I recently opened up the AG phone line and the first question is in.
The question comes from Casey and she wants to know about anxiety during pregnancy and how anxiety might effect her ability to raise a child.
This is an excellent and profound question on a lot of levels.
Do anxious people make good parents? Is it a good or bad idea to have children when you suffer from long-term anxiety?
I think these are profound questions because to a certain extent many, if not most of us, long to be parents at some point in our lives.
Whether it’s because of a genetic drive, social pressure, or simply because we want to experience the joy of having a little one. The feeling can be strong.
Of course, when you have an anxiety disorder things can get complicated.
As a prospective parent you’ll have to contend with your anxiety, worry, several risk factors, and balance all that on top of your day-to-day concerns.
To help Casey and others along in their decision to start a family I discuss several issues including:
1. Reasons why some woman fear pregnancy
2. The changes that pregnancy brings
3. Possible risks of an anxious pregnancy
4. Solutions
Luckily, I was able to dive into several research articles (grad school perk!) to get a good snap shot of what the consensus is on this topic. I also drew on my own past experience as a young father with a serious anxiety issue.
So is it a good idea for anxious people to make babies? Press play below and find out.
References
Bánhidy, F., Ács, N., Puhó, E., & Czeizel, A. E. (2006). Association between maternal panic disorders and pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, 124(1), 47-52. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2005.04.013
Buist, A., Gotman, N., & Yonkers, K. (2011). Generalized anxiety disorder: Course and risk factors in pregnancy. Journal of Affective Disorders, 131(1-3), 277-283. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2011.01.003
Grant, K., McMahon, C., Reilly, N., & Austin, M. (2010). Maternal sensitivity moderates the impact of prenatal anxiety disorder on infant mental development. Early Human Development, 86(9), 551-556. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.07.004
Köken, G., Yilmazer, M., Cosar, E., Sahiın, F., Cevriıoglu, S., & Gecıcı, Ö. (2008). Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: Relationship with anxiety and depression. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, 29(2), 91-95. doi:10.1080/01674820701733697
Martini, J., Knappe, S., Beesdo-Baum, K., Lieb, R., & Wittchen, H. (2010). Anxiety disorders before birth and self-perceived distress during pregnancy: Associations with maternal depression and obstetric, neonatal and early childhood outcomes. Early Human Development, 86(5), 305-310. doi:10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2010.04.004
Zelkowitz, P., & Papageorgiou, A. (2005). Maternal anxiety: An emerging prognostic factor in neonatology. Acta Paediatrica, 94(12), 1704-1705. doi:10.1080/08035250500355030
The panic attacks and the chronic anxiety disorders are very common in today’s world affecting not only aged people but even the youth so xanax bars have become a common house hold. The above statement is being proved by the statistics of the National Institute of Mental Health which showed that there are 19.1 million people who are suffering from anxiety and panic disorders and it is to be noted that they are in the age group 18 and 54 years.
Joan Sura
Findrxonline
Paul Thank you so much for shedding light on this. I was diagnosed with PPD/PPA/OCD after having my son (but now realized I was suffering through my entire pregnancy) and its been such a uphill battle. I was constantly worried about loosing the baby. I know realize how much anxiety I put myself and my baby through. I am so fortunate to have found the right kind of help. I didn’t realize I was a sufferer of generalized anxiety disorder until after having my son. It wasn’t’ until intense therapy /medication that I realized that I have been dealing with this all my life. Having survived PPD/PPA/OCD has opened so many doors for me to really start working on my GAD and facing all the demons I used to hide. I have a “plan of action” in place if I were to ever get pregnant again and it’s important for woman with a history of anxiety/depression to know that they have a 50% chance of having a perninatal mood disorder during and or after having a child. Whether you have anxiety or depression (or both), with the right help and support, you can be an amazing parent.
Hi Amy, thanks for sharing your story. Very inspiring!
I’m glad to hear that you’ve developed a plan and are focused on following through with it.
I believe that if women are focused on solutions, have a positive mindset, and are prepared for the potential difficulties, then they can not only have children but they can be great moms.
i’m not planning to have kids for..like 8-10 years (i’m 18) and i’m already worried :/ . my mum told me that when i was a kid i became scared of bugs because an adult at nursery paniced :(. maybe i’ll get rid of my Gad and just general mix of anxiety problems i have but i really don’t want my kid to be scared of sick or anything else i’m scared of because i’m scared of it. i want them to be confident and independant.and right now i’m really struggling and i think about kids alot :/ (not that i want them now, but i wander what they will be like). how the hell am i meant to convey to them that what i’m scared of arn’t everyday fears, when i my self say ” sorry sweetie, mummy can’t come to your school trip because shes scared of going out side ” or when we’re out they see me freaking out 🙁
Hi Palsea, hey don’t frown so much… =)
I hope that this post serves as motivation to lower your anxiety so that none of your fears about being a mom comes true.
If you want to have kids in 10 years then I’d say you got to start to find ways to eliminate your fears so that abnormal anxiety is no longer part of your life.
Don’t surrender your future to fear. You always have options. Hang in there.
Paul,
Thank you for this posting! It was very helpful.
