Adele Is Shedding Light on the Postpartum Mental Illness We Never Talk About: Psychosis

We already knew Adele was an amazing singer. I mean, I don't know a single person who didn't have "Rolling in the Deep" on repeat for at least a few years. But it turns out she's an amazing friend too. 

Earlier this week, Adele posted an emotional Instagram photo in support of her best friend, Laura, and an article Laura wrote about her recovery from Postpartum Psychosis. 

"This is my best friend. We have been friends for more of our lives than we haven’t. She had my beautiful godson 6 months ago and it was the biggest challenge of her life in more ways than one," Adele wrote. "She has written the most intimate, witty, heartbreaking and articulate piece about her experience of becoming a new mum and being diagnosed with postpartum psychosis." 

In the article Adele endorsed, Laura describes postpartum psychosis as "a rare and unpublicised illness that effects 1 in a 1000 women and is seen as a medical emergency." 

"In my case it was built upon post natal depression and exhaustion and escalated into a phase of what I can only describe as hell," she details. "Mania, mood swings, insomnia, delusions, paranoia, anxiety, severe depression with a lovely side order of psychosis." Laura recalls not remembering who she was and accusing her husband of kidnapping her son. 

These honest details are hard to hear – which is exactly why it's so important Laura shared her open account. 

Postpartum psychoses – and really any mental illnesses that involve psychosis – are rarely discussed and highly stigmatized. Psychosis is often labled as "being crazy" or "being on drugs" rather than being seen as a real symptom of a real disease. Or it's simply ignored. As a result, many women who suffer from them don't know what they are until damage is already done.

"I had never heard of it either until it tried to ruin my life," Laura jokes in her post.  

Even if they do realize what's going on in their own head, women with psychosis are often too ashamed to seek immediate help or the additional support needed to make a full recovery. This can be especially true of mothers. 

"I tried to hide my illness from my family and friends because I was so full with shame and guilt," Laura says. "There is a huge expectation on women to be perfect, beautiful, glowing mama queens that are all encompassing wonderbeasts and can manage anything and hold it all together whilst wearing cool Nike trainers and red lipstick."

But honest accounts like Laura's can inspire women to share their stories of postpartum mental illness, especially the "scary" ones that don't get talked about enough. And it can provide a message many mothers suffering from mental illnesses don't always receive (or believe): you can and will get better. 

"Mamas talk about how you’re feeling because in some cases it could save yours or someone else’s life," Adele wrote in her post. Her 1.3 million likes and thousands of comments will definitely help get the conversation started.