I know that we recover from postpartum psychosis, but can I ask do those who end up in general psychiatric hospitals , ever recover from that trauma? The reason why l ask is I locked the trauma away for some 20 odd years until I couldn't hold onto it any longer, to me it was a whole month of a very traumatic experience, I have been diagnosed with PTSD because of the ordeal... for years I had this locked door in my mind that was like a furnace to go near, was unable to talk to anyone in my family, for fear of upsetting memories for everyone so was very much alone.. I feared anything to do with mental illness, when I finally broke down to my gp, I was so fearful of being sent back to the psychiatric hospital it took a long time for him to gain my trust even to accept the smallest amount of help from therapy as the trust was shot. How can doctors help mothers who have suffered from PPP recovered, but have this trauma left for years, unresolved memories and understanding to what happened... I am lucky as my doctor recognised something wasn't right and it wasn't just low mood too with menopause, I was terrified of getting PPP again as was told it would come back at menopause but no one explained and I held that in to with the trauma...... should doctors be aware of mothers who have experienced out of the blue PP and been in a psychiatric hospital be more aware of them maybe having unprocessed trauma, maybe an extra wellbeing appointment around the time of menopause to discuss how they are or check ins later on after the PPP experience to see if any lasting effects are going on... I am getting help and waiting for therapy now, 26yrs this month ago, but it does concern me others may suffer in silence or be treated for other things, it is so hard to talk once things are locked away...
Do we ever recover from the trauma of... - Action on Postpar...
Do we ever recover from the trauma of psychiatric hospitals?
Hello there,
I just wanted to share some of my story with you as we have some similarities. My episode of PP was out of the blue and I found myself in a general psychiatric hospital on a high care ward. I was in with young and old women and later in a ward with men as well. It was an awful time as I could not work out where I was, had I had a baby or not, who were these people around me and why was I hearing voices, hallucinating and smelling things?? My episode was in 1988. After a while they were able to find a day room where I could go with my daughter when she was brought into the unit but I could not care for her very well and people seemed to be able to come in and out of the room at random. The mother and baby units that I hear about now sound wonderful in comparison.
I recovered after 3 months and took medication for one year afterwards.
I went on to have two more daughters in 1996 and 1999. I gathered as much information as I could about PP and liaised with specialists in the field. To cut a long story short, my mother moved in with us for 10 days after the birth and her mission was that I just had to sleep lots and feed the baby. It was a very precious time for all of us, and to be well during the post natal period was such a blessing. First time round my delivery had been very difficult indeed and afterwards I had no sleep for quite a few days and have clear memories of needing food but being unable to find any!
Like you I read that I might relapse during the menopause. What I found was that if I allowed myself to get too stressed and tired then I would have what I would call an uneasy feeling. When this happened and lets be honest, menopause, tiredness, family, teenagers, life in general it is not unheard of. I looked into self care and worked out what helps me to relax. Music, nice smells, dog walks, relaxing baths and nothing too traumatic on the TV. Key thing for me is a tray of red bush tea and a very early night!! I also had to let my husband know I was feeling uneasy and sometimes he just had to make decisions for me as I felt I could not answer too many questions or make decisions. I did get through the menopause!!
Over this last year I developed a condition called Graves Disease and Hyperthyroidism. What surprised me was that this little thyroid gland is responsible for our hormone balance and so many other vital functions. My mental health was affected along with my other symptoms. I shared this with my endocrinologist as I felt I was slipping into feeling mentally unwell. He suggested a course of CBT. I was able to access a course called Silver Cloud, through Italk. I have found this to be so helpful as it is online, in your own home and at your own pace. The waiting lists for therapy are getting so long and this has been an invaluable support for me. Enabling me to think about past traumas and put them into perspective. I have found it to be so beneficial. My daughters are all adults now and they have also been so supportive. Happy to report that for the moment the condition is under control with medication and my symptoms have gone away. Very grateful to the GP and the specialists and the after care.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I think what you have said makes a great deal of sense. I new I needed to talk to the endocrinologist and be honest about how I was feeling and he was able to point me in the direction of help. I think you may find some other posts about the menopause on here.
