Is it still postpartum psychosis?

[SadieStarr]

Hello everyone, I'm new here. I was just diagnosed on Friday with Postpartum psychosis. It's taken so long to get diagnosed. It started for me 10 years ago when my first child was born. My youngest is now 2 1/2 year old. My question is: Is it still PP if it's been that long since I've had a baby? Does it change to a different disorder if your no longer postpartum but still have the symptoms? I just want to learn everything I can about this. Thank you!

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hi SadieStarr

Welcome to the forum I’m so sorry you’ve been suffering for so long before having a diagnosis.

I don’t actually know if a diagnosis changes after a period of time, but if the Psychosis was triggered by childbirth and started in that postpartum period then that’s presumably what they link the diagnosis to. Some women go on to have further diagnoses which I think would be determined by subsequent/ongoing periods of illness and how that presents, and what treatment works or doesn’t work? (This is a very non expert response!)

Hopefully you’ll find lots of helpful information here and on APP’s website - app-network.org/what-is-pp/

Try not to worry too much about the actual diagnosis, the important thing is getting appropriate treatment for your symptoms and I really hope that now you’ve finally had a diagnosis that you can start to get the right support and feel better.

Sending you very best wishes,

Jenny x

[Maria_at_APP Moderator]

Hi SadieStarr,

I am very sorry that you have gone undiagnosed for such a long time, but I am pleased that you'll be able to access the right support from now on.

How are you feeling today?

As Jenny says the Action on Postpartum Psychosis site has plenty of information on pp and I would also recommend the insider guidelines which have been written with the help of pp mums and partners app-network.org/what-is-pp/...

In this forum you will also find many mums happy to share their own experience and answer any questions you may have.

I had pp 2 years ago a few days after the birth of my daughter, I was admitted to a general psychiatric unit for 10 days and then spent 2 months in a mother and baby unit, which is a unit in a psychiatric hospital where mothers that suffered perinatal mental illnesses can recover together with their babies.

Everyone's road to recovery is different and as Jenny says, sometimes the label is not that important, what matters is getting access to the treatment and support that will see you through it.

Take care and write here if it helps