My Mum's story.

[JPB08]

Hello everyone. I thought I would share my Mum's story with you all. She recently passed away at the beginning of June, in her safe place (home) with her family beside her. For that I am eternally grateful, and I know that she was too.

It's a complex story, but basically after I was born (youngest of 4 in 1974) my Mum succumbed to a post natal depression that became a psychosis that lasted almost 50 years.

At the time she was prescribed anti depressants, but for one reason or another my Mum refused to take the medication.

So, amazingly, my Mum brought up 4 kids whilst in the grip of a psychosis.

2 years ago I managed to finally get some psychiatric help to my Mum via a nurse who visited the home. She was so paranoid and untrusting of any medical professionals that she hadn't seen a doctor or nurse for over 45 years (when I was born).....

Some anti psychotic medicine was prescribed, and finally the voices, the noise, and the agitation in her mind eased.

I quit my job in late 2022 and took on the full time carer role for my Mum and Dad.

Devoting my time to Mum over the last 2 years was unbelievably rewarding.

She was so happy and content, and grateful for the help and support that I and my siblings gave her.

The trauma and fear that my Mum would have suffered by going into a care home, or a hospital would have been unbearable for us all.

She was so sharp, smart, witty, and great fun.

We had challenging moments, but with patience, love, and some deep breaths we were fine.

She was such a unique character.

She needed care, but a special care that only we could give.

We managed to keep her in her safe place, home.

She passed away on June 4th, aged 82.

Peacefully, in her favourite place, with her family with her.

A life less ordinary.

Thankyou for reading x

Are there any life long stories out there from kids of PP Mums?

I'd love to hear other people's experiences.

John

[ipsofacto]

Hey John, sorry for your loss, and well done on the help you managed to give to your mum, it sounds like it was transformational for both of you. I'm the kid of a pp mum, unfortunately she passed away when I was a kid, around 3. I made a documentary about it and through that met other kids of pp mums. One of those people wrote a book about her experiences of her life with her mum, her name is Nyna Giles and the book is called The Bridesmaids Daughter. I also met lots of mums through APP with adult children who have lived full and happy lives after pp, I am sure some will comment, or if not, get in touch with app directly.

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hello John,

My name's Jenny, I'm one of the national peer support coordinators at APP.

Thank you so much for posting here and sharing some of your mum's story, it is very moving to read.

I'm sorry that your mum has recently passed away. I'm so glad you and your siblings were able to give her that care and support, that you were able to get her that psychiatric help after all those years, and she was able to find some peace.

Do please get in touch with us to connect further if you'd like to - you can email us at [e-mail]

Sending very best wishes,

Jenny

[Ellie_at_APP Partner]

Welcome John to the forum. I’m Ellie. Like Jenny I’m one of APP’s national peer support coordinators and had postpartum psychosis in 2011 after the birth of my son.

It is very moving to read your story of your mum. I’m so glad you managed to get her the right support at the end and that she died so peacefully at home. She sounds like an amazing woman, and to cope with everything she had to in her life.

My mum also experienced psychosis in my childhood. She was an amazing person too, very creative, kind, clever. She died a year and a half ago now. I miss her but am grateful for everything she gave me.

I’m so glad you’ve found us and reached out. As Jenny says if you’d like to be in touch with us do email, we are here for all family members affected by postpartum psychosis.

Take care

Ellie

[Survivedwithcolor]

Thank you for sharing your story. It sounds like your mom was a very special lady. She raised a very loving son and siblings, which is a testament to how strong she was despite a crippling illness and how capable people with mental illness can be.

I am also of your generation. I didn’t have a parent with PP, I am the only one in my family to have experienced it. However my grandmother lost a full term baby after a fall in the 1950s and enduring a crushing depression after that. At the time she had no access to medication or people to talk to to help her besides her own family. I can’t even imagine the pain she endured. I spent a lot of time with her when I was growing up and I think it never left her.

May you continue to experience your mother’s peace and love.