Pregnancy and anxiety?
Saturday, July 31st, 2010 at
7:18 am
So we’re TTC and I have an anxiety disorder. I’ve worked very hard and stopped taking any medication to control the anxiety because I don’t want it to interfere with being pregnant, obviously the baby has to come first. What I’m wondering is if any of you have had to deal with something similar and if you have any tricks that help you get past it. I know that tons of women face anxiety and pregnancy, so does anyone have any advice?
Tagged with: anxiety • Pregnancy
Filed under: Pregnancy Anxiety
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My aunt told me about a book by Jon Kabat-Zinn – apparently he has some pretty good ideas on how to deal with anxiety.
YES YES and YES!! The worst thing I did was stop the meds–I have severe anxiety and OCD. I got so bad (cause I refused my meds) that I had to go back on–I had a healthy baby girl. I am 28 weeks pregnant now and I am on meds (safest for pregnancy with the go-ahead from my doctor) and doing fine. Good luck!! I would talk to your doc just to make sure the risks outweigh the benefits!!
I’m 17, and even though I’m not pregnant, I have anxiety. The only thing that really works for me is that I stay busy. I have to keep doing things that work my mind out mentally so that I don’t focus and worry on things. I just focus on what I’m doing. There isn’t really a treatment for anxiety; you have to learn to cope with it.
I sufferred terribly through my pregnancy with panic attacks. I decided that enough was enough and when ever i started to feel anxious i would make my self believe it wasnt happening. apart from mind over matter tricks, cammomile tea is good and lavender. listen to music or movies you like. good luck
Ignore the ignorant answers.
First of all good for you for realizing you need to stop the meds. I was put on them during my pregnancy and told it was “safe”. Guess what? My poor baby was born with uncontrollable shakes, barely breathing and in the nicu for 3 weeks. He’s lucky he survived. I couldn’t breast feed either because the meds would go back into his system.
It’s NOT worth it. Just cut them out now. Swim, sleep lots, eat healthy foods and get everyone around you to rally & support you. That is all you can do.
I would visit http://www.StressCenter.com
Your not alone there is a free forum where you can talk and read other peoples same problems and how they delt with it. Hope this helps. Take care.
Hi, I ahd the exact same problem as you. I started eating a mega healthy diet. I totally avoided sugar and caffeine, both of which can be major anxiety inducers. I also started walking every day. You should get the book From Panic to Power by Lucinda Bassett. It helped me tremendously. If the anxiety is still an issue see a therapist that can help you through these feelings. I went from having major anxiety and panic attacks to being well and feeling great and had a daughter in the meantime.
Yes I have anxiety. Unfortunately you are right there isn’t much safe medication that you can take while pregnant. Most of my trouble is at night so occasionally when I am having a very hard time, my Dr told me it is safe to take Tylenol PM. (It is only Tylenol and Benadryl which are both safe for pregnancy) This does help some. If I have an anxiety attack I just have to talk myself through them remind myself that no one died from an anxiety attack and that I will get through it. Since anxiety medicines are not usually a necessity for the mother to live, Ob Drs don’t prescribe them. Bc in early pregnancy they can cause defects and in late pregnancy they can become addictive to the baby.
Speaking to a counselor has also helped me in the past. I will warn you, if you already have anxiety, it tends to get worse when you are pregnant bc your hormones are going crazy. But it gets better after the first trimester. Later on in your pregnancy you can take medications that are “safer” Like Lexapro, Paxil, etc. But I never would take them. The risk to the baby outweighs the benefits to me, in my eyes. But it is a personal choice. Best Wishes!!
ADDED: If someone else will report Jordan his answer will be deleted and not only will he not gain 2 points for his comment, but he will lose more
I have ADD and I quit taking my high doses of Adderall so I could start TTC’ing. It took 2 months to get rid of all the withdrawel symptoms. It took 9 months to get prego and in between that time I gained so much weight and I got depressed. I had to buy new clothes from the plus sized places and I was about to go get on anti depressants (and hopefully Adderall), but then I was pregnant
. The only thing I’ve been doing is reading alot info on pregnancy and doing a pregnancy journal and playing 3 different video games and work full-time to keep me occupied. I get anxious like you too. Just keep yourself occupied and count down til you have your loved one here in your arms. Once everything gets back to normal and the baby is off the breast then you can get back to normal, or that’s how I’m planning it.
I hope I helped at least a little
Oh I know what you’re going through. It’s sooo hard. I had to quit my anxiety meds AND smoking cigarettes at the same time when I found out I was expecting. My poor patient hubby, these are some tricks I’ve learned to help keep the anxiety at bay and preserve my marriage…. lol.
My tricks:
1. Yoga: Pregnancy yoga is great too. I’m not good about doing it every day. But it does help.
2. Baths: Luke-warm bubble baths.
3. Chocolate: I don’t know if this is the right thing to do per-say, but I keep a big hersheys milk chocolate bar in my desk at work. When I’m feeling anxious I break off a square and wait for it to dissolve in my mouth. It makes me feel better for some reason.
4. Foot massages: if you can coax your hubby into giving you one of these – it’s very relaxing
5. Shopping layette: helps me remember that the little bundle of joy is worth the temporary discomfort and it takes my mind off things. Since you’re TTC, stores like JCPenny have adorable inexpensive gender neutral sets.
6. Crying: Okay I know this is crazy, but occassionally you’ll get to the point where chocolate, baths, foot massages and yoga don’t cut it. Crying is suprisingly refreshing. My spouse just writes it off as hormones. Sometimes you just need a good cry. Target carries a cucumber eye cream if your eyes are puffy-prone.
I hope this helps. Best of luck TTC. It is soo worth it!
Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes your Serotonin production to be low; when your Serotonin level is low, you are more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc.
Medication like Antidepressants (SSRI – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level.
But there are natural ways to do it without medication. There’s this strange herb called “St John’s Wort” – it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only and ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety and panic-attacks as St John’s Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc.
The problem is that, even if your Serotonin is balanced… you have that “learned behavior” in your mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior – Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that you can use without CBT will be Distraction… There are several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to….
Extracted from Source.
Here’s my story. My husband and I weren’t ttc but figured it would happen when it happens. I ended up pregnant in May I found out, got off of my anxiety medication, which was the only thing allowing me to work and lead a semi normal life. Well I went to my OB once my 2nd trimester started and had lost weight. I have no appetite when Im anxious and not on medication. So my doctor insisted on putting me back on my medication as the risk of being off and not eating was much higher than being on medication. I took a much lower dose and not as many times a day but it helps me get through tough days. Otherwise relaxing, naps, going out and getting my mind off of everything mind boggling helps. I haven’t done it yet but I plan on talking to a therapist as it gets closer to delivery I will get off of my medication, and hopefully work through the remainder of my pregnancy with a therapist. Otherwise, try pregnancy yoga, exercising (walking), eating good foods, mainting a healthy diet, and all in all keep your mind occupied with the baby and try to keep your mind off your anxiety. I know easier said than done but its a small sacrifice to make and its only for 9 months. Plus if you can go without for 9 months.. Maybe thats your ticket out of medication. Best of luck in ttc!