Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
So I recently found out I am pregnant (around 5 weeks). I have been taking 20 mg of Lexapro and have been on this medication since 2005 to treat OCD. I just started to try to wean off (from 20mg to 15 mg) and have been unable to sleep for the past two nights. I don't know if this is the actual withdrawal effects or my anticipation of the effects. Either way, it sucks. I have heard mixed reviews about this medication and pregnancy. It seems that many women have taken it and have had healthy babies. Only thing is, I promised my family (especially my fiancee) that I would taper off it. I am thinking of just staying on 20 mg. until the last trimester (when it seems that its the most risky time for this medication) but I am not sure what I will tell my fiancee. He is very adament about me getting off this drug! I know it is my body, but I wish I could please him too.
The pregnancy hormones are making me feel even more vulerable. I am so happy about being pregnant, but feel conflicted at the same time. All of a sudden, I feel overwhelmed and worry that this is all too much to handle. This is a theme with my anxiety, where I suddenly feel like I do not have what it takes to cope and get through something. I feel weak and incapable. It is such a scary feeling. I hate anxiety!
The pregnancy hormones are making me feel even more vulerable. I am so happy about being pregnant, but feel conflicted at the same time. All of a sudden, I feel overwhelmed and worry that this is all too much to handle. This is a theme with my anxiety, where I suddenly feel like I do not have what it takes to cope and get through something. I feel weak and incapable. It is such a scary feeling. I hate anxiety!
And congrats on your pregnancy!
Absolutely speak to your Dr. About this. I went off my celexa 6 months ago bc my wife and I are trying to have a baby. After doing a lot of research, it seems that SSRIs just may be a bad idea during a whole pregnancy process. Ive lost many nights of sleep in the last 5 months. I started using Klonopin bc apparently there's no adverse affects on sperm. Maybe you can use a Benzo instead as needed?? Def speak to Dr.
Plenty of professionals told me not to take a chance while trying to get pregnant. What if something goes wrong? Then we'll really be messed up.
During pregnancy, folate is super important so pre-natal vitamins have a lot of folic acid in them.
However, if you have a gene mutation that can cause anxiety, OCD, stomach problems and other issues, you can't convert folic acid in food into usable folate.
I WISH I had been tested for the MTHFR gene mutation when I was a child - or at least when I was pregnant. It's an inexpensive blood test ($39 here) and the treatment is an inexpensive folate ($8/month).
Since I started the folate, I have had no anxiety attacks at all (which is huge), very very little OCD and as a bonus my IBS has cleared up, I'm having fewer headaches and my energy level is way up.
Might be something to consider getting tested for as folate is all natural and very good for your baby. You just need to be sure you're getting the right sort.