Ten years ago, Meghan Cliffel was balancing her work as a mother in New York City. In December 2015, after having her second daughter, Meghan was back at work, handling stress but managing well externally. However, on December 4th, things took a dramatic turn.

Meghan began experiencing delusions and believed she was under surveillance. This marked the beginning of a terrifying reality where she thought the entire city was against her. Her hallucinations intensified, including seeing a relative on TV threatening her. This crisis affected her husband Colin and their family life.

Colin recalls the drastic change, saying it felt like living with a different person, and he struggled to manage Meghan’s acute behavior. The situation escalated when Meghan threatened to leave their apartment and became physically aggressive.

After calling 911, Meghan spent two weeks in Bellevue Hospital, where she was prescribed Lithium. Two months later, she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, a severe mental illness. Dr. Veerle Bergink, a psychiatrist, explains that postpartum psychosis differs from postpartum depression and is considered a psychiatric emergency. Symptoms include mania, racing thoughts, psychosis, and depression, typically occurring within months after childbirth.

Meghan Cliffel’s case is one among the estimated 1 to 2 women per 1,000 births experiencing postpartum psychosis annually in the U.S., potentially affecting up to 9,000 mothers. Despite being known for thousands of years, postpartum psychosis remains underfunded and poorly researched, according to Dr. Bergink. While treatment is effective, prevention strategies are lacking.

Legal challenges surrounding postpartum psychosis gained attention during the trial of Lindsay Clancy, who killed her three children. The trial ended in a mistrial. Prosecutors debated whether Clancy’s condition affected her legal culpability. Her lawyer argued that psychosis rendered her legally insane.

Dr. Jennifer Payne from the University of Virginia highlights the stigma surrounding maternal mental health issues. Payne advocates for recognizing postpartum psychosis as a medical issue, not just a legal one.

Despite the risk of recurrence, Meghan Cliffel, with her husband’s insistence, took preventative medication after having her third child. Now, her son is six years old, and Meghan shares her story to emphasize the reality of postpartum psychosis and the possibility of recovery.

Those in emotional distress can reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or contact mental health resources for support. Meghan’s story serves as a reminder that postpartum psychosis is a serious but treatable condition requiring attention and support.