New testimony in the murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy has given jurors a deeply personal look into her state of mind in the months leading up to the deaths of her three young children, as prosecutors and defense attorneys continue to present sharply different explanations for what happened.

On Monday, jurors heard excerpts from Clancy’s private journal, where she described battling severe insomnia, anxiety and overwhelming emotional exhaustion while caring for her family.

In one entry dated November 18, 2022—about two months before the tragedy—Clancy wrote that she felt “desperate to get a mental break from taking care of everyone.” She also expressed hope that she could recover, writing, “I want help. I want to be well.”

The journal, which covered entries from October 2022 through January 2023, was introduced as evidence through the testimony of a Massachusetts State Police investigator who collected it during the investigation.

Prosecutors allege Clancy intentionally caused the deaths of her three children in January 2023 before attempting to take her own life. She survived but suffered severe spinal injuries that left her permanently paralyzed.

The defense argues that Clancy was experiencing postpartum psychosis at the time of the incident and had repeatedly sought medical treatment before the tragedy. Her attorneys are asking the jury to find her not guilty by reason of insanity, maintaining that her mental condition prevented her from understanding the nature of her actions.

Several psychiatrists who treated Clancy after the incident also testified Monday. Some told jurors that she appeared cooperative during her hospitalization and did not display obvious signs of suicidal or homicidal thinking during their evaluations.

During cross-examination, however, defense attorneys questioned whether a person experiencing postpartum psychosis could still appear calm, communicate clearly and make decisions. Medical experts acknowledged that some patients can experience periods of apparent clarity despite suffering from severe psychiatric illness.

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Jurors also heard emotional testimony from doctors who cared for Clancy’s youngest child after the incident. Physicians explained the medical efforts made before the child was later pronounced dead following extensive neurological testing.

The trial has become one of the most closely watched criminal cases in Massachusetts, with the central issue focusing not only on what happened that day, but also on Clancy’s mental state and whether she was legally responsible for her actions.

The proceedings are expected to continue as both sides present additional witnesses and evidence before the jury begins deliberations.