Ordinary Insanity

Fear and the Silent Crisis of Motherhood in America

By: Sarah Menkedick

Narrated by: Sarah Menkedick

A groundbreaking exposé and diagnosis of the silent epidemic of fear afflicting new mothers, and a candid, feminist deep dive into the culture, science, history, and psychology of contemporary motherhood

Anxiety among mothers is a growing but largely unrecognized crisis. In the transition to mother­hood and the years that follow, countless women suffer from overwhelming feelings of fear, grief, and obsession that do not fit neatly within the outmoded category of “postpartum depression.” These women soon discover that there is precious little support or time for their care, even as expectations about what mothers should do and be continue to rise. Many struggle to distinguish normal worry from crippling madness in a culture in which their anxiety is often ignored, normalized, or, most dangerously, seen as taboo.

Drawing on extensive research, numerous interviews, and the raw particulars of her own experience with anxiety, writer and mother Sarah Menkedick gives us a comprehensive examination of the biology, psychology, history, and societal conditions surrounding the crushing and life-limiting fear that has become the norm for so many. Woven into the stories of women’s lives is an examination of the factors - such as the changing structure of the maternal brain, the ethically problematic ways risk is construed during pregnancy, and the marginalization of motherhood as an identity - that explore how motherhood came to be an experience so dominated by anxiety, and how mothers might reclaim it.

Writing with profound empathy, visceral honesty, and deep understanding, Menkedick makes clear how critically we need to expand our awareness of, compassion for, and care for women’s lives.

©2020 Sarah Menkedick (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Menkedick is a superb storyteller, and her writing is filled with remarkable scientific and literary references.” (Publishers Weekly)

“A bold and ambitious book about the magnificent, messy transformation that is motherhood, and about the resilience of women. Menkedick explores with intellect and empathy what is expected of ‘good’ mothers, what we expect of ourselves, and the complicated entanglement of the two.” (Rachel Friedman, author of And Then We Grew Up: On Creativity, Potential, and the Imperfect Art of Adulthood)

“A stunningly researched, vulnerable and urgent book about the tightrope of motherhood in our broken and prejudiced society. Menkedick reveals the unbearable burden of maternal expectations and how the healthcare system routinely strips women of their agency. You will read these stories of the way mothers are ‘cared’ for in this country with bewilderment, with compassion, with rage, but also with the true belief in the possibility of things becoming different.” (Lauren Markham, author of The Far Away Brothers)

An honest and thoughtful compilation of data and lived experiences. A book all women should read.

I really wanted to have a copy of the physical book so I could make notes and highlight impactful phrases. (off to buy the book)

Beautiful. Informative. Deeply feeling.

I wanted to read this book to understand maternal anxiety and rage both for my own experience and working with my clients as a therapist. I was surprised at how incredibly informative it was particularly around the experience of women of color and history of birth in America. I often sound myself move to tears post by the intense stories that are contained and the way that they touched on my own experience as a mother. I highly recommend this book to all mothers and all health professionals.

Even Better Than Expected

I started reading this for my own battle with postpartum anxiety and have learned so much more since then!

tedious and doesn't say anything meaningful

I couldn't finish this. while I think the subject is important, it's basically like, mothers in America today have anxiety about this, mothers in America today are anxious. I was anxious as a new mom, over and over and over again. It's a cry for help moreso than a book about why it's happening and how we can change it.