With a family history of postpartum depression, Chloe thought she knew what signs to look out for in perinatal mental illness. But immediately after both births, she experienced insomnia that escalated into psychosis — what she calls ‘the crash’. Chloe shares the intensity of postpartum psychosis, and the long aftermath of making sense of what happened and rebuilding a sense of normal.

For over a year, Ariane hid the severity of her symptoms, performing the role of the ‘good’ mother while her mental health deteriorated. When that façade finally fell, she was admitted to a psychiatric hospital and had to trust her psychiatrist to take the lead — a turning point in her recovery.

When Ariane became a mother, she was confronted by delusions, hallucinations, and severe depression, shaped by a lifelong pull towards perfectionism and control. As a former caseworker and psychologist, her identity both masked and magnified her struggles, delaying her ability to seek help.