotic meds though

[Little_jay in reply to Mamadubois22]

She was in Quitopine, kamadrin and alp for the past one month. They weren’t much helpful. Yesterday she stopped all medicines and started taking a 15mg dose of Olanzapine and alp. We could see remarkable improvement in her thoughts today.

[Mamadubois22 in reply to Little_jay]

I'm glad something is starting to work. Meds usually take about a month before any improvement but it is a long process. Poor mama. Hope she is okay