A Mom Like That

A Memoir of Postpartum Psychosis

By: Aaisha Alvi, Wendy Davis - foreword

Narrated by: Jeed Saddy

"A brave and lyrical exploration of motherhood and mental health . . . as terrifying as it is riveting." -Susannah Cahalan, NYT bestselling author of Brain on Fire

Early motherhood is supposed to be joyous, but for Aaisha Alvi those early days were ruined by terrifying thoughts about her baby and family. Her experience was the antithesis of everything she had ever been told about motherhood, far beyond the trials of breastfeeding or putting her baby to sleep.

Aaisha did recover and began to enjoy motherhood. She was thrilled when she fell pregnant again. Sadly, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, and the psychosis returned. This time, however, she was blindsided by the unimaginable: voices urged her to stab her daughter and to harm innocent people. Aaisha felt evil, worthy of taking her own life. But each time she sought medical help, she was turned away.

With unflinching honesty, Aaisha takes listeners beyond the vitriol and blame that is flung at women suffering from postpartum psychosis—particularly women of color. Hers is a clarion call for increased awareness of a condition that need never result in tragedy.

©2024 Aaisha Alvi (P)2024 Tantor

Relatable and Compassionate

A compassionate story about a woman going through PPD and PPP was what I needed. Hearing that someone had similar experience made me feel less alone and shameful for not understanding what was happening. It also provided a tool to inform my family about my experience and give them an idea of what I was going through. It also reminded us of health care discrimination and delayed treatment for WOC. Thank you so much for providing this material on Audible🤗💕

Excelente! E muito importante!

Um relato muito importante para mulheres e profissionais de saúde compreenderem melhor sobre as alterações psíquicas graves do pós parto! Me prendeu a atenção do início ao fim!

Invaluable Information - Riveting Story

As a therapist specializing in perinatal mental health care, I could not recommend this book highly enough. Aaisha Alvi does an outstanding job-sharing important information about postpartum mood and anxiety disorders in general, and postpartum psychosis specifically. Even better, she does it while the reader is engrossed in her story, turning pages to find out what comes next. Alvi not only provides unique insight and first-hand knowledge of postpartum psychosis, but her story also demonstrates the real ways in which mental health care providers can fall short. One might think that reading about postpartum psychosis would scare birthing parents, this book will do the opposite-reassuring birthing parents that they have the knowledge needed to be their own best advocates postpartum. It’s a must-read for birthing parents, caregivers, mental health professionals, health care professionals, and anyone else that may care for a postpartum mom.