Coping With Anxiety and Depression During Pregnancy

Published on: Parents.com

Research has shown that up to 33 percent of women experience clinical depression or an anxiety disorder at some point during pregnancy. Yet some studies indicate that fewer than 20 percent seek treatment, and that treatment is often inadequate, says Healy Smith, M.D., a reproductive psychiatrist at the Women's Mental Health Clinic at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. "The myth that pregnant women must be happy is still really prevalent," Dr. Smith explains. "Because of that, treatment providers may be less likely to inquire into a woman's mental state, and a woman might feel ashamed to bring it up." But you don't have to suffer -- there are safe ways to treat depression and anxiety during pregnancy.


Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety

It can be tricky to diagnose mood disorders during pregnancy because "some of the symptoms can overlap with symptoms of pregnancy, such as changes in appetite, energy levels, concentration, or sleep," Dr. Smith says. "It's also normal to have some degree of worry over the health of the pregnancy." But if you experience persistent symptoms of depression and/or anxiety, especially if you're unable to function normally, get help.


Symptoms of depression include:

• Being in a depressed mood most of the time for at least two weeks
• No longer enjoying the things you used to enjoy
• Decreased interest in the world around you
• Guilt
• A sense of worthlessness
• Low energy
• Poor concentration
• Appetite changes
• Feeling hopeless
• Thoughts of suicide
• Getting too much sleep, or not enough sleep

The symptoms of anxiety vary by type of anxiety disorder, and include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

• Excessive worry that's difficult to control
• Irritability
• Tension/muscle aches
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Feeling restless inside
• Fatigue
• Poor concentration

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

• Recurrent, persistent, intrusive thoughts
• Compulsions to relieve those thoughts through repetitive thoughts or behaviors

Panic disorder:

• Recurrent panic attacks
• Persistent fear of having a panic attack

Risk Factors for Anxiety and Depression

Anyone can experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy, but women with these risk factors are especially susceptible:

• A personal or family history of a mood disorder, such as depression or anxiety
• A history of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)
• Being a young mother (under the age of 20)
• Having poor social support
• Living alone
• Experiencing marital conflict
• Being divorced, widowed, or separated
• Having experienced traumatic or stressful events in the past year
• Feeling ambivalent about being pregnant
• Pregnancy complications
• Having a low income
• Having more than three children

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