Twins, parliament and my secret battle with psychosis

On a single day in December 2015, Mar García Puig gave birth to premature twins and was elected to the Spanish parliament. It marked the start of two life-changing roles – as a mother and a public figure – even as she faced an invisible crisis. Almost immediately after her children were born, Mar was gripped by postpartum psychosis – a rare but severe condition. She was experiencing intense anxiety and hypochondrial delusions that convinced her that she and her babies were in danger.

As Mar began her duties as an MP, she kept her condition hidden, aware of the stigma surrounding mothers and women in politics. Supported by her family and driven by a determination not to fail in either role, she continued her work in parliament while navigating intrusive fears and the pressures of early motherhood – though she also found fleeting, powerful moments of joy with her newborns.

Over time, with the help of family, therapy and her own research into the long history of “mad mothers,” Mar began to make sense of her experience. She’s written a book called The History of the Vertebrate.

Presenter: Jo Fidgen
Producer: Maryam Maruf

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(Photo: Mar García Puig is sitting at a table and laughing with her twins who are standing either side of her, kissing her cheeks. Credit: Courtesy of Mar García Puig)