Unveiling the Dark Side of Motherhood: Jo Joyner on Post-Natal OCD in ‘Little Disasters’

by

When a mother arrives at the emergency room with her infant, revealing an unexplained severe wound, suspicion quickly falls upon their apparently flawless family, raising questions about whether their life is as pristine as it appears.

The core narrative unfolds in “Little Disasters,” a fresh psychological thriller now streaming on Paramount Plus. Not only does it delve deep into the central enigma, but it also explores the intricate realms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and anxiety that arise in the aftermath of childbirth.

As the lead character Doctor Liz, Jo Joyner confessed that this style of storytelling was not only a motivating factor for accepting the role, but also a unique aspect she hadn’t encountered on television previously.

Experiencing postpartum depression must be truly overwhelming; thankfully, I personally didn’t go through it. The thought of persistent, unwanted thoughts about one’s own child is something I can hardly fathom. It’s quite fascinating how you brought that up, as it not only adds depth to the discussion but also provides an excellent plot device for a suspenseful narrative, doesn’t it?

Joyner stated that post-natal OCD has not been depicted at all on television, attributing this lack of representation to the imbalance of hormones following childbirth.

Prior to encountering this friend, I was neither familiar with it nor had I ever witnessed it on television. Although I’ve heard about postpartum psychosis, which sounds incredibly frightening, I hadn’t given much thought to it before. Interestingly, I knew a couple who experienced it themselves, as both partners are affected, not just the mother. This show also portrays this aspect effectively.

“It’s not just Jess that suffers, the fallout is big. That was another reason that drew me to it.”

The upcoming six-episode series is adapted from a novel written by Sarah Vaughan, who openly admitted that her personal struggles with postpartum anxiety significantly impacted the creation of the original story.

At a preview event for the show before its premiere, Vaughan shared: “The series is also very relatable to my personal life as I have two kids who are currently 20 and 17 years old. After the birth of my second child, I faced some challenging times.

Due to an unfortunate confluence of events, I was forced to leave my position at The Guardian. Additionally, I became unable to walk and found myself abruptly cut off from my support network in Chiswick. As a result, I had to relocate to a rural area, away from my NCT group.

After welcoming my second child, I developed bothersome intrusive thoughts and what is commonly referred to as postnatal anxiety. As I sat down to write this, I realized, ‘This could make an excellent foundation for a suspenseful psychological novel.’

Instead of attributing your confusion or disorientation to an abusive spouse, consider that you might be self-deceiving due to your own thoughts. The other perspective I intended to convey is self-doubt or self-misdirection.

The individual experiencing persistent unwanted thoughts we’re referring to is named Jess, portrayed by Diane Kruger. Despite having two older sons and a recent addition, a daughter, Jess appears to embody the ideal motherly figure until an unexpected event in the hospital suggests that there may be deeper issues at hand.

In simpler terms, Liz, a character played by Joyner, finds herself in a difficult position where she must choose between maintaining her friendship or reporting a matter to social services. This choice sets off a chain reaction of intense feelings within their previously close-knit circle of friends.

Read More

2025-05-22 14:36