Adaure Dankwa. A mum was sectioned after both of her pregnancies, when postpartum psychosis left her convinced the world was ending, and caused her husband to fear she would harm their children. Adaure Dankwa, 38, became extremely paranoid after her first pregnancy and her husband took her to A&E after she started to smash up their house in Rainham, Kent. She was sectioned and taken to a mental health facility, where she was violent towards staff, and began fighting imaginary snakes. The project manager spent two months in the facility, but after her second pregnancy, the post partum psychosis returned, causing her to hallucinate that her mother-in-law had poisoned her. Photo released 08/05/2026
Adaure Dankwa, 38, suffered from postpartum psychosis and became extremely paranoid after her first pregnancy (Picture: Adaure Dankwa / SWNS)

‘I thought I was the chosen one and that I was about to give birth to baby Jesus,’ says Adaure Dankwa, 38.

It was February 2002, and the new mum had recently given birth to her son, Junior.

But she was struggling. Adaure had stopped brushing her teeth, wasn’t washing, and struggled to have a coherent conversation with husband, Emmanuel, 35.

‘I felt like the whole world was crumbling, and everyone was against me’ she said.

After a violent episode, Emmanuel took his wife to A&E, where she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis.

The mental health illness affects women soon after having a baby. Around 1 in every 1,000 mothers are diagnosed.

Adaure Dankwa. A mum was sectioned after both of her pregnancies, when postpartum psychosis left her convinced the world was ending, and caused her husband to fear she would harm their children. Adaure Dankwa, 38, became extremely paranoid after her first pregnancy and her husband took her to A&E after she started to smash up their house in Rainham, Kent. She was sectioned and taken to a mental health facility, where she was violent towards staff, and began fighting imaginary snakes. The project manager spent two months in the facility, but after her second pregnancy, the post partum psychosis returned, causing her to hallucinate that her mother-in-law had poisoned her. Photo released 08/05/2026
Adaure describes wanting to kill herself and feeling depressed (Picture: Adaure Dankwa / SWNS)

Adaure, who lives in Kent, had no issues during her pregnancy, but her son was about two months old when she began to act strangely.

‘My brain was going at a million miles per hour,’ she said.

‘I started to get paranoid that people were watching me. Then I started having nightmares about my family trying to suffocate me and attacking me with knives.

‘I then began hallucinating that the world was ending.’

Describing the incident that led to her being rushed to A&E she said: ‘I started pushing objects on to the floor, and my husband had to restrain me, because he thought I was going to harm the baby.’

Eventually, Adaure was sectioned, and admitted to a mental health ward for two months, during which time she was unable to see Junior.

There, Adaure describes being ‘extremely violent to staff,’ adding: ‘I kept saying I wanted to kill myself.

‘I accused my mother-in-law of trying to poison me.

‘I remember going for a poo on the floor, weeing on myself and trying to fight imaginary snakes.

Doctors prescribed haloperidol — an antipsychotic medication that helps to reduce hallucinations and delusions — and slowly she began to return to her usual self.

Adaure Dankwa pictured with her husband and child. A mum was sectioned after both of her pregnancies, when postpartum psychosis left her convinced the world was ending, and caused her husband to fear she would harm their children. Adaure Dankwa, 38, became extremely paranoid after her first pregnancy and her husband took her to A&E after she started to smash up their house in Rainham, Kent. She was sectioned and taken to a mental health facility, where she was violent towards staff, and began fighting imaginary snakes. The project manager spent two months in the facility, but after her second pregnancy, the post partum psychosis returned, causing her to hallucinate that her mother-in-law had poisoned her. Photo released 08/05/2026
Adaure’s psychosis returned upon the arrival of her second baby (Picture: Adaure Dankwa / SWNS)

Even when she returned home, Adaure describes feeling ‘extremely depressed’ and fearful of being left alone with her son.

‘I was suicidal, I just wanted to jump in front of a train,’ she remarked.

