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postpartum depression

Lindsay Clancy's case is shining a light on postpartum psychosis

Ever since Lindsay Clancy was arrested for taking the lives of her three children before attempting to take her own, Jan. 2023, the reality of postpartum psychosis has been thrust into mainstream media. Before Clancy's lawyers cited the postpartum condition as the main contributing factor into her unthinkable act, psychosis didn't seem to be on many people's radar as a response to giving birth.

Psychosis isn't something that only involves seeing or hearing things that aren't there, it's a collective list of symptoms. Some of the symptoms outside of visual and auditory hallucinations is, delusional thinking, paranoia, belief of your thoughts being broadcasted, aggression, disorganized speech, and many more.

But just because someone is experiencing psychosis doesn't mean they're experiencing all of the symptoms and most people that are in a psychotic episode are too disorganized to carry out any meaningful thought out plan. As a therapist that specializes in psychotic disorders, it's tragic to see that the disorder may have contributed to the deaths of Clancy's children and I also recognize this particular case is acting as a springboard for an important dialogue.

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Kylie Jenner.

It’s pretty safe to say that everyone who has ever been pregnant has gone through pregnancy and the postpartum period differently. Everyone processes the hormones in their own way, gains weight differently and loses weight differently. But the overall experience of pregnancy and postpartum, while different, is also strikingly similar. In today’s world we have become accustomed to celebrities bouncing right back after giving birth. It seems as though they give birth and are walking the red carpet the following week in a sleek fitting gown, glowing with smiles and laughter. Kylie Jenner is no exception. After she had her first child, Stormi, Kylie’s social media went right back to business as usual.

All of the content she put out was perfectly crafted, and she showed up in public spaces looking as if she just stepped away from a magazine shoot. There was little to no evidence outside of pictures of her child to show that she had actually had a baby. Jenner kept her entire pregnancy under wraps until the birth of her first child, while continuing to push out content that showed her in the best of light. While some women feel the Kardashians and Jenners perpetuate unrealistic body images, and the sisters have been accused of using photoshop to continue showing the world perfectly sculpted bodies clad in equally perfectly coordinated outfits, Jenner's recent confession has some moms rejoicing.

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Chrissy Teigen and John Legend just welcomed their baby boy, Miles, into the world.

"This is Miles Theodore Stephens," Teigen captioned a photo posted on May 17, 2018. "We are drowning in his little peeps and nuzzles. Our household feels overwhelmed with love."

[rebelmouse-image 19398126 dam="1" original_size="491x650" caption="Image via Chrissy Teigen/Instagram." expand=1]Image via Chrissy Teigen/Instagram.

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Sarah Michelle Gellar just opened up about what it was like struggling with postpartum depression after the 2009 birth of her daughter, Charlotte.

As many as 1 in 7 new mothers will experience postpartum depression, yet it's something that doesn't get talked about nearly enough as the result of some pretty serious shame and stigma. On Instagram, the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress shared her story alongside a heart-meltingly sweet throwback photo of Charlotte (now age 7) as an infant.

"Having kids is wonderful, and life changing, and rarely what you're prepared for. I love my children more than anything in the world. But like a lot of women, I too struggled with postpartum depression after my first baby was born. I got help, and made it through, and every day since has been the best gift I could ever have asked for. To those of you going through this, know that you're not alone and that it really does get better."

Geller was moved to share her story now in light of the current debate around health care reform.

Congress presently is mulling over its options when it comes to what, if anything, it should change about our current system. Some of those plans could mean a return to the days where pre-existing conditions (the definition of which is pretty much up to insurance companies but would likely include things like postpartum depression) could either get you excluded from a plan or charged a higher rate.

Gellar isn't having it and urged people to call their members of Congress and demand coverage:

"And if you believe that postpartum depression should be covered by healthcare, please take a moment and go to callmycongress.com today, find your rep's numbers and let them know. #NotAPreExistingCondition"

Prinze family out!! ✈️✈️

A post shared by Sarah Michelle (@sarahmgellar) on

Gellar was fortunate to get the help and support she needed to get through postpartum depression years ago. Also, thankfully, our current health care system allows those of us who might not be as financially well off as she is to receive that same sort of care. Let's fight to keep it that way.

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