**Episode Overview**
In this episode, we unpack a groundbreaking study from the University of East Anglia, published in the *Community Mental Health Journal*, that shines a light on a silent mental health crisis among new parents. The research shows that intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences are far more common in the postnatal period than most people realize—and they affect not just birth mothers, but fathers and non-birthing partners as well.
We explore what these experiences actually look like, why they happen, how to distinguish between common postnatal mental experiences and more serious mental health conditions, and what support options are available. You’ll also be guided through simple reflection and action steps so you can start applying what you’ve learned right away.
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### Key Points Discussed
- **Background of the study**
- Who conducted the research (University of East Anglia) and where it was published (*Community Mental Health Journal*).
- Why researchers wanted to look beyond traditional measures of postnatal depression and anxiety.
- How the study broadens our understanding of mental health in the perinatal and postnatal period.
- **What are intrusive thoughts?**
- Definition: Unwanted, distressing, often bizarre or disturbing mental images or ideas.
- Common themes among new parents (harm coming to the baby, sudden accidents, self-doubt about parenting).
- Why having these thoughts does *not* mean you’re a bad parent or that you will act on them.
- **What are psychotic-like experiences?**
- Examples: Hearing a voice when alone, feeling watched, fleeting paranoid ideas.
- How these differ from full-blown psychosis or postpartum psychosis.
- How sleep deprivation, stress, hormonal shifts, and social isolation can contribute.
- **How common are these experiences?**
- The study suggests these experiences are far more widespread than previously recognized.
- Normalizing the range of mental experiences that can arise in early parenthood.
- Why many parents never talk about this due to shame, fear of judgment, or fear of child protective involvement.
- **Impact on mothers, fathers, and non-birthing partners**
- Why this is not just a “mothers’ issue” but a whole-family mental health issue.
- How partners can also experience intrusive thoughts and psychotic-like experiences.
- The importance of inclusive language and support that recognizes all caregivers.
- **Common misconceptions addressed**
- Myth: “If I think something scary, it means I secretly want it to happen.”
- Myth: “Only people with serious mental illness hear voices or feel watched.”
- Myth: “Good parents don’t struggle like this.”
- Clarifying the difference between thoughts and intentions, and between transient experiences and diagnosable disorders.
- **Helpful analogies for understanding these experiences**
- Intrusive thoughts as “mental pop-up ads” you didn’t choose and don’t endorse.
- Psychotic-like experiences as “glitches in a stressed brain” rather than proof of being broken or dangerous.
- The brain on sleep deprivation compared to running your phone permanently on 1% battery.
- **When to seek help**
- Red flags: Thoughts becoming persistent, overwhelming, or starting to affect your ability to care for yourself or your baby.
- Signs that what you’re experiencing may be postpartum depression, anxiety, OCD, or postpartum psychosis.
- Why early support is protective—for you, your baby, and your relationships.
- **Practical steps and reflection prompts**
- Take a few minutes to write down the key information from this episode so you remember and can act on it.
- Identify one specific area where this knowledge applies to your current situation as a new or expecting parent—or as someone supporting one.
- Choose one small action you can take this week (for example, telling a trusted friend about what you’ve learned, booking a check-in with your GP, partner, therapist, or health visitor, or sharing a resource with a new parent).
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### Resources Mentioned (or Helpful Starting Points)
*Note: Always check region-specific options for accurate, up-to-date support.*
- **General Perinatal Mental Health Support**
- Postpartum Support International: https://www.postpartum.net
- WHO – Maternal Mental Health: https://www.who.int/health-topics/maternal-health
- Local perinatal mental health services (via your GP, midwife, health visitor, or primary care provider).
- **Crisis and Immediate Help**
- Local emergency number (e.g., 911 in the US, 999 in the UK) if you or someone is at immediate risk of harm.
- National crisis text or phone lines in your country (e.g., 988 Lifeline in the US, Samaritans in the UK & Ireland: https://www.samaritans.org).
- **Support for Partners and Fathers**
- Resources for fathers and non-birthing partners via Postpartum Support International: