Really need insight

[Gigi2017]

Thank you for your kind words. I am at a loss where to get her the proper therapist and psychiatrist. She has been out of the hospital almost 5 weeks, medicated but doing better but told me she is still having some intrusive thoughts of harm to the children and she is honestly the best mom. Her therapist says she hasn't the experience in PPP. All the psychiatrist does is prescribe meds but no counselling. Trying to get her into a program at a downtown hospital that specializes in PPP. How did you all move past the intrusive thoughts or did you all have those? Please let me know what to do. Gigi

[Lilybeth Volunteer]

Hello Gigi2017

I’m so sorry your daughter is suffering with intrusive thoughts. Please reassure her that these thoughts are not her own but the traumatic illness she is going through. I wonder if you are in the UK or abroad?

I had PP twice many years ago and suffered delusions and intrusive thoughts which were all very real and frightening at the time. I was sectioned and treated under mixed general psychiatric care.

I think it’s very early days for your daughter but please be hopeful that she will recover with good medical support and your loving care.

It must be overwhelming for you to see your daughter in distress so please remember to take care of yourself.

There are APP resources here, one of which is “PP Soup” described as a nourishing mix of all things Postpartum Psychosis at ppsoupdotcom.wordpress.com/. Put together by a mum who suffered PP, with input from other mums and professionals which might be helpful.

Congratulations on the birth of your grandchild. We are all here to lean on.

[LilacHayling Volunteer]

Dear GigiIt is very clear you are trying so hard to get your daughter the help she needs. Is there a health care professional that can help you to find the right person or place? It is tough to try to do this alone.

My daughter in law had voices in her head telling her she was a bad Mum. Those voices were real as she was ill. It took counselling and medication and stays in a mother and baby unit for her. Like your daughter she is a great Mum who was unwell.

I do hope you get the support needed to find your daughter the support she needs.

Very best wishes

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hello Gigi2017

I’m Jenny, I’m one of the peer support coordinators at APP and had PP myself in 2012 after my first son was born.

I’m sorry to hear your daughter is suffering from PP and struggling with intrusive thoughts. I wanted to add to the lovely replies and suggestions that have been shared with you already and share a couple of links that might be helpful on the subject of intrusive thoughts. I hope they work for you if you’re not in the UK.

There is an article on the MIND website about dealing with intrusive thoughts: mind.org.uk/information-sup...

Also a video on YouTube by a CBT therapist (she has other videos as well if you search her name) ‘understanding intrusive thoughts’: youtube.com/watch?v=_Wss6W1...(Not working as expected?)

There are other posts about intrusive thoughts here on the forum (you can use the search function and tick ‘my communities’) where you can read other people’s experiences and replies where people have shared what helped them. I think knowing it is ‘just a thought’ is the most important thing, and that everyone has thoughts that flit through their head all the time but these get ‘stuck’ somehow. I’m sure your support and reassurance that she is a great mum are making a huge difference to your daughter 😊

I do hope you can get your daughter into the program you mention that specialises in PP, and that perhaps they can help you in your search for the right professional support. If you’re not in the UK, Postpartum Support International is a great source of information to help find local support as well: postpartum.net/

I do hope this helps a bit. Take good care of yourself and if you have any questions please do write any time.

Best wishes,

Jenny x

[Gigi2017 in reply to Jenny_at_APP]

Hi Jenny. I can't thank you enough for your kind words and the links you sent me today. My daughter and me have so much hope from all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The You Tube video on intrusive thoughts was so incredibly helpful. I will continue to reach out to all of you. I am so thankful for APP. Many many thanks and God Bless each and every one of you. You are all a bright light in a very hard time. Gigi xo

[Jenny_at_APP Partner in reply to Gigi2017]

Hi Gigi2017,

You are so very welcome. I'm really glad the links were helpful, and that you found the forum. Take really good care and please do continue to reach out to us.

Best wishes,

Jenny x