A MOTHER'S JOURNEY TO RECOVERY

BIRTH

• My youngest daughter was born at the end of November 2013. She was rushed out of the room as the cord had been round her neck
• We spent Christmas with family in Scotland
• During January my husband who was suffering from depression lost his job
• Our house was on the market at the time
• Although things were tough I felt I was coping
• However following traumatic incident where my daughter was injured things went downhill fast.

ADMISSION TO CLATTERBRIDGE

• Following a period of severe lack of sleep I became increasingly afraid that something terrible was going to happen to my family
• I locked myself and children in the bathroom and called emergency services
• In my confusion I asked for fire brigade even though there was no fire
• Police spoke to me first and I was taken to hospital where my closest friend met me
• My family rushed down from Scotland

PSYCHOTIC EPISODE

• On the ward I thought I might have travelled back in time or perhaps died
• I spent all my time trying to figure out a way to escape instead of resting or sleeping which meant my mental health deteriorated
• Experienced immense pressure/pain in my head
• I felt like a spy trapped in enemy territory too afraid to speak in case I was discovered
• I was hiding and afraid of staff who eventually had to pin me down to medicate me

TRANSFER TO WYTHEMSHAW

• A bed became availible at the mother and baby unit in Manchester
• I was reunited with my baby and able to resume breast-feeding during the daytime
• Initially I had the mistaken impression that I was in a woman's shelter or refuge centre
• However due to the really good care I received there my mental health started improving significantly
• I spent a lot of time in the art room painting

TREATMENT

• In hospital I was on Olanzipine
• I had a key worker and staff to talk to
• I met with my psychiatrist regularly
• The early intervention team assessed me and agreed to take me onto their caseload following discharge from hospital
• Discharged around Easter time
• In the summer I switched to Quetiapine and felt more like my old self
• Engaged with CBT sessions provided by team

RELAPSED

• Despite good progress I relapsed in February following year
• My team visited me regularly
• I phoned crisis team if I struggled out of hours
• Although serious I was helped in community without re-admission to hospital

FUTURE

• I’ve been working with APP now for a couple of years
• I’m hoping to write and illustrate children’s books to help them understand this illness which affects so many mothers every year
• I’m soon going to start studying a masters in psychology at Chester University