When psychologist Ariane Beeston started having delusions after the birth of her son, and hallucinating that he was a dragon, she had to learn how to become the patient.
Ariane Beeston thought that when her son was born, she would feel that immediate rush of love that everyone told her to expect, and that motherhood would come naturally to her.
But that's not what happened.
Instead, Ariane started having delusions about her own death, she became paranoid that social services would take her child away from her, and she hallucinated that her baby boy was actually a dragon.
For months, Ariane hid her symptoms, afraid and ashamed of what she was feeling and seeing.
When she gathered the courage to ask for help, Ariane, a trained psychologist, had to learn how to become the patient, as she navigated a diagnosis of postpartum psychosis.
Further information
Because I'm Not Myself You See is published by Black Inc. Books
Resources
COPE: Centre of Perinatal Excellence
Support lines and resources recommended by COPE
PANDA National Helpline 1300 726 306 — available Monday to Friday, 9am to 7.30pm, Saturday, 9am to 4pm AEST/AEDT.
PANDA: Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia post natal psychosis information
Pregnancy Birth Baby information on postpartum psychosis (Australian Government website)
Gidget Foundation Australia (focuses on emotional wellbeing of expectant parents)
Postpartum psychosis fact sheet from COPE
Postpartum psychosis information (Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne)
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