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    "result": {"data":{"sanityArticle":{"title":"Postnatal Psychosis: Signs and symptoms ","_type":"article","datePublished":"14 February 2022","header":{"background":{"value":"#E1F9F7"},"headline":"Postnatal Psychosis: Signs and symptoms ","text":[{"_key":"26e81a17982f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"82541f3edcd20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis is a serious condition. Hope for recovery is strong with early intervention and professional treatment."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"image":{"asset":{"_id":"image-a254445c05703a6cc0a079cacac9c7c7cde84f8c-2500x1800-jpg"},"crop":null,"hotspot":null,"alt":null}},"content":[{"_key":"86bdb46da236","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6ff8fe3d32220","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis is a rare but serious mental condition that occurs after someone has given birth. Postnatal psychosis can cause sudden and dramatic changes in a person’s thinking, behaviour, mood and sleep patterns. Psychotic episodes involve a loss of contact with reality and unusual or erratic behaviour."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6b7a22f7ac34","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f9548befed4b","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Parents who experience postnatal psychosis can experience manic episodes and/or severe symptoms of depression, including thoughts of suicide, or hurting themselves or their baby. A parent with postnatal psychosis may also experience sensory hallucinations. They may believe, hear, see or smell things that are not real."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"aa58caff4eea","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"536c219cb722","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis is a condition that affects1 to 2 in every 1000 women who give birth. Symptoms normally occur within the first four weeks after giving birth but can occur up to 12 weeks after birth, or for months if left untreated."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"27c33b53a757","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9957cc34ffa0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"If you notice any of these signs or symptoms in your partner or someone you know who has recently given birth, you should seek professional support straight away."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"924dc99bde45","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"2fff3e8bae94","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"If you think someone is at risk of harming themselves, their baby or someone else, please call 000 immediately."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"sidebarTitle":"Helpful Information","sidebarPosts":[],"modules":[{"_key":"f55d92525729","_type":"faqBlock","include":null,"title":null,"noNumbers":true,"text":[{"_key":"3f3cfe79ff4f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9b764084026c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If you think someone may be experiencing postnatal psychosis, call your local area Mental Health Line (24/7) for advice and support."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"questions":[{"question":[{"_key":"d9edd72460b9","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0d41708316730","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Mental Health Lines (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"answer":[{"_key":"67e78e49ab42","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"85b2f92615190","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"ACT Mental Health Triage Service - 1800 629 354 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"47b7e67b275a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"146cd6e1678c0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"NSW Mental Health Line - 1800 011 511 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c8579aceb1c3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5f3b891b59360","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"NT Mental Health Line - 1800 682 288 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"57ee37556c67","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b081aae43c1a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"QLD Acute Care Team - 1300 642 255 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a64da0b152fc","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"126824a37fb20","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"SA Mental Health Triage Service - 13 14 65 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0551ab31afa1","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"0149a69300e90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"TAS Mental Health Service Helpline - 1800 332 388 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9db733d93dd3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"dd369603cc270","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"VIC: "},{"_key":"a6372d09b31e","_type":"span","marks":["02e42fbaa3cf"],"text":"go here for mental health services in your area"},{"_key":"ac36690b02be","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":", or call Nurse-On-Call on 1300 60 60 24 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[{"_key":"02e42fbaa3cf","_type":"link","blank":true,"linkType":"external","url":"http://www3.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealthservices/"}],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d36de82bfc94","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"7962d89900610","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"WA Mental Health Emergency Response Line 1800 676 822 (24/7)"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]}]},{"_key":"c90f31a69f62","_type":"freeText","include":null,"eyebrow":null,"text":[{"_key":"274b3b9ae510","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"e4f7f4497d880","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis is a medical emergency because it can cause destructive, impulsive thoughts and behaviours that may endanger the safety and lives of parents, their babies and loved ones. "}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"6a24279fad6b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"bc6c6f50247a","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Seeking treatment as soon as possible is the fastest route to recovery."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"background":{"value":"#EDE8E4"}},{"_key":"653d9094a7ab","_type":"quote","quote":"I was frightened, confused, withdrawn, pestered by illogical thoughts that randomly popped into my head including self-harm and harming my baby.","attribution":null},{"_key":"de12045a7b13","_type":"faqBlock","include":null,"title":"Signs and symptoms to look out for include: ","noNumbers":true,"text":null,"questions":[{"question":[{"_key":"be71adb96f8c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"b3d59c9637c00","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Early warning signs of postnatal psychosis"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"answer":[{"_key":"9aeb51b9b7b1","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"41abe925d09f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Inability to sleep, even when the opportunity to do so is present. For instance, when baby is napping or someone else is caring for bub to allow a new parent to get some rest."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b12076f0afbd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5ec75c96fc85","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Decades of research indicate that inability to sleep can be the first major warning sign of an episode of postnatal psychosis. It’s common for new parents to experience disrupted sleep, especially overnight during the first few months when babies wake often to feed."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"a48acbb0fc0d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d627640371d3","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"If someone isn’t sleeping at all for days and nights on end, encourage them to speak to their doctor and/or child health nurse as soon as possible. It’s a good idea to attend the appointment with them for support."