I hope you are soon able to access the help that you need and you are able to move forward. Thanks again for sharing. All the very best, Helen
Hi Helen Thank you for your reply, I am glad you are ok. It is a very strange thing what we go through and back in the day treatment or understanding wasn't very good, I was lucky to get away from the hospital as it was making me worse, so have nothing positive to take away from the treatment there, probably why things came to a head in the end. I got triggered from a very abrupt consultant about my tummy 8 years back and then all the flashbacks came... but couldn't understand why I felt like I did, 4 years later I met a new gp was so supportive as I feared what would happen to me as couldn't go back to a psychiatric hospital or even talk to a psychiatrist. Luckily my gp gradually helped me to be able to realize that I would not be locked away again... CBT didn't do much good I got more from my gp then them as they wouldn't talk about the past, 4 years on I have been through counselling and some emdr treatment, but only touched a tiny part and with out faces and knowing who you are aiming the things at it was hard.... I am now in secondary care and have a care worker who has been there during the wait been a year so far, hopefully not so long... I also have my medical records that my gp is going to help me go through so may give a little understanding to what actually happened in the hospital and help with my journey forward.... the trauma is difficult to comprehend sometimes and there also was a fear of hurting family when they hear how badly if had effected me... just glad I had the support from the gp as things had started to go in to a dark place, I still fear the psychiatric team, but can trust them. The psychiatrist says my story is a very sad one and it wasn't my fault for getting Ill hopefully one day I will be able to live with what happened without overwhelming grief
Hello Guinea1, I can relate to trauma of being on general psych ward. I had PPP in 2018 and spent around two months on two different psych wards before moving to an MBU. It’s funny that a place that is supposed to help is so traumatic. As far as I can see they are more designed for surveillance than healing and rest. In the first ward there was no nature or access to nature the spaces are clinical with no soft surfaces there was distress and screaming and shouting a scary environment. And then of course you have strangers following you or sitting at your door which is hard to understand when you are very stressed and unwell, I have blanks from my experience some of which I don’t know is because of being very sedated on meds or if I was too unwell to lay memories down or if I did and they are too traumatic to remember. I did ask a psychiatrist about this and they thought the first too. I’m glad to hear you trusting doc more Abd getting done support I don’t think it’s that unusual to have a long delay before ptsd comes. It is such a traumatic illness and environment. I ended up paying for weekly private therapy to have an outlet to discus. I also tried to self refer for talking therapy on nhs but they offer cbt which I know some people have found really effective. Agree with your view I think the treatment / environment of accrue wards should be looked at. I also think A&E can be very traumatic too. I hope there will be different set ups for mental health issues in future. Sending hugs and hope you get help to recover from the ptsd. Emma XX
Sorry I just seen lots of typos in my reply hope you can make sense of it. Acute ward that should read x
I can relate to this so much, though it is sad to hear that others are still being traumatised by psychiatric hospitals and treatment.. I thought it was just back then and feel there is so much more to be done to stop new mums at a very vulnerable time, maybe already been through a traumatic labour and then told you need to go to this hospital that will help you and you put your trust in these professionals.. but the place is a very volatile environment, just making things worse.. I feel more needs to be studied about the effects on mums and general psychiatric hospital treatment
Hello guinea1,
I'm very sorry you had such a traumatic experience. I had PP almost 4 years ago. Like you and HelenMW, I was admitted to General Psychiatric ward where I spent 6 weeks. I was then released back home with a plan on reducing medication. It went downhill from there pretty fast and I was lucky to then be admitted to MBU.
I can say I have recovered from PP but from all that experience the hardest thing to get over was the stay on the general psych ward and what happened there.
I haven't spoken to my family about my time there in detail as I too feel it might be too painful for them hear how I felt and why. But I'm so glad I found APP forum and all the lovely ladies who've "been there"! Just reading others stories of recovery has been inspiring and uplifting.
