During the birth of her second child, neurologist Dr. Bobbie Decker suffered a life-threatening complication and almost died. A few months later she began experiencing intrusive thoughts, hallucinations and detachment from reality. Though she specialized in brain health, she didn’t understand what was happening inside her own, and she didn’t know whom to turn to. She is joined by Jill Garrett, who helped treat her, and together they discuss warning signs of postpartum mental illness, what health providers can do to better support mothers after childbirth and how stigma can prevent women from seeking the care they need.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Guests:
- Dr. Bobbie Decker, neurologist, epileptologist and mother
- Dr. Jill Garrett, psychologist and founding director of The Motherhood Space
Lost in translation
Patients are often encouraged to speak up and advocate for themselves during medical appointments, but knowing what to say can be difficult. A health advocate with over three decades of experience shares simple phrases that can change the course of a doctor-patient conversation such as “Could this possibly be something else?” She explains that patients should understand the goal of their treatment, seek second opinions when necessary and not be afraid to pause when feeling overwhelmed during conversations with physicians.
Guest: Robin Shapiro, co-founder of HealthAdvocateX and author of The Secret Language of Healthcare: How to Ask for the Care you Deserve