Next Steps

[Olanzapinelenny]

hello,

I’m curious how many people now work in healthcare or advocate for mental health since their experience? X

[x_Amy Volunteer]

Hi Olanzapinelenny,

That’s a great question. I went on to work in social care/mental health support work after I’d made a full recovery from PP. After bonding with my colleagues, it turns out most of us had lived experience of mental illness and wanted to use it to help others. It definitely made for a compassionate workforce!

Is there a particular role you’re interested in? X

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to x_Amy]

Hello, that’s so encouraging to hear, nothing yet specifically but do feel a really strong interest now. Nosy question and of course timelines are different for everyone but when was your full or close to recovery duration? X

[x_Amy Volunteer in reply to Olanzapinelenny]

I’m sure you’ll find the perfect role for you when the time is right

For me, the PP itself was treated within 3 months, but the overall recovery (therapies, med adjustments etc) took around 3 years. It took me a long time to regain my confidence, but I felt comfortable being open with my colleagues when I had bad days and they were really supportive, which helped so much.

How are you feeling? May I ask how recovery is going for you? X

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to x_Amy]

Hi Amy, thss as nos for your reply, I’m 1.5 years into recovery, things are up and down and yes confidence and self worth the biggest barrier, feeding into many other problems I think. That sounds so great that you can be open and honest with colleagues. X

[x_Amy Volunteer in reply to Olanzapinelenny]

Thank you for your kind words 💗 I understand how you feel, 1.5 years post PP is still early days. It is such a huge thing to overcome but with time, you will absolutely get there. It’s so positive to hear that you’re thinking about the next steps for yourself and I wish you the best of luck and happiness with whichever role you choose! X

[The_Wes_Anderson_Fan Volunteer]

Hello OlanzapinelennyIt was 20 years after I had PP before I started working in mental health.

I didn't know there were opportunities for peer support workers.

I have since done a lot of volunteering and paid work.

Personally I have found it demoralising as entry level front line workers are barely paid minimum wage (band 3)

So sadly, I am sticking to my own job that pays me a fair wage/living.

It was a good experience though!

[HelenMW Volunteer]

hello there, just to answer your question I work on a voluntary basis at a music mental health group on a Wednesday. I play drums, sing and sometimes just listen and have a chat over a cup of tea. It is a very precious group and I know I would not be involved had it not been for my own PP in 1988. I used to also volunteer with HomeStart helping new mums who are struggling.

I have in the past come along side women with PP and that was always a blessing. I used to take a lady for a swim and she always said she slept really well on those nights at the psychiatric unit. It was such a privilege to come along side with experience and empathy.

Making good use of what I experienced seems to help!

Blessings, Helen

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to HelenMW]

This is beautiful, so magic to hear. I recently came across the phrase post traumatic growth and love the idea that you can do awesome things that you might not have done if it wasn’t for your difficult experience, thanks for your reply! X

[HelenMW Volunteer]

I love that

Post Traumatic Growth

I will keep that in my heart! Off to the music group now

X

[yougotthis1 Volunteer]

Hi Olanzapinelenny ,

I have just got a role as a perinatal mental health peer support worker in the NHS and I absolutely cannot wait to start.

The job is to basically listen without judgement to other mums suffering with postnatal mental illness as someone who has that experience.

This is something that the NHS is starting to really understand the value of and seems to be growing.

I started off doing volunteering with various groups, which really helped build my confidence and self-esteem.

Wishing you well in your recovery journey.

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to yougotthis1]

That sounds incredible, congratulations! It’s so important x

[yougotthis1 Volunteer in reply to Olanzapinelenny]

Thank you, I really hope you find the right thing for you x

[taramag]

hi there, I had pp in 2021 so it’s very new but I’ve chosen to talk to the media. Mainly cos my pp was treated without perinatal services and I was admitted into a general psychiatric ward without my baby because where I live has no MBU! Northern Ireland is campaigning for this and I love being involved and doing what I can.

I don’t know if there is a complete U turn in my career in the future but we did start our own business off the back of recovering from postpartum psychosis and what I believed was a gap in the market. I use that platform to also advocate for other mummy’s.

As they say in Ireland “if it’s for you it’ll not go by you” if you are wanting a career change I think you’d make an amazing addition to the services.

