Scheana Shay doesn’t stay quiet when it comes to difficult postpartum topics.
In a recent interview with It’s scary Mommy The Vanderpump Rules The star opened up about her experience with postpartum OCD and how she worked through her struggles to be there for her little one and others. Reflects the latest season of Vanderpump Rules, Shay emphasized how important it was for her to show more of her postpartum journey.
“You didn’t really see season nine or ten. I feel like I was going through a lot that you didn’t see and now it’s being talked about.” Admitting that she hid much of her early motherhood journey, Shay sheds light on a commonly misunderstood condition: Postpartum OCD.
“Postpartum OCD is often misdiagnosed for postpartum depression, and it’s also not always diagnosed right away,” explains Shay. “So the first year, I didn’t know what was wrong with me. It took me over a year to even open up to my therapist.
Shay hopes other moms will see her story and be inspired to open up to those who can help them sooner. “It’s okay to be honest about what they’re going through and there are resources available to help cope with postpartum struggles like OCD,” she emphasizes. Turning to therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) treatment, Shay found solace in managing intrusive thoughts and thoughts.
“Open up about it to someone you feel safe with, whether that’s a mom, a friend, a therapist,” she advises. “I have done extensive EMDR therapy over the past year. That’s been incredible on this journey.” Sharing her own intrusive thoughts, Shay tackled the stigma. “I’m like, people are going to think I’m crazy,” she admits. “I don’t want to throw my son on the porch, but if I’m standing outside with him, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what if he jumps out of my arms?’”
Reflecting on the complexities of postpartum OCD, Shay acknowledges the layers of fear and reluctance to speak up. “Sometimes when you say things out loud, then it’s like, ‘Am I projecting that? It’s like I don’t want to say it out loud, and then I don’t want to jinx it. There are so many layers to why women don’t open up about things like this.”
Despite the challenges, Shay finds support in her close circle, especially in her bond with fellow cast member Lala Kent. “It’s just the two of us moms on the show right now,” Shay shared. “We can either keep fighting or we can lean on each other because no one else can understand the hormones and milk pumping through our bodies that we both can … and now it’s like, we’re literally sharing a wall in Palm Springs.”
As Shay navigates motherhood, she finds strength in the unity of shared experience. “Our mothers are best friends. My siblings are friends. It’s very easy. We’re rooted now,” she says, expressing gratitude for the support network she’s built. And on her journey, Shay finds reassurance in knowing that Kent is always there to help. “She’s a mother, she knows whatever my son needs,” Shay said confidently.