I’m so glad that you have decided to cover this topic! I waited until my early 30s to have children because I didn’t want to raise I child the way I was raised. I addressed many of those issues and decided to start a family. I actually found your site after having my first baby last fall and struggling with postpartum anxiety/panic that eventually lead to depression. I actually started having panic attacks while pregnant, I just didn’t know what was happening. Although I’ve always struggled with anxiety, since early childhood, I had managed to live a happy and healthy life into adulthood. After baby I was suddenly struck by some pretty anxious thoughts surrounding my own childhood trauma. Thankfully my husband has been supportive in this journey and I’ve been able to get help and work on my recovery. I wasted a lot of time trying to overcome this battle without medication, but just recently decided to give in. I got to a point where I wasn’t making enough progress without it and I didn’t feel like I could keep treading water without it affecting my baby somehow. I’m now on medication and going through therapy so that I can focus on raising a happy baby! Each day it gets better! Kids can bring such joy to your life, but you have to be ready! And if you have a history of anxiety and/or depression it is important to have a support system in place. My daughter is definitely the driving force behind my desire to make a full recovery!
Thanks again for addressing this issue! It’s very important!
Great work, Paul! Out of my area of concern, of course. 🙂 But, nice to see this topic get some coverage!
i am curious to hear from children who have parents suffering with my type of high level of anxiety. it would be interesting to hear,how do they cope with it?how much would they have to help out?
I am and always have been an anxious person. I finally confronted it within the last year, had a few sessions of therapy, spent a lot of time on this website, and read Claire’s book.
I have two kids, a 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. I’m SOOOOOO GLAD I didn’t “not” have kids because of my anxiety. Yes, I get anxious. Yes, I worry about them (of course, all parents worry about their kids). But I’ve found that my kids actually help me control my anxiety to a point. I pull myself together in front of them and work really hard to see the positive side of things for them, and in return…I do a better job myself of seeing the positive (less fearful) side of life.
Sure it’s hard. But parenting is so full of joy and rewards.
Since my mid 20s I’ve been scared to have children even though I love kids. I was always nervous about taking care of my nephews, but when it comes time I’m great with them and love every minute. Paul, thank you so much for taking the time to answer my ? My husband and I are planning on seeking couple therapy so he can better understand my anxiety. I’ve got a great support system and am so thankful for them. Again thank you for the post!!
Hi Kasey! Glad you enjoyed the post. Really glad to hear you and your husband are seeking therapy together. You married a winner let me tell you. With a great support system you can do this. Best of luck.
Trying to find a good anxiety therapist in Salt Lake City, UT…anyone have a recommendation?
I was trying to quit my SSRI in order to possibly get pregnant and not risk bith defect. I saw commercials for class acxtion Lawsuits on TV and read so many scray stories of how they can hurt the baby. I have been trying to reduce my meds gradualy. But now something not so dramatic happended yet it started the whole wheel of anxiety again. I think I might have to keep taking them for a while still. My doctor told me the risks of taking the meds while pregnant are not as bad as the effects the anxiety will have on my body if I do get pregnant. She also said the main side effect is witdrawl and it doesn’t last long. I’m reading also that some studies have been sort of debunked and SSRI are not proven to be to blame for child problems. I’m confused. And anxious. Duh.
😛
OMG! The last comment was me a year and a half ago!
And again same topic! Cyclic thinking anyone?
I’m active when anxious.
So I did quit my meds. And here comes anxiety again! It’s definitly manageable and not as bad as it has been. I suspect I’m going through withdrawl. Anxiety is a symptom of withdrawl form that pill. So that’s good for the baby. But what are the effects of the anxiety itself on the foetus? I’m not pregnannt yet. Actually I may be unable to have them. I’m looking into that. I told my doctor and she did say there was a risk of the anxiety affecting the baby slightly but nothing too bad since he would be partially protected by the placenta. Like it’s better not to be anxious, but if i do have a relapse, the baby is safe. No miscarriage or anything. So that calmed me a little. But then I remembered the internet and int never ending source of misguided information. I have read that some studies linked anxiety during pregnancy to low birth weight and even development delays. Even on the drug I had anxiety relapses, about every 6 months. But now I worry that if I do get pregnant and get anxious then, all the bad stuf that could happen will happen. But I’m not pregnant now. So I shouldn’t worry I guess. But I worry. I know it’s irrational. I’m doing all the bad stuff: hyper-vigilence, reasurance seeking, exagerating the probabilities… Ok. Let me know if you have anything to add becaus I am here for reasurance. I don`t care to be periodically anxious while pregnant if it doens’t affect the baby. But I do care if it does. Then agian I’ll stress about that. Stress about being anxious in the future. Wow. Anyways, help welcome.
Hey everyone well I am currently pregnant and was told I had an anxiety disorder about 8 weeks into my pregnancy ….. I have to say that its been a HUGE rollercoaster ride ….especially since this all is very knew to me ..never in my mind did I ever think I would feel this way!! I have been to the ER about 4 times in what I thought was my last day on earth only to find out am healthy no physical medical problems AT ALL!!! Uggghhh!!! I am not currently taking medication on a daily basis just a pill that the ER doc said was like benadrly to calm me down in case of me feeling too overwhelmed. What I wanted to get to is that it hasnt been easy at all ….especially because personal life aint that amazing….but I want to thank you Paul for this website because it has helped me to understand exactly whats going on with me and why I shouldnt be afraid of the symtpoms take charge and move forward…I was sooo proud of myself today because I started feeling very anxious palpitations and lump in my throat like I was going to suffocate and remebered everything you have said about anxiety symptoms and after a little while I was fine…Even though at times it takes me a little longer to get it together ..this website has been my toolbox when I need help or to remind me am fine …I have been beyond evaluated and told am fine way too many times by too many doctors…its time to take control of this thing that for 3-4 months has put me on the edge….as far the baby I have been told he or she is doing good ….
Thank you Pual for everything your amazing!!!