Not many people who work in the services know what it’s like to have the symptoms we had and that makes us superhero’s able to do what we can to help others! 💜💜💜

t.

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to taramag]

Fantastic thank you for your kind words and all the great work you are doing! That’s brilliant about your business. X

[taramag in reply to Olanzapinelenny]

Aw thanks! I mean all of this has been traumatic and I’ve posted previously about being unable to handle the anxiety that nearly destroyed my career. But people need to know that recovery is possible if the right support and treatment is available.

That’s what I want to do, I think it would be amazing if you did take your experience and used it as fuel to help others 🥹 good luck with everything!

T.

[Survivedwithcolor]

I’ve posted my survivor story here recently and I’m a 21 year survivor now. I was somewhat misdiagnosed and it wasn’t until last year that I was able to stop taking antipsychotics and realized I did not have a psychotic mental illness at all; I had PP with Bipolar 2.

Ever since then I’ve spent a bit of time trying to do more reading about the current research on PP and have realized that it’s shockingly under-researched, often not effectively treated, and there is little to no support for many moms, depending heavily on where you live and in the USA, whether you have good health insurance. I’ve started reaching out to local advocates and found this group through one of those sources. I’m retired now and don’t intend to go back to work in mental health but I do intend to volunteer. I’m still searching for the way to do that that best fits my skills and time I have available. I have other family members who depend on me and have had some health problems of my own recently. But knowing the severe impact PP has had on my life, I would very much like to spend more time reaching out to other moms.

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to Survivedwithcolor]

Thank you for sharing this is really inspiring ❤️ even just helping one other mum is amazing and such a gift!

[Survivedwithcolor in reply to Olanzapinelenny]

Yes I think connecting with even a few moms is a win! I’ve been so happy to find this site for that reason. There is a national site in the US which I may join or sign up to be a mentor. I also used to be a teacher before I had to retire due to PP and am pretty good at teaching people, I’m told; I’d love to do public speaking about my experience or outreach to providers. Time will tell! I’m just getting started on this part of the journey.

Even 21 years ago when I had PP there was a great deal of stigma over it and being a public school teacher I didn’t tell many people at the time, because who wants their kid’s teacher to be psychotic, right? I resigned because I knew it was not a good situation and I cared too much about the kids to risk it. I never, ever considered hurting them but I was very suicidal myself and not always totally sure of reality. I just didn’t feel it was right to stay. Having to leave a career I loved was like a death, though, and I’ve grieved over the loss of it ever since. Still, I reinvented my life eventually and have been fortunate in many other ways. We make at least some of our luck, I think, with hard work and attitude.

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to Survivedwithcolor]

I’m sorry you had to make that change, I can relate to grief over being ill and things having to change or experienced missed. It’s hard to make peace with what’s happened but hopefully time helps us all x

[Maria_at_APP Moderator in reply to Survivedwithcolor]

Hello Survivedwithcolor, thank you for sharing a part of your post-recovery story which must have been incredibly painful and still feel like such a lost. As you have so resiliently put it, it's possible to reinvent ourselves as so many mums on this thread have already spoken about. It's really so encouraging to read all the posts on this thread.

Take very good care,

Maria

[Pikorua Volunteer in reply to Survivedwithcolor]

Thank you for sharing dear Survivedwithcolour. You know stigma has not changed on many levels and especially within a political, socio-cultural context. I could write a book about the unreasonable treatment I have received due to MH issues since 2010, not only within the health system in my region in the UK, but also by organisations throughout the years, including the department for pension and work...

I was passionate about teaching, too. I am so sorry that you could not continue with your career. I have had to protect myself from stressors once I became pregnant and then, too poorly to continue in higher education when recovering from PPP and finally struggling with Insomnia.

I only look back when I can support individuals with my lived experiences. I feel lucky, too

[RachelK_at_APP Moderator]

hello Olanzapinelenny,

Like yourself I feel that a career in mental health is something in my future. My children are still young and I currently work at their school so for now that will do. But definitely I’d like to work within the field but I’m unsure what that role will be.

Take care

RK

[Olanzapinelenny in reply to RachelK_at_APP]

Hello RK, thank you for sharing I wish you all the best in your future ❤️ x