[Part 1 of 2] One day, Ariane Beeston looked at her newborn baby, Henry, and saw a dragon. And not a cute, happy dragon - but an upset, red-faced dragon. At that moment, Ariane knew something was very wrong. Other very wrong, very scary things were happening too.

A few months later, Ariane would be diagnosed with postpartum psychosis. But a diagnosis was only the beginning of her odyssey - one that would see her hospitalised twice, convinced that she didn’t exist, and worried that she might never be herself again.

This is a crucial story about maternal mental health and finding your way out of the darkness - and one that Ariane shares with Mia in this special two-part episode.

You can hear part two of Mia's conversation here. 

You can follow Ariane on Instagram here.

You can buy Ariane’s book “Because I’m Not Myself, You See” here.

LINKS:

If you or someone you know needs help, Ariane has provided these links to services:

COPE Website

eCOPE Directory of national supports and services

Ready to COPE app

PANDA Helpline

THE END BITS:

Join the Month of MOVE
Get $30 off a Mamamia subscription and get unlimited access to our feel-good exercise app. Head here to get a yearly subscription for just $39.

Listen to more No Filter interviews here and follow us on Instagram here.

Discover more Mamamia podcasts here.

Feedback: podcast@mamamia.com.au

Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message, and one of our Podcast Producers will get back to you ASAP.

Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.  

CREDITS:

Host: Mia Freedman

You can find Mia on Instagram here and get her newsletter here.

Executive Producer: Naima Brown

Audio Producer: Thom Lion

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures

Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.