I'm glad you've found some help from your GP and hope your medical records will make it easier for you to move forward. You can always post here if you want to talk xx
Thank you for your reply and so sorry that you suffered , yes it is very hard to talk to family, but I have been able to probably because I got PTSD so had to really.. just wish I hadn't blocked it out as very unhelpful, but there wasn't any other way to deal with it .. I have come to terms with the trauma around the birth now, so the next step will be the big one and hopefully will be able to live with the trauma out side without have to numb it away and block the pain... I hope I will be able to post again to how I am getting on and help others not to block it out for too long.. I wish I had found APP years ago..
Hi guinea1,
Thanks for raising a very important topic. I am sorry to hear about the lasting trauma you have had experienced.
I had pp in 2018, and a short stint in an acute psych ward of 10 days, before being transferred to an MBU. I am so grateful that while in the psych ward I was under a perinatal psychiatrist, that recognized my symptoms for what they were and quickly started the process of arranging my transfer to an mbu and put me on the right medication from the get go.
Nevertheless, an acute ward is a frightening place, but at the peak of my illness I was one of the most acute patients in the ward, and seriously disruptive. I remember triggering alarms in the middle of the night, needing 2 people to sit outside my door to check I was not trying escape my room and wander around the ward, while during the day I was a completely different person too scared to even open the door and glance outside my bedroom. My ward was gender segregated and all the nurses were female, however one male nurse from the floor below had to be called in every now and then for my benefit as we know that when our body is pumping full of adrenaline you gain super human strength (he was though a great professional and so experienced, with a gentle manner that I remember so well to this day).
Another component that adds to the mess of a stay in a psych ward (any of them including an MBU) for me was the section. It is a huge thing to be stripped off your freedom and having the decision power over your own self overruled. Looking back I was in no place to decide what was best for me, so a section was a 100% the right decision. Still it is a huge deal for me to come to terms with that decision having had to be made.
I am glad to hear how you have found a supportive gp after many years that recognized your trauma for what it was. It does make a huge difference to be listened to, and sadly as you say, sometimes trust has been eroded from past experiences, so an unhelpful professional is sometimes not only unhelpful at the time but can have a negative impact on all future contacts.
I so agree with you that follow ups should be more proactive, specially in periods were there is an increased risk like the menopause. We have come a long way I think in the past few years, but still there is lots more that could be done 
Take good care guinea1, I wish you all the best with going over your medical records and so glad that your gp has offered to be there with you at the time of reading. Thinking of you.
Thank you, I was never sectioned, as went willingly but then they wouldn't let me go home, I wasn't any trouble to what I know of, my records may show different, I was just absolutely terrified whilst I was there, there was no hope and because I gained no benefit from being there, husband got me out, everything felt hopeless I couldn't even look after myself and terrified of baby incase I hurt her, it was only when my husband kept telling me I wouldn't hurt her and I put a pillow over her head that they quickly found a place for me in a clinic for me and baby to go, they gave me one to one and listened to my needs and I felt more in control of what happened to me it was so different, I think that is what made it so hard to understand why k was treated with little care in the hospital, but felt I deserved it for being a bad mother or not fighting and being able to communicate with them.
Yes definitely things need to be made aware of the traumatic experiences that mums experience in general psychiatric hospitals. The patient has very different needs and can be very scary. Hopefully things will get better in the future especially with the new mental health act coming in.
Hi guinea1,
You are absolutely right that being able to keep mother and baby together is so beneficial to mum's recovery. I am glad that after the traumatic experience of the general psych you then went to a clinic where your needs were listened to. But it is bittersweet, and one reflects, well then why couldn't it be like this in every place.
I hope that going through your notes while in general psych brings you some closure.
