Welsh actress Kimberley Nixon has spoken candidly about the worst time of her life after being diagnosed with Postnatal OCD. The Pontypridd star, best known for roles in Fresh Meat and Wild Child, said she became unwell after giving birth to her son in October 2020 following a five-year struggle with infertility and IVF treatment.
Nixon described experiencing intrusive thoughts and high levels of anxiety, which she initially did not recognise as symptoms of postnatal mental illness. She said the condition was poorly understood and that she feared being perceived as a danger to her baby. The Royal College of Psychiatrists estimates that around two to three in every 100 women experience postnatal OCD in the year after childbirth.
The actress said she found that openness and speaking freely were powerful tools in her recovery, adding that “saying the scary thing out loud” helped remove the shame. She has been sharing her journey on social media, raising awareness for charities including Mothers Matter, a perinatal mental health support organisation in the Rhondda Valleys.
Nixon is currently filming the upcoming TV thriller series Under Salt Marsh, set in a Welsh town. She said juggling parenting and work is challenging, but she has learned to reframe her mindset to manage the demands. “You’re constantly being pulled in two separate directions,” she said, adding that it is important to give herself a break and choose how she looks at things.