It took 18 months for Adaure to begin to recuperate, and soon, she began longing for a second child.

However, it was a terrifying decision: there’s a 50% chance a patient will have postpartum psychosis again, if already diagnosed once.

Determined not to be afraid, she and Emmanuel decided to try for a second baby, and Adaure gave birth to Amara in October 2024.

But just, six weeks later, in November 2024, Adaure began to get extremely paranoid again.

Emmanuel was once more forced to call for help, and Adaure was taken to a mother and baby unit.

‘In the hospital I was so violent, I was scaring patients,’ she said. ‘I remember punching walls, I had so many bruises on my knuckles,’ she said.

She would spit out her medication, and ended up having a seizure, after she repeatedly banged her head against the floor.

Adaure was then transferred to a mental health facility in London, where she was sectioned again, and given anti-psychotic medication.

‘I pulled one lady’s wig off, I damaged the bed frames and pulled the curtains down.’

Adaure Dankwa with her husband. A mum was sectioned after both of her pregnancies, when postpartum psychosis left her convinced the world was ending, and caused her husband to fear she would harm their children. Adaure Dankwa, 38, became extremely paranoid after her first pregnancy and her husband took her to A&E after she started to smash up their house in Rainham, Kent. She was sectioned and taken to a mental health facility, where she was violent towards staff, and began fighting imaginary snakes. The project manager spent two months in the facility, but after her second pregnancy, the post partum psychosis returned, causing her to hallucinate that her mother-in-law had poisoned her. Photo released 08/05/2026
Adaure is now in full recovery (Picture: Adaure Dankwa / SWNS)

Adaure adds: ‘They had to sedate me so heavily that I hardly remember anything.’

She spent another two months in the unit before being released in January 2025.

After leaving the unit, the mother-of-two sadly felt suicidal again, and didn’t feel prepared to be alone and responsible for her children.

Thankfully, Emmanuel’s parents were able to help with childcare, and she finally began to feel ‘normal’ again in October 2025.

Now in full recovery, Adaure is off her medication and is feeling ready to return to work.

She and Emmanuel have decided against expanding the family, due to the risk of another psychotic episode.

Her husband, Emmanuel shared: ‘It was a challenging experience when you have to think about your wife’s wellbeing and the kid’s wellbeing.’

Need support for your mental health?

You can contact mental health charity Mind on 0300 123 3393 or text them on 86463.

Mind can also be reached by email at info@mind.org.uk.

You can find out more information about them on their website

‘I supported her through it by exercising patience and offering her the assurance that things would get better.

‘I often used to engage her in activities to take her mind away from her condition like walks, binge watching her favourite TV shows.

‘It was easier to support her through it the second time though, as I was aware of what to expect from the first time.’

Over a year on, Andaure says ‘I’m finally back to myself now. This experience has helped me to look at the world in a completely different way.’

‘It’s shaped me for the better.’

Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a mental health illness that can affect someone soon after having a baby. It affects around 1 in 1,000 mothers after giving birth.

Symptoms can include:

  • Feeling very confused
  • Hallucinations. Hearing, seeing, smelling or feeling things that are not there
  • Delusions. Suspicions, fears, thoughts or beliefs that are unlikely to be true
  • Mania. Feeling very ‘high’ or overactive, for example, talking and thinking too much or too quickly, restlessness or losing normal inhibitions
  • A low mood. Showing signs of depression, being withdrawn or tearful, lacking energy, having a loss of appetite, anxiety, agitation or trouble sleeping
  • Sometimes a mixture of both a manic mood and a low mood – or rapidly changing moods
  • You can find out more at: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-partum-psychosis/

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Arrow
MORE: I’ve shopped at 1,000 supermarkets around the world — one UK staple is the worst

Arrow
MORE: My daughter died 48 hours after being born – then came my diagnosis

Arrow
MORE: I’m an end-of-life care doctor — this is the main thing people get wrong about death

The Slice

Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.