Postpartum psychosis is a severe mental health condition that affects people after they give birth. The condition is dangerous but is also reversible. Postpartum psychosis is mental health emergency as people that have it have much higher risk of harming themselves, having suicidal thoughts or harming their children.
Many people who have given birth will experience mild mood changes. This is normal and usually lasts for a few days. This is different from post-partum psychosis as it is a serious mental illness. The symptoms of postpartum psychosis usually start suddenly within the first two weeks after giving birth, however in some cases it can develop several weeks after giving birth.
Symptoms of postpartum Psychosis
- Hallucinations: hearing, seeing, smelling, or feeling things that are not there.
- insomnia
- irritability or agitation
- thoughts of self-harm or harming others
- delusions
- mood changes
- disorganized thinking or behavior
- Depersonalization (out of body experience)
Causes of postpartum psychosis
- Hormonal changes
- sleep deprivation
- other mental health conditions
- number of pregnancies