Mom says postpartum psychosis made her feel like "such a monster"
As the trial of Lindsay Clancy brings renewed attention to postpartum psychosis, Haley Ashcom shares her experience with the dangerous condition.
Haley Ashcom, a mother of four, has spoken on CBS Mornings about her experience with postpartum psychosis, a condition that brought her to feel like a "monster". Ashcom, who had always wanted a large family, welcomed her first son, Kane, in 2020. However, her mental health began to deteriorate with insomnia, anxiety, and ultimately, violent thoughts.
She was diagnosed with postpartum depression and placed on Zoloft, similar to what Lindsay Clancy, whose case has sparked renewed interest in the condition, was also prescribed. But Ashcom's condition worsened, leading her to check herself into a psychiatric hospital where she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. This is a rare condition affecting about one to two in every 1,000 women after childbirth, causing delusions, fixated on the baby, and can be life-threatening if untreated.
Ashcom expressed feeling overwhelmed, stating she thought it would be better not to be alive. She underwent treatment which led to her recovery, welcoming three more children without experiencing the condition again. She hopes sharing her story encourages other parents to seek help for postpartum mental illness.
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