277: Debilitating Postpartum Intrusive Thoughts and OCD

One of the best ways to help moms with various postpartum difficulties is to let them know they are not alone. Helping to do that is what Mom & Mind is all about, and today’s guest wants to help shed light and understanding on intrusive thoughts and OCD. We hope many people will benefit from hearing Jenn’s story. Please join us!

Jenn Holmes lives in Mississippi with her husband and two-year-old son. She is the Mississippi State Lead Coordinator for Postpartum Support International, and she’s sharing her story to help other moms. Jenn experienced debilitating intrusive thoughts within days of giving birth to her son. She didn’t know what was happening and became very frightened by her thoughts. As Jenn shares in our conversation, her thoughts became very graphic, which is a real-life scenario for those who experience intensive intrusive thoughts. She shares details that may be hard for some people to hear, so please use your judgment as to whether you are ready for those. If not, you can skip over those parts or come back to listen at any time. 

An important note that Jenn mentions is that she thought she may be experiencing psychosis because of what she had heard in the media about postpartum psychosis and mothers who harmed themselves or their children. In truth, there is a wide range of postpartum psychosis experiences, and the media portrayal is often incorrect, sensationalized, or inhumane. If you’d like to learn more about postpartum psychosis, please listen to Episode 258 with Michele Davidson. To learn more about postpartum OCD from a clinical perspective, please listen to Episode 205 on destigmatizing intrusive thoughts with Dr. Nichole Fairbrother. 

Show Highlights:

How Jenn’s perfect pregnancy and non-traumatic C-section delivery gave way to her first intrusive thought before she even took her baby home

How her thoughts progressed in graphic severity or harm to her baby and herself

How Jenn found a Facebook friend who said she had postpartum OCD and told her about coping strategies–(the woman Jenn credits with saving her and her baby)

How Jenn’s intrusive thoughts turned even more vivid and catastrophic, making her unable to function in daily tasks without thoughts of harming her son

How Jenn’s Ob diagnosed her with severe postpartum depression, prescribed helpful meds, and suggested a “naming and taming” approach to intrusive thoughts

How Jenn is doing today

How she saw a psychiatrist, a social worker, and two therapists who had no idea what was going on with her

Why books, resources, and mental health professionals need to do more regarding postpartum depression, intrusive thoughts, and OCD

How Jenn helps others today through work with Postpartum Support International

Resources:

Connect with Jenn: Instagram and Facebook

Visit www.postpartum.net for resources and support! 

Visit www.postpartum.net/professionals/certificate-trainings/ for information on the grief course.  

Visit my website, www.wellmindperinatal.com, for more information, resources, and courses you can take today!

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