ABSTRACT

One day you will feel better… Eyes without Sparkle is a powerful medical autobiography describing the journey followed by the author into, through, and out of puerperal psychosis, the most severe form of postnatal depression. With vivid and intimate descriptions of events and the author’s feelings, this is the only book offering a single first-hand account of postnatal illness. The book serves as an inspiration for anyone suffering from or involved with a depressive illness. For health and social care professionals it is a reflective guide to learning from patients’ experiences, and the examples of positive and negative aspects of treatment can inform mental health services and policies.

chapter Chapter 2|10 pages

Nick and I

chapter Chapter 3|6 pages

The birth

chapter Chapter 4|5 pages

First days on the ward

chapter Chapter 5|6 pages

Coming home

chapter Chapter 6|7 pages

Another hospital stay

chapter Chapter 8|6 pages

A holiday

chapter Chapter 9|8 pages

Dominic's in hospital!

chapter Chapter 10|6 pages

Pressure, pressure

chapter Chapter 11|7 pages

Losing it!

chapter Chapter 12|7 pages

Downhill

chapter Chapter 13|10 pages

The final descent

chapter Chapter 14|10 pages

A refuge

chapter Chapter 16|7 pages

Looking up and outwards

chapter Chapter 17|8 pages

Discharge day!

chapter Chapter 18|9 pages

He's almost one!

chapter Chapter 19|7 pages

Another summer

chapter Chapter 20|14 pages

Back to school

chapter Chapter 21|7 pages

Springtime

chapter Chapter 22|8 pages

Back to reality

chapter Chapter 23|7 pages

Spreading the word

chapter Chapter 24|10 pages

Making a difference

chapter Chapter 25|26 pages

And so to London