Perinatal OCD Through Poetry: A Lived-Experience and Clinical Discussion

Perinatal OCD is frequently misunderstood and under-recognized, leaving many parents feeling isolated and afraid to speak openly. This presentation weaves together poetry and clinical insight to illuminate the lived experience of perinatal OCD. Through a series of poems written and read by someone with lived experience, Bridget Bell, attendees will be invited into the often-invisible internal world of intrusive thoughts, fear, and self-doubt that can arise during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Following each poem, a therapist will offer clinical context—explaining how the themes reflect common features of perinatal OCD, including intrusive thoughts, compulsions, shame, and the role of values. Together, poetry and psychoeducation create a humanizing, stigma-reducing space that highlights both the depth of suffering and the possibility of compassion and effective treatment.