Take good care
Wow I've just posted a similar question, strange coincidence. I also fear reacurrence (following child birth) and later in life/not too far away... menopause :/
Hi, how strange, the menopause I haven't really had much bother with funnily enough it was the build up and the fear of what I thought would be postpartum psychosis with out a baby(if you get what I mean) as that is how the social worker put it so I had been scared for a long time and dread built up.. I had had a second child with no PPP , but that didn't stop the anxiety.... it is hard just go for a appointment for a conversation up with a doctor, being the trauma still un resolved.. glad I have now.. though he knew things were not right way before I did as couldn't face the possibility of becoming Ill, glad he was there to catch me when I did break down, we have built up a great relationship together..so have that trust and someone on my side this time.. I feel it is something that needs to be discussed and hopefully more research in to menopause and the trauma of psychiatric hospitals... if they knew how it affects new mums, then maybe they would try harder not to shove them away so freely... we have to hope xx
I am now half way through therapy with a psychoanalyst psychotherapist who treats you as a whole, helping me not to just lock things away, we are gradually teasing out my jumbled ball of wool- mind and putting things into a more orderly way.. not saying it is easy but progress is being made, this therapy feels more me, going at my pace, with gradual challenges to my comfort zone, as he treats me in a more holistic way this works where other treatments have failed.. learning how to cope better to all the triggers... it has been a long journey from, where my GP gradually gain my trust that he wouldn't send me back to a general psychiatric hospital if things got bad.. to being there for me between therapy to catch and support me.. to now where I have the suitable therapy, plus a mental care coordinator.. they are listening to my needs , I have the control over how things progress and importantly I feel safe... things are gradually improving in the right direction .. sometimes it takes time to find the right path on the journey to recovery, sometimes we have to store things away as too much to cope with, sometimes the help isn't there or time isn't right.. without my doctor I know I possibly wouldn't have got through the last 6 years as it is very hard after things have been locked away for so long to actually know you need that help, my doctor saw that in me and was there when I broke down helped me overcome my shear fear about mental health and the fear that I would get PPP at menopause as the social worker had off handily told me 27 years ago.. so as the years went on because terrified... he was there for me when I told him this and reassured me..even if my appointment went well over the 10mins as it took 15 mins for me to beable to settle down , he gave me the time and support I never had when I was very Ill, understanding why I was so scared, I feel proud I have come so far and that I have had the support so very much needed from professionals..my journey is far from over..but now I can see hope and a way forward... there is always a way forward on our journey just finding the right treatment and direction..it is now way an easy journey... but with the right attitude from health professionals you can start to fear safe again xx
Dear Guinea1,I’m so glad you’ve got in touch and pleased to hear you’ve been able to access some good support. Having the right people around you will make all the difference.
I know in my recovery it was quite up and down, but just as you describe seeing the hope that you’ll get there does make a huge huge difference.
Hearing you feel safe is brilliant. Having had PP myself i so so wanted to feel that. And again, once I did, the steps to getting better gradually fell into place in time.
So good to hear from you. Take care,
Rachel x
Thank you.. it is never too late to seek help to heal, general psychiatric hospitals are a very traumatic experience when out of the blue you become so unwell.. wish I had had the support after I had been unwell.. but the trauma of the whole ordeal, from lack of understanding and general lack of care was just too much.. I know it wasn't my fault the way I was treated, it was really just to contain me until a better arrangement could be found. I could never talk about as didn't want to being the hurt back to loved ones. Been a long difficult journey.. they really don't understand how it effects new mums in a general psychiatric hospital later in life. You feel afraid they will just lock you up . The professionals who were supposed to help leaving me with a fear.. that stopped me being able to seek help. But now I have it it hopefully will do some good.. still psychiatrist scare me even now. But I am ok.
Evening Guinea1,You’re so so right. Its absolutely never ever too late to seek help. I’m just so glad you’ve found people who can be there for you. And that you feel safe.
Thinking of you, and wishing you and your family well. Write anytime, we’re here to support you.
Take care,
Rachel x
Guinea 1,
I feel great compassion dearest Guinea1 and it is lovely to hear from you again.
I am so pleased that a support network has been set up and you finally can trust health professionals, who are actually listening to your needs.
I feel for all those women who never had the chance to experience appropriate care and were stuck in Psychiatric Hospitals without their babies. Unfortunately there was no MBU in my area and the bed on offer was up North in Manchester, far too far away for my partner in 2010. (Luckily I found APP in 2015)
Yes, I believe it has had a long lasting effect on my partner and I, we both suffered with PTS including undiagnosed BP in my case with dreadful Insomnia and anxiety issues for more than 7 years.
