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After giving birth to her daughter, Ayana Lage felt euphoric—until everything unraveled. Ten days postpartum, she was hospitalized with postpartum psychosis, experiencing delusions, paranoia, and hallucinations. In this unfiltered conversation, Ayana joins us to share what really happened, how she got help, and why she’s choosing to speak out.

We talk about the terrifying reality of postpartum psychosis, the cultural stigma that surrounds maternal mental health, and the systems that fail too many moms. Ayana opens up about being a Black woman navigating psychiatric care, how her husband and family carried her through, and what she did differently with her second baby to protect her mental health.

If you're a parent, if you've ever had scary thoughts after giving birth, or if you want to know what real support looks like—this episode is for you.


In this episode, we discuss:

What postpartum psychosis really looks like and why it’s often missed

How Ayana knew something was wrong—even as everyone else dismissed it

Why she felt safer in the hospital than at home

The truth about intrusive thoughts, rage, and the postpartum spectrum

Cultural and racial stigma around mental health for Black mothers

What Ayana did differently after her second baby to safeguard her mental health

How postpartum care needs a serious overhaul

Resources
Pre-order Ayana's Book
Follow Ayana on Instagram
Ayana’s personal essay in Cosmopolitan: "I Had Postpartum Psychosis and Didn’t Know What Was Real"

Postpartum Support International
The Blue Dot Project
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1-833-9-HELP4MOMS)

Support the show

Website: https://www.doyouwantthetruthpod.com

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