The Washington Post recently published the article “3 Things People Get Wrong About Postpartum Psychosis” in the wake of the high-profile trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts mother facing a first-degree murder charge in the deaths of her three children.

At the center of the trail is the lesser known, and often misunderstood, perinatal mental health disorder: postpartum psychosis. The article explains in detail 3 common misconceptions:

Misconception #1: People with postpartum psychosis experience a consistent or obvious break from reality.

This condition is really a spectrum that often displays “pink flags” such as hypervigilance or confusion, before “red flags”. These “pink flags” can easily be attributed to typical changes in early motherhood. When psychotic symptoms do appear, they can wax and wane, and women with this condition may lack insight into what’s happening with their behavior. 

Misconception #2: Postpartum psychosis is the same thing as having intrusive thoughts as a new mother. 

Occasional intrusive thoughts are common and normal for the postpartum phase. They are thought to be a natural adaptation to keep your baby safe from real dangers. In contrast, the delusions of postpartum psychosis align with what a person feels is right, because they’ve had a break from reality, such as a mother feeling that she must harm her child to ensure that other people are protected from the child. 

Misconception #3: Women with postpartum psychosis pose a long-term threat to their children, families or themselves.

High-profile trails like Lindsay’ Clancy’s make it seem as if postpartum psychosis inherently leads to violence but in reality there is only a 4 percent risk of infanticide with this condition. Almost all women who receive the appropriate treatment fully recover and most do not continue to deal with psychotic symptoms after treatment. 

To learn about each of these misconceptions in more detail, read the full article on Washington Post’s website. 

If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. If you’re struggling with a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder, contact the Postpartum Support International helpline at 1-800-944-4773.