In an emotional new interview, Scheana Shay opened up about her difficult struggle with postpartum OCD. The Vanderpump Rules star explained how intrusive thoughts took over her life after she and husband Brock Davies welcomed their first child together in April 2021 and how she's finally managed to take back control of her mental health.
The reality TV regular shared her story with fans while appearing on Page Six's podcast.
Scheana got incredibly candid as she spoke with the Virtual Reali-Tea podcast, explaining how she battled postpartum OCD after giving birth to her daughter, Summer Moon.
"It's something that I've been talking about a lot on my Scheananigans podcast lately, just because I feel like a lot of women will get misdiagnosed with postpartum depression when it's actually postpartum OCD," she shared.
She first noticed she was suffering from more than just the baby blues when the intrusive thoughts started.
Scheana said she was plagued by images of awful things happening to her daughter.
"I was just like, 'Why am I seeing these things in my head? I don't want to harm anyone I love. I don't want these things to happen, but I just kept seeing them,'" she explained, adding that she randomly decided to tell her therapist about what she was experiencing.
Her doctor quickly diagnosed her with the condition.
Scheana described the types of images and worries she was dealing with, prompting her doctor to step in.
"When it started being about my baby ā¦ even when we're just on our balcony, I know I'm not going to toss her off my balcony but in my head, I'm like, 'Oh my God, what if she just jumped out of my arms right now and fell off the balcony,'" she told podcast listeners.
The intrusive thoughts kept her from doing everyday things with her little girl.
Although Scheana's initial struggles prevented her from doing things such as driving alone in the car with Summer Moon, getting treatment for her condition made it easier for her to enjoy time with her baby.
"It's really terrifying being a mom because I don't want to mess up, I don't want anything to happen to her when I'm by myself," she confessed through tears. "But even though I'm crying right now, I do feel like in the last few months I'm just so proud of myself because I've done so much on my own."
Now, Scheana has a message for other new moms.
She is using her platform to send a message about a condition that is often misdiagnosed and is asking new parents to "advocate for [themselves] at doctor's appointments."
"Reach out for help because there are so many resources that I just feel so much better in the few short months that I've been getting help myself," she urged.
We're so glad Scheana is doing better and that she's helping other people find the relief they need when dealing with this very scary condition.