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]},{"question":[{"_key":"30f5dde6d36e","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"12536505e5c80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Changes in energy levels"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"answer":[{"_key":"53ee743b1cf5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f7a090c1c5720","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Agitated, restless and manic. Unable to relax or stop moving."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"bf0b40b6733b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"062b27ea1c860","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Full of energy and motivated, with an intense need to get things done."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b88489e647d0","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"2f80c8c3a19a0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Low energy and lack of interest in daily life (known as anhedonia)"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]},{"question":[{"_key":"ef89e2c543f5","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"6623a670534f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Changes in mood"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"answer":[{"_key":"849081e0c49f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c159e8fab7dc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Extreme and sudden mood swings, severe highs and lows."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b105d8e96e70","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5e3bb2b570a50","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Persistently depressed or extremely euphoric and excitable mood (mania)"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"74c7f5d2b6c3","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"1c8a236e4fdc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Withdrawn and secretive, unusually quiet or sullen."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"f2a7d3be27ee","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"f1633c3422b10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Aggressive or violent behaviour."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]},{"question":[{"_key":"a5fb416f72d6","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"550159aa6dd80","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Changes in 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It’s best to be compassionate, curious and nonjudgmental:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"b063f2d0c83d","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"142971d8139e","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Hallucinations:"},{"_key":"681e8912b803","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" Hearing voices, seeing, touching or smelling things that aren’t there."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c3ba642ca019","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9f1e62ac984f0","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"Delusions"},{"_key":"51b0eef1d9e6","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":" are unusual, obsessive thoughts and beliefs. Delusions may include but are not limited to:"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"4140a1d201dd","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9d3103c80b5f0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Thinking they and/or their baby have special powers"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"d54ee13c3c9f","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4caabb02f8900","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Thinking they and/or their baby are defective, bad or ‘evil’ in some way."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"ba91b18b64ad","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c35b242e6fbc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Believing their baby isn’t theirs. This is different to bonding issues. (link)"}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"c34256d4088a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"5b55f1bbee680","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Thinking someone is trying to harm their baby."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"fa9b946e1cff","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"8cccfd4937d90","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Experiencing intense feelings of shame or guilt. May feel like punishing themselves for being a bad person or parent."}],"level":1,"listItem":"bullet","markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]}]},{"_key":"843d6b3c90c7","_type":"freeText","include":null,"eyebrow":null,"text":[{"_key":"f667b2982e19","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"9cd0ce6cfa390","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Often because they are so unwell, it’s common for someone experiencing postnatal psychosis to be resistant to seeking help – angry, afraid, or even in denial that anything is wrong."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"0091b4c5054a","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"83091eed6423","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Psychotic episodes may vary in their frequency, intensity and duration as well. Sometimes your loved one may seem like themselves for a while, then enter another episode of psychosis. Most often it’s up to the people that care for them and their baby to take that first brave step to seek help."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"8225bb314378","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c9b5a60d2c72","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"You may be feeling worried or guilty, wondering if you’re doing the right thing by seeking support from health professionals. It might help to know that we hear from new parents and their families on the PANDA Helpline every day who say that act of seeking help for suspected postnatal psychosis was life-changing, even lifesaving."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"2a57d92d3459","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c16f5b8bfc97","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis does not resolve by itself – professional treatment, often at an inpatient facility may be needed. There is strong hope for recovery with the right support. "}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"},{"_key":"9fa82e1c7956","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"4de841e64583","_type":"span","marks":["strong"],"text":"The sooner a person accesses help for postnatal psychosis, the quicker their recovery journey."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}],"background":{"value":"#EDE8E4"}}],"relatedArticles":[{"title":"Talking to your doctor","_type":"article","slug":{"current":"talking-to-your-doctor"},"header":{"image":{"asset":{"_id":"image-f12faa68ea2bd2a18594e7c59bdb785fb44d43a2-500x417-png"},"crop":null,"hotspot":null,"alt":"Mum seeing doctor with baby"},"text":[{"_key":"d757fe214ce4","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"d9b3853b7454","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Tips on finding a doctor, sharing your concerns and what to expect from a consultation."}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]}},{"title":"Postnatal Psychosis: Getting help","_type":"article","slug":{"current":"postnatal-psychosis-getting-help"},"header":{"image":{"asset":{"_id":"image-7065493e6fbcb3f89f4faa028852afccc0f6d9cf-5001x5001-png"},"crop":null,"hotspot":null,"alt":"Mum and baby at doctors clinic"},"text":[{"_key":"05fc66f50c5b","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"cbf5ada40fdc0","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis is a serious condition – but professional help is available"}],"markDefs":[],"style":"normal"}]}},{"title":"Postnatal Psychosis: Information for partners and carers","_type":"article","slug":{"current":"postnatal-psychosis-information-for-partners-and-carers"},"header":{"image":{"asset":{"_id":"image-2cbf6c0a91e3accc6de8811e756628c457aabbae-2500x1660-jpg"},"crop":null,"hotspot":null,"alt":"Mum and dad cuddling baby"},"text":[{"_key":"75572da69f0c","_type":"block","children":[{"_key":"c0d82521baf10","_type":"span","marks":[],"text":"Postnatal psychosis is a serious mental health condition, and a medical emergency. 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