Anxiety attacks can be a terrifying experience. Most individuals experience a feeling of immense concern and impending doom during an attack. Some physical indicators and signs accompany an anxiety attack and it is essential to be able to determine these at the onset. As soon as you’re able to anticipate an attack you will most likely be in a position to deal with the attack better and take the necessary steps in order to stop the attack.

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Question by Mom to Johnny <3: How do I deal with anxiety during a pregnancy following a miscarriage?
I had a miscarriage 4 months ago and am now 6 weeks pregnant. I have a son and that pregnancy went perfectly so I know reasonably that I can and probably will have a healthy pregnancy. However, I can’t stop the anxious feeling that I will lose this baby too. I have been having really traumatic dreams that I am having a miscarriage. I feel like if I can’t get this anxiety out of my head that I may actually cause myself to have a miscarriage. Any help would be appreciated.

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Dean Raffelock, D.C., L. Ac, CCN, DACBN, DIBAK

Hyla Cass, M.D.

Postpartum depression (PPD) Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) have become a national epidemic in the United States, affecting 15%-20% of all new mothers, or about 600,000-800,000 women annually. (1) It is now estimated that over 30 million Americans are on antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications. (2) The majority of this 30 million are women who have one or more children. The chance of suffering from PPD increases with each successive child. (3)

The most common medical treatment for postpartum depression is SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressant drugs. Postpartum Anxiety Disorder is most commonly treated by the benzodiazepine family of drugs like Valium, Ativan, Xanax, and Klonopin. Combination reuptake inhibitors for both serotonin and norepinephrine (SNRIs) are also commonly used in postpartum depression. In the case of postpartum psychosis, antipsychotic drugs are used and are immediately necessary. Many women are now given samples of SSRIs as they are leaving the maternity ward. Most medical sources believe that PPD is caused by an imbalance of brain chemistry and that pharmaceutical intervention is the treatment of choice. While a certain percentage of women suffering from PPD do need pharmaceutical assistance, these are far fewer than are actually receiving them. Recent Meta-studies show this to be true.  While it is clear that some women with PPD do need and benefit from pharmaceutical intervention, it is our experience that an integrative approach yields the best results.

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Question by David: What symptoms of anxiety are related to pregnancy?
Please, I really need help with this. Me and my girlfriend had sex and we think she might be pregnant. We’re going in to take a blood test on Monday, but I just really need to know what kind of anxiety symptoms are related to pregnancy! I’ll give best answer to whoever helps the most.

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Question by Brittaney: what’s the difference between anxiety symptoms & pregnancy symptoms?
My stomach has been really tight and tense lately and i’ve been really tired.But i worry constantly about crazy things that could/couldn’t happen.
I looked it up and that explained that i have something called GAD (General Anxiety Disorder)
But i thought maybe the stomach symptoms could be pregnancy ones..Someone help?

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panic attacks pregnancy

Panic attacks are sudden surges of overwhelming fear that that comes without warning and without any obvious reason. These attacks are sudden feelings of terror that strike unexpectedly. This article will point panic attack sufferers to a website which specializes in this problem and shows sufferers how they can end panic attacks successfully

Do you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks and are looking for a natural cure?

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this is my second baby, and during my first i had placenta previa that wound up resolving itself in my 39th week and was induced due to high blood pressure. i had pains afterwards (a few months) and they checked for hernia’s and everything, nothing was wrong and my doctor said it was just gas. this time we’re in el paso texas (makes me miss east coast healthcare)…. and i have had really sharp pains to the left of my belly button. today my dr down here told me it was a hernia that “has been there since my first pregnancy” and to put a cotton ball in my belly button and put a bandaid over it? i dont even understand that…. especially since it’s not in my belly button it’s about an inch to the left. he also said that i shouldn’t have any more kids after this or it’s going to make the hernia much worse and hurt a ton. and if i have surgery to get it removed that i’m done having kids as well or it will rip the muscle. not a decision i’m ready to make at 22, and doesn’t sound right to me. also, the baby is sitting really low in my stomach, no higher than my hipbone. that seems off to me as well. (i’m 19 weeks) and he’s also telling me i can eat lunch meat, which i thought was a big no b/c of the bacteria. back home they said it was not something i should be eating. i am leaning towards believing my old dr. and i keep having panic attacks, which the new dr said is fine for the baby as long as the anxiety doesn’t cause me to smoke/drink/stop eating/etc. i’m going back home in early sept and visiting with my old dr there to see what they say, but until then – can anyone give me some advice or thoughts? thanks….
thanks much for all the answers so far – it made me realize i left something out, i can’t switch doctors. sadly, this is the best i can find here. *sigh*
oh and tx mom – what is hpb?

what are the effects?

I have an anxiety disorder, which has been pretty mild in the past couple years, that I usually take medication for (only as needed), but opted not to take any meds (very few that are safe) during pregnancy. With my first pregnancy, I didn’t have any anxiety at all!! I was so mellow the whole 9 months. Once he was born though, the letdown of hormones was too much for me and I went back on meds right away. A lot of it is that I fear change. I feel like my husband and son and I have such a nice, normal, happy little family with our routines and now the new baby is going to take a lot of adjusting to. I’m happy to be having her, but I am worried about the anxiety that I know I will have once she’s here. I fear that I will lose the sense of “normalcy” that I have now, and that freaks me out! I have discussed it with my doctor and he has assured me that he will put me back on meds the very day that I deliver (I’m not breastfeeding, so it will be safe), but I’m still feeling a lot of anxiety now. I feel sad in a way, that it will no longer just be me and my son during the days, when my husband is at work. My son (3) and I do a lot together and are very close and I enjoy our time together, so I feel sad that my time alone with him is coming to an end. I’m sure I’m not the only one who had had anxiety about a new baby or feeling sad about time with my son, so I’m hoping that others who have “been there and done that” can give me some advice and encouragement. Like, how did you deal with it? What can I do to keep a sense of normalcy? I would really appreciate all helpful answers, thanks!

I am about 19 and a half weeks pregnant, and this is just getting worse. I don’t want to go to peoples houses, and I especially don’t want to stay the night at other peoples homes away from my family (parents) which is weird because I have NEVER been this way. I just want to know if anyone else has been through this or experienced these symptoms. I tried to look it up, but all I could find was for after the baby is born. It is almost to the point where it is interfering with my life because I feel I can not go to any one else’s home. Thanks everyone