Vanderpump Rules’ Scheana Shay Opens Up About Postpartum OCD Diagnosis

Scheana Shay isn’t staying silent when it comes to difficult postpartum topics.

In a recent interview with Scary Mommy the Vanderpump Rules star opened up about her experience with postpartum OCD and how she’s worked through her struggles to be there for her little one and others. Reflecting on the latest season of Vanderpump Rules, Shay emphasizes how important it was for her to show more of her postpartum journey.

“You didn’t really get to see that season nine or ten. I felt like there were so many things I was going through then that you didn’t see and now are finally being talked about.” Admitting she concealed 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 immediately,” Shay reveals. "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’s 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 how they’re doing and that 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 ruminations.

“Open up about it with someone you feel safe with, whether that’s a mom, a friend, a therapist,” she advises. “I’ve done extensive EMDR therapy over the past year. That has been incredible in this journey.” Sharing her own intrusive thoughts, Shay confronts the stigma head-on. “I’m like, people are going to think I’m crazy,” she admits. “I’m not wanting to throw my child off a balcony, but if I’m standing outside with her, I’m like, ‘Oh my God, what if she jumped out of my arms?’”

Reflecting on the complexities of postpartum OCD, Shay acknowledges the layers of fear and hesitation in speaking out. “Sometimes when you do say things out loud, then it’s like, ‘Am I manifesting that? Like I don’t want to say this out loud, and then I don’t want to jinx it. There’s so many layers of why women don’t open up about stuff like this.”

Despite the challenges, Shay finds support in her close circle, particularly in her bond with fellow cast member Lala Kent. “We’re the only two moms now on the show,” Shay shares. “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 body that the two of us can … and now it’s like, we literally share a wall in Palm Springs.”

As Shay navigates motherhood, she finds strength in the unity of shared experience. “Our moms are best friends. Our siblings are friends. It’s so easy. We’re rooted now,” she says, expressing gratitude for the support network she’s built. And in her journey, Shay finds reassurance in knowing that Kent is always there to lend a helping hand. “She’s a mom, she knows anything my kid needs,” Shay says confidently.