A licensed therapist specializing in maternal mental health has revealed that she deliberately lied on a postpartum mood disorder questionnaire during her own check-up, a decision she stated she would make again. The therapist, who asked not to be named publicly but is identified as Erin Schlozman in accompanying biographical information, described her experience of experiencing severe panic attacks and sleep deprivation following the birth of her son.
Schlozman recounted filling out the standard 10-question screening form six weeks postpartum. As a professional familiar with the questionnaire's purpose and the significance of certain answers, she intentionally selected responses that would not trigger further concern. Her actual experience included severe sleep deprivation, inadequate nutrition, and the use of prescribed benzodiazepines to manage anxiety, alongside frequent panic attacks.
"I lied about my sleep. I lied about my mood. I specifically lied about the rapid, nonstop panic attacks that had become the background noise of my entire day," Schlozman wrote. She described the common challenges faced by new mothers, including lack of sleep, identity upheaval, and societal pressure to appear well.
Schlozman explained that her decision to falsify the form stemmed from a distrust in the system's ability to provide timely and appropriate care. She anticipated that an honest assessment would lead to a prescription for an SSRI and a referral to a medication provider, potentially with long wait times and issues with insurance coverage.
Instead of proceeding through the standard medical channels, she contacted a psychiatrist she knew personally. This connection led her to specialized perinatal and infant mental health care, including a provider knowledgeable about breastfeeding-compatible medications and who treated her symptoms as a predictable medical event.
Schlozman highlighted the privilege of having a professional network that allowed her to bypass the conventional system. She argued that the screening questionnaires are easily manipulated by mothers who, like herself, calculate that honesty will not lead to beneficial outcomes. This, she contends, is not a failure of honesty but a consequence of a system that mothers do not trust.
She asserted that screening without a robust, readily available support system is ineffective and serves primarily to protect institutions by creating the appearance of due diligence. Schlozman emphasized that postpartum mood and anxiety disorders are common, treatable medical conditions resulting from significant hormonal shifts, sleep deprivation, and societal pressures, rather than personal failings.
Schlozman's professional background includes work as a licensed clinical professional counselor focusing on perinatal and postpartum issues. Her book, "The Myth of the Perfect Mom," was released in April 2026. She also maintains a significant online presence through social media, a Substack newsletter, and a podcast titled "I Love My Baby And..."