A powerful exploration of postpartum psychosis and motherhood — and a call to end the stigma and blame.
Early motherhood is supposed to be joyous, but for Aaisha Alvi those early days were ruined by terrifying thoughts about her baby and family. Her experience was the antithesis of everything she had ever been told about motherhood, far beyond the trials of breastfeeding or putting her baby to sleep.
Aaisha did recover and began to enjoy motherhood. She was thrilled when she fell pregnant again. Sadly, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and the psychosis returned. This time, however, she was blindsided by the unimaginable: voices urged her to stab her daughter and to harm innocent people. Aaisha felt evil, worthy of taking her own life. But each time she sought medical help, she was turned away.
With unflinching honesty, Aaisha takes readers beyond the vitriol and blame that is flung at women suffering from postpartum psychosis — particularly women of colour. Hers is a clarion call for increased awareness of a condition that need never result in tragedy.
Authors
- Pages
- 272
- Published in
- Toronto, CA
Table of Contents
- Cover 1
- Halftitle 7
- Title 9
- Copyright 10
- Dedication 11
- Contents 13
- Foreword 15
- Part 1 21
- 1: What’s Insane? 23
- 2: A Little Mad 29
- 3: I’m Possessed 41
- Part 2 51
- 4: Breathe 53
- 5: The Scientific Quest 65
- 6: Playing the Fool 77
- 7: The Other Woman 87
- 8: The Intervention 97
- 9: The F- Word 107
- Part 3 117
- 10: Attention Grab 119
- 11: Loopy Thoughts 127
- 12: Cinnabon to the Rescue 135
- 13: Angel of Death 145
- 14: Kick the Bastard 155
- 15: Take Two Advils 167
- 16: Jump 177
- 17: Hide the Knives 189
- 18: Sixth Sense 197
- 19: The Diva You Are 207
- 20: My Friend Marilyn 217
- 21: Is This Your Wife? 227
- 22: Was I Like This? 237
- Epilogue 249
- Afterword 253
- Acknowledgements 265
- Notes 267
- Back Cover 274