ADHD and PPP

[Yellowjumper37]

hello everyone,

I have been reading posts for the last year, and I firstly wanted to say thankyou - hearing about others experiences has been very helpful.

I had PPP a little over a year ago. I was on a mixed fairly rough mental health ward- 2 weeks without seeing my baby, and 4 weeks thereafter of daily visits with him. I live in Berlin. There is a MBU here, but my paperwork wasn’t in order, and we didn’t understand how the system works. I feel real sadness about how tough those weeks were.

The paperwork not being in order leads me into ADHD. Does anyone on here have ADHD? Are there any links with being neurodivergent and PPP?

Many thanks to you all

[Jenny_at_APP Partner]

Hello Yellowjumper37,

Welcome to the forum and thank you for posting here. I'm sorry to hear that you experienced PP last year and were admitted to a mixed ward and were unable to be cared for in the MBU there. It must have been very difficult being in that environment and separated from your baby. I do hope you're doing ok now and I'm glad to hear it's been helpful to read stories here on the forum over the past year.

I had PP back in 2012 and was fortunate to be admitted to an MBU quickly. Even with a pretty quick recovery and positive experience in many ways, it took a long time to process everything and feel fully recovered. Connecting with others and reading other people's experiences on the APP website and here on the forum was really helpful for me too.

With regard to your question around PP and neurodivergence, I'm not aware of any studies specifically into PP and ADHD. I understand there is evidence of a higher prevalence of psychosis more generally in those with autism/ADHD, as well as other mental health disorders such as depression, but more research is needed...

There was a post asking about autism and PP studies not too long ago which might be helpful to read - healthunlocked.com/app-netw...

There are definitely people with neurodivergence within our network and hopefully you will get some replies from others with relevant experience and knowledge that they are happy to share.

Take good care and thank you again for posting

Best wishes,

Jenny

[Hazello Volunteer]

Hello Yellowjumper37,

I had PP in 2016 and was parted from my son for a couple of days while I awaited a bed at the MBU. It must have been so so difficult being apart from your wee one for 2 weeks and then only short visits for 4 weeks.

How has your recovery been going?

I was diagnosed with ADHD in 2023(privately), after a long time obsessively ruminating about whether or not I had it!

I don't know anything about the research evidence but having come to understand the workings of my brain a bit better I feel intuitively that my hyperactive brain was a factor in me developing PP.

It sounds like you've been through so much the last year, it's a lot to come to terms with. I'm so glad you've found us here though. I found it so helpful speaking to people who really get what you're going through.

Best wishes

Hazello