SHANELLE KAUL:
00:00:40
In 2020, after giving birth to her first son, Cain, Haley Ashcombe's dream of becoming a mother suddenly felt like a nightmare. It first presented as insomnia, difficulty sleeping, a lot of anxieties, but they continued to escalate. What I believe were intrusive thoughts ended up turning into voices.
SHANELLE KAUL:
00:01:01
She was prescribed the same anti-anxiety medication as Lindsay Clancy. But those voices, Ashcombe says, grew louder and turned violent. They told me exactly how and what I should do to end my life.
SHANELLE KAUL:
00:01:16
Ashcombe says she went straight to a hospital and, like Clancey, was prescribed a second anti-anxiety med. Did those voices go away? Unfortunately, they just continued to get worse.
SHANELLE KAUL:
00:01:28
After ultimately checking herself into a psychiatric hospital, Ashcombe says she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. We have three women with that diagnosis.
SHANELLE KAUL:
00:01:39
Dr. Catherine Birndorf treats women with this illness and says it's underdiagnosed because many doctors don't know what to look for. It's a very lethal and dangerous illness that, when left untreated, has tragic outcomes. Good job.
SHANELLE KAUL:
00:01:56
Ashcombe is thankful she got the treatment she needed in time and went on to have three more children without experiencing psychosis again. And if you're struggling with postpartum mental illness or know someone who is, you can call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline through the number on your screen. Tony?
TONY DOKOUPIL:
00:02:18
Really good information, Shanelle. Thank you.
