**Episode Overview**
New research from the University of East Anglia, published in the *Community Mental Health Journal*, suggests that intrusive thoughts and psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs) in the first year after childbirth are far more common than previously assumed—and they affect both mothers and fathers.
In this episode, we break down what the study actually found, why so many new parents suffer in silence, and how to tell the difference between distressing but common experiences and true clinical psychosis. We also share simple, practical steps you can take this week to support your mental wellbeing as a new parent.
**What You’ll Learn**
- How common intrusive thoughts and psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs) really are in the first year after childbirth
- The difference between scary mental images, impulses, or distorted perceptions and clinical psychosis
- Why having intrusive thoughts does *not* mean you will act on them or are a bad parent
- How stigma, shame, and fear of judgment keep new parents from talking about these experiences
- Key misconceptions about postpartum mental health—especially around harm‑related thoughts
- How these experiences can show up for both mothers and fathers (and non‑birthing partners)
- Signs that it’s time to reach out for professional help
- Practical strategies to manage distressing thoughts and feelings day‑to‑day
- One small, realistic action you can take this week to protect your mental health as a new parent
**Key Points Discussed**
1. **The study at a glance**
- Conducted by researchers at the University of East Anglia.
- Published in the *Community Mental Health Journal*.
- Focused on intrusive thoughts and psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs) in the first year after childbirth.
- Found that these experiences are much more common than previously assumed.
2. **What are intrusive thoughts and PLEs?**
- Intrusive thoughts: unwanted, distressing thoughts or mental images (for example, sudden images of something bad happening to the baby).
- Psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs): unusual perceptions or beliefs (for example, briefly misperceiving sounds or shadows, or feeling like your sense of reality is “off”).
- Why sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and stress can intensify these experiences.
3. **Why “scary thoughts” rarely equal “dangerous parent”**
- The vast majority of parents with intrusive thoughts never act on them.
- How the brain sometimes generates the very thoughts we fear the most.
- The difference between being horrified by a thought (ego‑dystonic) vs. being aligned with it.
4. **Breaking down common myths**
- Myth: “If I tell anyone about these thoughts, they’ll think I’m psychotic or take my baby away.”
- Myth: “Good parents don’t have thoughts like this.”
- Myth: “Only mothers experience postpartum mental health issues.”
- Evidence from the study that both mothers and fathers report these experiences.
5. **How this shows up for different parents**
- Examples of how intrusive thoughts and PLEs can look in daily life (e.g., fleeting images, weird sensations, distorted perceptions when exhausted).
- The role of identity shifts, responsibility for a new life, and pressure to be a “perfect parent.”
6. **When to seek support**
- Red flags that suggest it’s time to talk to a healthcare professional.
- What to expect when you bring this up with a GP, midwife, therapist, or psychiatrist.
- Reassuring ways to start the conversation if you feel scared or ashamed.
7. **Taking action: Applying what you learned**
- Take a few minutes to write down the key information from this episode—getting it on paper helps you remember and act on it.
- Identify one specific area where this knowledge applies to your situation right now (for example, how you interpret a scary thought, or when you might reach out for help).
- Choose one small action to take this week: telling a partner or friend, scheduling a check‑in with your doctor, or starting a mood/thought journal.
**Resources Mentioned**
- University of East Anglia – research on intrusive thoughts and psychotic‑like experiences (PLEs) in new parents (as reported in the *Community Mental Health Journal*).
- Local perinatal mental health services (check with your GP, midwife, or health visitor).
- Crisis or emergency services in your country if you feel you or your baby are at immediate risk.
**Further Reading & Support**
*(Always choose region‑appropriate services and verify current contact details.)*
- Postpartum Support International – information and support for postpartum mental health: https://www.postpartum.net
- National health service or public health sites in your country (for example, NHS pages on perinatal mental health in the UK)
- Books on intrusive thoughts and anxiety in parenthood (search for evidence‑based, clinician‑authored resources)
- Peer support groups for new