{"id":957909,"date":"2026-05-13T21:51:23","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:51:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/957909\/"},"modified":"2026-05-13T21:51:23","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:51:23","slug":"i-was-sure-my-mother-in-law-poisoned-me-but-i-was-the-one-who-got-sectioned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/957909\/","title":{"rendered":"I was sure my mother-in-law poisoned me \u2014 but I was the one who got sectioned"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Adaure
\n\t\tAdaure Dankwa, 38, suffered from postpartum psychosis and became extremely paranoid after her first pregnancy (Picture: Adaure Dankwa \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n

\u2018I thought I was the chosen one and that I was about to give birth to baby<\/a> Jesus,\u2019 says Adaure Dankwa, 38.<\/p>\n

It was February 2002, and the new mum had recently given birth<\/a> to her son, Junior.<\/p>\n

But she was struggling. Adaure had stopped brushing her teeth<\/a>, wasn\u2019t washing, and struggled to have a coherent conversation with husband, Emmanuel, 35.<\/p>\n

\u2018I felt like the whole world was crumbling, and everyone was against me\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

After a violent episode, Emmanuel took his wife to A&E, where she was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis.<\/a><\/p>\n

The mental health illness affects women soon after having a baby.\u00a0Around 1 in every 1,000 mothers are diagnosed.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Adaure
\n\t\tAdaure describes wanting to kill herself and feeling depressed (Picture: Adaure Dankwa \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018My brain was going at a million miles per hour,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

\u2018I 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.<\/p>\n

\u2018I then began hallucinating that the world was ending.\u2019<\/p>\n

Describing the incident that led to her being rushed to A&E she said: \u2018I started pushing objects on to the floor, and my husband had to restrain me, because he thought I was going to harm the baby.\u2019<\/p>\n

Eventually, Adaure was sectioned, and admitted to a mental health ward for two months, during which time she was unable to see Junior. <\/p>\n

There, Adaure describes being \u2018extremely violent to staff,\u2019 adding: \u2018I kept saying I wanted to kill myself.<\/p>\n

\u2018I accused my mother-in-law of trying to poison me.<\/p>\n

\u2018I remember going for a poo on the floor, weeing on myself and trying to fight imaginary snakes.<\/p>\n

Doctors prescribed haloperidol \u2014 an antipsychotic medication that helps to reduce hallucinations and delusions \u2014 and slowly she began to return to her usual self.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Adaure
\n\t\tAdaure\u2019s psychosis returned upon the arrival of her second baby (Picture: Adaure Dankwa \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n

Even when she returned home, Adaure describes feeling \u2018extremely depressed\u2019 and fearful of being left alone with her son.<\/p>\n

\u2018I was suicidal, I just wanted to jump in front of a train,\u2019 she remarked.<\/p>\n

It took 18 months for Adaure to begin to recuperate, and soon, she began longing for a second child.<\/p>\n

However, it was a terrifying decision: there\u2019s a 50% chance a patient will have postpartum psychosis <\/a>again, if already diagnosed once.<\/p>\n

Determined not to be afraid, she and Emmanuel decided to try for a second baby, and Adaure gave birth to Amara in October 2024.<\/p>\n

But just, six weeks later, in November 2024, Adaure began to get extremely paranoid again.<\/p>\n

Emmanuel was once more forced to call for help, and Adaure was taken to a mother and baby unit.<\/p>\n

\u2018In the hospital I was so violent, I was scaring patients,\u2019 she said. \u2018I remember punching walls, I had so many bruises on my knuckles,\u2019 she said.<\/p>\n

She would spit out her medication, and ended up having a seizure, after she repeatedly banged her head against the floor.<\/p>\n

Adaure was then transferred to a mental health facility in London<\/a>, where she was sectioned again, and given anti-psychotic medication.<\/p>\n

\u2018I pulled one lady\u2019s wig off, I damaged the bed frames and pulled the curtains down.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Adaure
\n\t\tAdaure is now in full recovery (Picture: Adaure Dankwa \/ SWNS)<\/p>\n

Adaure adds: \u2018They had to sedate me so heavily that I hardly remember anything.\u2019<\/p>\n

She spent another two months in the unit before being released in January 2025.<\/p>\n

After leaving the unit, the mother-of-two sadly felt suicidal again, and didn\u2019t feel prepared to be alone and responsible for her children.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, Emmanuel\u2019s parents were able to help with childcare, and she finally began to feel \u2018normal\u2019 again in October 2025.<\/p>\n

Now in full recovery, Adaure is off her medication and is feeling ready to return to work.<\/p>\n

She and Emmanuel have decided against expanding the family, due to the risk of another psychotic episode.<\/p>\n

Her husband, Emmanuel shared: \u2018It was a challenging experience when you have to think about your wife\u2019s wellbeing and the kid\u2019s wellbeing.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tNeed support for your mental health?\t\t\t<\/p>\n

You can contact mental health charity Mind on 0300 123 3393<\/a> or text them on\u00a086463<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mind can also be reached by email at info@mind.org.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can find out more information about them on their website<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2018I supported her through it by exercising patience and offering her the assurance that things would get better.<\/p>\n

\u2018I often used to engage her in activities to take her mind away from her condition like walks, binge watching her favourite TV shows.<\/p>\n

\u2018It was easier to support her through it the second time though, as I was aware of what to expect from the first time.\u2019<\/p>\n

Over a year on, Andaure says \u2018I\u2019m finally back to myself now. This experience has helped me to look at the world in a completely different way.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s shaped me for the better.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tPostpartum psychosis\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Postpartum psychosis is a mental health illness that can affect someone soon after having a baby.\u00a0It affects around 1 in 1,000 mothers after giving birth.<\/p>\n

Symptoms can include:<\/p>\n