BETH
A STORY OF POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
It was obvious that she was
seriously depressed and it seemed to be worse than any depression I had ever
seen...She was slow of speech, pale and unaware of her surroundings. Confusion
was evident. She begged me to take Kyle (the baby) and keep him.
It was unbelievable this could be
happening! She needed help immediately!
Beth told me, "I tried to
kill myself but it didn't work." "What did you do?" I asked
"I tried to smother myself
with a pillow." "What made you stop?"
"I couldn't breathe."
(Irrationality is a sign of psychosis)
Today, 16 years later, there is
no need for any woman to suffer any form of postpartum depression. Educational
materials, research, new medications and informed professionals are available
to all who seek them.
From Beth: A Story of Postpartum
Psychosis
I am dedicated to helping anyone
with postpartum mental illness. If I am able to help one person it will be well
worth the time and effort.
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
BETH: A Story of Postpartum
Psychosis contains a true story of the suffering of my own daughter during
an intense five months of the worse scenario of postpartum illness. This most
severe form of postpartum illness is characterized by confusion, delusions,
hallucinations, paranoia, agitation and disorganized speech and behavior. All
of these are illustrated in this story. There has been no other book written
from this perspective purely on postpartum psychosis.
This story is told as an observer
and confidante of my only daughter after the birth of her first child. Step by
step I watched in horror as she became more distant from everyone and
eventually took her own life. It tells of the gruesome reality of someone who
becomes a different personality at the most important time of her life and the
impact it had on our family and friends.
Included is a biological
background of Beth, the psychotic experience, how we handled this medically and
emotionally, the grief that ensued, and how I became involved in helping others
with similar postpartum illnesses. I had never heard of this biologically based
illness. Immediate hospitalization is required with appropriate medications.
The reader will become educated
and find resources to help others through proven medical facts. We must give
each new mother, with any postpartum mental illness, the message that she is
never alone, she is blameless, and she will get better in time with the proper
treatment.
About the Author
Shirley Cervene
Halvorson is a retired teacher of music and mathematics and has been educating
new mothers and families about postpartum mental illness since the death of her
daughter as a result of postpartum psychosis 16 years ago.
As a member of both Depression
After Delivery, Inc.(DAD) and Postpartum Support
International (PSI) since 1987, she is also North Carolina Coordinator for
Postpartum Support International. She is also founder of North Carolina
Depression After Delivery and a member of the NC Perinatal Mental Health Committee.
She is the recipient of a service
award from DAD and the Jane Honikman award from PSI.
She has been a telephone contact person for both DAD and PSI for 15 years,
assisting new mothers and families through the crisis of postpartum mental
health.
Shirley writes postpartum
materials for the NCDAD organization. She became certified in Assessment and
Treatment from PSI in June, 2003.