The Postpartum Mental Illness No One Is Talking About | Postpartum OCD | Episode 41

Rachel lived with severe OCD during pregnancy, after childbirth, after pregnancy loss, and for years without knowing what it was. In Episode 41, Rachel shares her experience with postpartum and perinatal OCD, intrusive thoughts, contamination OCD, and the fear of telling anyone what was happening inside her head. Stephen knew about these thoughts at the time, but after having a stroke at 37, he no longer remembers parts of that period — so some of what Rachel tells him now feels almost new. Rachel traces her OCD from childhood intrusive thoughts to contamination fears during pregnancy with Ariana, then to darker intrusive thoughts after becoming a mother. She explains why she once believed the devil was attacking her, what happened when she finally told Stephen, and how the OCD returned severely after miscarriage and pregnancy loss. The conversation also addresses why people with perinatal OCD may be afraid to tell a doctor or psychiatrist, including fears about being judged or having a child taken away. Later, Rachel and Stephen discuss harm OCD, unwanted sexual intrusive thoughts, and pedophilia-themed OCD. Some of the themes discussed were part of Rachel's experience and some were not. Stephen uses a hit-and-run OCD example to explain the cycle of checking, Googling, replaying events, monitoring reactions, and seeking reassurance — and why OCD's demand for certainty is never fully satisfied. They also discuss postpartum OCD versus postpartum psychosis, why a podcast cannot diagnose what someone's thoughts mean, and OCD recovery. Rachel says her OCD today is in 99.9% remission. This episode grew out of the larger maternal and postpartum mental health conversation surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case, but it is not an analysis of her case. We do not diagnose Lindsay Clancy or discuss her criminal responsibility. This episode contains discussion of harm and sexual intrusive-thought themes and is intended for adults. This episode contains discussion of harm and sexual intrusive-thought themes and is intended for adults. ⏱ CHAPTERS 0:00 Preview 0:22 Episode 41 Begins: Why Postpartum OCD 3:16 Childhood Intrusive Thoughts 6:57 Pregnancy and Contamination OCD 11:42 After Birth: The OCD Gets Darker 13:25 Telling Stephen and What He Remembers Now 18:19 Pregnancy Loss, Recurrence, and Finding OCD 20:27 Fear of Telling a Doctor or Psychiatrist 23:49 How OCD "Changed Lanes" 25:02 Content Warning: Harder OCD Themes 26:29 Harm OCD, Sexual Intrusive Thoughts, and Pedophilia-Themed OCD 29:00 Hit-and-Run OCD and the Checking Cycle 30:11 The "What If?" Spiral and Identity Doubt 32:06 Postpartum OCD vs. Postpartum Psychosis 32:34 Recovery, Remission, and Hope 33:47 Crisis Resources and Where to Find Help 📱Find Us On Socials: Follow Us On Instagram: @theresurfacepodcast Follow Us On TikTok: @resurfacepod Follow Us On Facebook: ResurfacePodcast Subscribe & Watch Full Episodes On YouTube: Resurface Podcast 📩 Business inquiries → [email protected] Resurface is a marriage and family podcast hosted by Rachel and Stephen Scroggins about surviving medical trauma, mental health challenges, special needs parenting, raising a medically complex child with intractable epilepsy, partial deafness, and special needs, navigating life after stroke at 37, and finding humor in the middle of it all. New episodes weekly. If you're a parent of a medically complex child, a family member or friend of a child with special needs, a stroke family, an epilepsy family, or anyone trying to keep your relationships and your sense of humor intact while life keeps throwing emergencies at you, you're in the right place. 🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE International OCD Foundation — Perinatal OCD Resource Center https://iocdf.org/perinatal-ocd/ International OCD Foundation — Find an OCD Therapist / Provider Directory https://iocdf.org/find-help/ International OCD Foundation — About OCD https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/ Postpartum Support International — Help & Resources https://postpartum.net/get-help/ Intrusive Thoughts — OCD Symptoms & Subtypes https://www.intrusivethoughts.org/ocd-symptoms/ National Maternal Mental Health Hotline Call or text: 1-833-TLC-MAMA 1-833-852-6262 If you're in a suicidal or emotional crisis in the United States: Call or text 988 SAMHSA National Helpline Call: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) Text your ZIP code to 435748 (HELP4U) Related Episodes: My Husband Had a Stroke at 37 | Episode 3 YouTube Video ID: 08-L7glW56Q The Hospital Broke Something in Us | Episode 19 YouTube Video ID: 7GwS3apT9K8 #postpartumOCD #perinatalOCD #intrusivethoughts #OCDawareness #OCDrecovery #maternalmentalhealth #harmOCD #postpartummmentalhealth #resurfacepodcast #survivingthewave 🆘 If you're in survival mode, this will help: Free Help Download ❌ If you are facing Medicaid service denials in the State of North Carolina, join the fight for systemic change by visiting our website and filling out the intake form: Join The Fight! Edited with Movavi Video Editor Some supplemental music licensed through Envato Elements Disclaimer: We are not medical professionals. The experiences, observations, and information shared reflect our personal journey and understanding at the time. This content is not medical advice and is not a substitute for guidance from qualified healthcare professionals. Edited with Movavi Video Editor: https://www.movavi.com/ Some supplemental music licensed through Envato Elements