Postpartum OCD vs. Psychosis: Why You Need to Know the Difference

Rachel lived with severe OCD during pregnancy, after childbirth, after pregnancy loss, and for years without knowing what it was. In Episode 41, Rachel shares her experience with postpartum & perinatal OCD, intrusive thoughts, contamination OCD, and the fear of telling a doctor. Stephen knew about these thoughts at the time, but after having a stroke at 37, he no longer remembers parts of that period. So some of what Rachel tells him now feels new. Rachel traces her OCD from childhood to contamination fears during pregnancy, then to darker intrusive thoughts after becoming a mother. She explains why she once believed the devil was attacking her, what happened when she finally told Stephen, & how OCD returned severely after miscarriage & pregnancy loss. We also talk about why people with OCD may be afraid to tell a doctor or psychiatrist, including fears over having their children taken away. We discuss harm OCD, sexually themed OCD, and other subsets. Stephen uses a hit-and-run OCD example to explain checking, replaying events, monitoring reactions, & seeking reassurance, & why OCD's demand for certainty is never fully satisfied. We discuss postpartum OCD versus postpartum psychosis, how a podcast cannot diagnose what someone's thoughts mean, & OCD recovery and remission hope. This episode grew out of the perinatal, maternal, & postpartum mental health conversation after the Lindsay Clancy case, but is not an analysis. We do not diagnose Lindsay Clancy or discuss her criminal responsibility. This episode contains discussion of harm and sexual intrusive-thought themes and is intended for adults. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:22 Why Postpartum OCD 3:16 Childhood Intrusive Thoughts 6:57 Pregnancy & Contamination OCD 11:42 After Birth: The OCD Gets Darker 13:25 Telling Stephen & What He Remembers Now 18:19 Pregnancy Loss, Recurrence, & Finding OCD 20:27 Fear of Telling a Doctor 23:49 How OCD "Changed Lanes" 25:02 Content Warning: Harder OCD Themes 26:29 Harm OCD, Sexual Intrusive Thoughts, and Pedophilia-Themed OCD 29:00 Hit-and-Run OCD and the Checking Cycle 30:11 The "What If?" Spiral and Identity Doubt 32:06 Postpartum OCD vs. Postpartum Psychosis 32:34 Recovery, Remission, and Hope 33:47 Crisis Resources and Where to Find Help 📱Find Us On Socials: Follow Us On Instagram: @theresurfacepodcast Follow Us On TikTok: @resurfacepod Follow Us On Facebook: ResurfacePodcast Subscribe & Watch Full Episodes On YouTube: Resurface Podcast 📩 Business inquiries → contact@resurfacepodcast.com Resurface is a marriage and family podcast hosted by Rachel and Stephen Scroggins about surviving medical trauma, mental health challenges, special needs parenting, raising a medically complex child with intractable epilepsy, partial deafness, and special needs, navigating life after stroke at 37, and finding humor in the middle of it all. New episodes weekly. If you're a parent of a medically complex child, a family member or friend of a child with special needs, a stroke family, an epilepsy family, or anyone trying to keep your relationships and your sense of humor intact while life keeps throwing emergencies at you, you're in the right place. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE International OCD Foundation: About OCD https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ Find an OCD Therapist / Provider Directory https://iocdf.org/find-help/ Perinatal OCD Resource Center https://iocdf.org/perinatal-ocd/ Postpartum Support International: Help & Resources https://postpartum.net/get-help/ Intrusive Thoughts: OCD Symptoms & Subtypes https://www.intrusivethoughts.org/ocd... National Maternal Mental Health Hotline Call or text: 1-833-TLC-MAMA 1-833-852-6262 If you're in a suicidal or emotional crisis in the United States: Call or text 988 SAMHSA National Helpline Call: 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or text your ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U) Related Episodes: My Husband Had a Stroke at 37 | Episode 3 YouTube Video ID: 08-L7glW56Q The Hospital Broke Something in Us | Episode 19 YouTube Video ID: 7GwS3apT9K8 #postpartumOCD #perinatalOCD #intrusivethoughts #OCDawareness #OCDrecovery #maternalmentalhealth #harmOCD #postpartummmentalhealth #resurfacepodcast #survivingthewave ❌ If you are facing Medicaid service denials in the State of North Carolina, join the fight for systemic change by visiting this website and filling out the intake form: https://tinyurl.com/ncmedicaidfamilies 🆘 If you're in survival mode, this will help: https://www.resurfacepodcast.com/down... Edited with Movavi Video Editor Some supplemental music licensed through Envato Elements Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. The experiences, observations, and information shared reflect our personal journey and understanding at the time. This content is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from qualified healthcare professionals.