One has to figure out what agrees with own moral template, your inner voice. There is such a diverse spectrum on therapies and therapeutic modalities, that it is going to be a bit of trial and error and baring in mind that our female body is continuously changing. Keeping up-dated and factual and asking for help and advice is in my opinion the best way forward to keep healing mind, body and soul.
Look after yourself...
Thank you so much for you kind words, yes it is so hard when I hear of other mums going to general psychiatric hospital with out their babies..the environment is just so wrong.. maybe one day they could have extension on MBU.. where mothers who are very unwell could be near their baby whilst getting the specialist care they so badly need, but as there already isn't enough beds in MBU I feel that this would be a long way off.. they know generally 50 mums a year suffer this debilitating illness.. so makes me wonder why there are no the beds available.. makes me feel frustrated and angry, but at least with APP there are MBUs available now..plus the understanding and mothers care and needs are better met, unlike when I suffered this illness, which does give me hope, also partners family have that support.. at least now there is help and support, even though I did get to a place where me and baby could go and recovery went really well, I think I shoved the bad away.. and just thought about the good experience at Eastborne and talked to my daughter about when mum was poorly and went to the place by the sea, by daughter is 27 tomorrow by the way.. I never had the support to actually process all what happened, family didnt want to talk to much about it , as fear of upsetting me I couldn't talk about if from the pain when I thought about it and fear of hurting everyone one from what I had put everyone through, know now it wasn't my fault through my doctor, counselling and finding here, to where I am now... we are all fighters and so very brave ..fighting the same battles..but on different journeys, all so similar yet so different.. if that makes any sense.. but what we are is we are not alone.. I was told it was very rare.. so it felt like I was the only one, yet I was far from it.. if only we had found APP back all those years ago. 🙂
Hello guinea1
I hope you’re well and that your daughter had a lovely birthday this week. I’m so glad you found APP after all those years feeling like you were the only one. I love what you said at the end of your post 💜
Have a lovely Easter x
Thank you.. it was a good day, incidentally I had therapy in the morning of my daughter's birthday and was able to go through some of the emotional feelings I get around this time.
If you want to use what I said in my last part..please do so..I have these little bits of inspiration every now and again..but it feels right.
Happy Easter xx
Hello Guinea1My PP was 33 years ago and there were no MBUs then, at least I don’t think so! The ward I found myself on was mixed sex and very much mixed Age group. It was very frightening indeed but I feel I did get over it. I think perhaps having two more children and no PP helped to obliterate the memory. I was so confused at the beginning I don’t think I knew where I was.
Once recovered I used to go back to the psychiatric unit and chat to other mums experiencing PP and I think that was very healing. One lady I took out for a swim in the evening and a half a lager !! She found it very helpful and told me those were the nights she slept well! Going in to the unit with good mental health was ok!
The hospital has gone now and I have no idea of facilities in Swindon.
Like you I was a bit fearful of menopause. I am 63 this year and have been ok in the main but I did have hyperthyroidism Graves’ disease in 2020 and coped with most of the Graves symptoms other than some mental anguish. Fortunately my endocrinologist suggested CBT and I found that very helpful. I told him about PP in 1988 and he was very understanding. Experiencing Graves was the only time I have felt mentally unwell in all this time. Again it was very frightening.
I think a general check up would be such a good idea as our hormones deplete. I don’t have HRT and find mindfulness and meditation very helpful plus I work hard to notice my stress levels and tiredness as these factor into my well being. If I get that overwhelmed feeling I might watch something lovely like The Sound of Music and have a very early night!
Thank you for your post . Sending love and blessings, Helen x
I am glad you were able to go back and help other mums at the psychiatric hospital, something I could have never done due to the trauma of the treatment, probably as nothing good came from there, as family had to intervene and get me out of there as could see my health was getting worse, so was at home til they could sort out suitable care.. at home was aweful as I was very unwell.. my family all helped thankfully..
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