Postpartum Psychosis Essay

835 Words2 Pages

Maya Phillip had just finished her maternity leave when she was diagnosed with severe postpartum psychosis. Her husband of two years was abroad on a military mission and was keeping little touch with his Maya. However, fearing for her and her infant’s safety, Maya’s sister in-law came to her rescue. After two months in the local community hospital she was discharged, only to find that she had lost her job. The employer cited her mental condition and prolonged absence as the reason the dismissal. She decided to enlist the services of an attorney to get her employment benefits if not reinstatement to her job. However, since finishing her follow-up checkups, Dominic Ezeli, her doctor at the community hospital, says he has not heard from her. Just …show more content…

Further, the sufferer experiences frequent hallucinations, becomes paranoid, and suspicious. In other cases, the individual becomes unable to sleep and has difficulties communicating coupled with rapid mood swings. The fierce part about the disorder is that women who develop postpartum psychosis have a four percent chance of committing infanticide and a five percent rate of committing suicide. The reason can be explained as a break from reality. The hallucinations feel very real to the sufferer and as such instant treatment is of the essence. People may notice that the person is withdrawing socially, acting in weird manner, they become quieter, and begin struggling at their daily chores. Consequently, there are dangers that the person suffering from this type of psychosis may be at risk due to the irrational judgments thy go through. However, the good news is that postpartum psychosis is treatable with professional help since it is a temporary …show more content…

Others include the relatives who have displayed decreased daily functioning over a period of a year. The illness is treatable using medication, for example, mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. However, these medications should be used cautiously, especially if the individual is breastfeeding. Additionally, for the patients taking antipsychotics, to reduce the risks of adding weight, one should engage in physical activity and healthy eating. It is crucial for those mothers who are planning another pregnancy to discuss with their specialist psychiatrist and review medication. Other treatment measures include electroconvulsive therapy, which is effectively administered in a hospital setting. The health professionals are able to monitor and assess the condition of the new mother with the help of psychological therapies. Psychological therapies are important in providing effective coping measures to an individual. However, in other clinical settings, patients undergo mother-infant therapies for counseling and support

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