Cures for Prenatal Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy
Depression and anxiety may seem like opposites, but in reality, they’re two sides of the same coin. With some exceptions, many women who experience one of these are also likely to experience the other. Depression during pregnancy is a topic that’s rarely discussed, yet is relatively common, with between 14-23% of women (according to the ACOG) being affected at some point during their pregnancy. During pregnancy, feeling depressed can be especially difficult because of the popular notion that women are supposed to be happy and “blissed out” for the entirety of the gestational period… the reality of pregnancy is, however, different for a lot of women.
And that’s okay. Every woman is allowed to feel how she feels during pregnancy. Feelings of joy and happiness are just as normal as feelings of worry, fear, or even depression, and it’s not uncommon for a woman to oscillate between these two emotional extremes during her pregnancy! Nevertheless, feeling depressed is uncomfortable, and can be dangerous in severe cases, so it’s important to know your options in terms of natural treatments that work.
Due to fluctuating hormone levels, dramatic changes to both body and mind, and a hefty set of upcoming lifestyle changes, it’s no surprise that some women feel depressed and/or anxious during pregnancy. This article focuses on treatments for depression and anxiety during pregnancy that are safe and effective, and that can be administered easily at home.
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Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy
Some women may experience the symptoms of depression and anxiety intermittently during pregnancy, or they may experience them more frequently or persistently for a longer period of time. Below is a list of some of the symptoms of depression and anxiety:- Difficulty concentrating
- Persistent feelings of sadness (especially when these feelings aren’t connected to anything in the real world)
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Loss of interest in activities that you normally find to be enjoyable
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Guilty feelings
- Chronic fatigue
- Thoughts of death or suicide (please reach out to a professional directly if you’re contemplating suicide to get the help that you need)
- Feelings of worry that get out of control
- Headaches, muscle aches, or other unexplained pain in the body
- Stomach pain, especially in response to emotions of stress
- Rapid heartbeat
- Feelings of being out of control
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty making decisions
- Abnormal appetite (beyond what may be considered normal during pregnancy)
- Feelings of emptiness
Depression may seem to come out of nowhere, or it may be triggered by certain events or situations. Relationship/family problems, a history of abuse or trauma, previous pregnancy loss or loss of a child, pregnancy complications, or particularly stressful life events can all potentially cause feelings of depression or anxiety during pregnancy. While it’s not always possible to control these situations or events, there are still some natural medicines that can be used during pregnancy to help women modulate their emotions and physiological responses to these events more effectively.
The Conditions of Pregnancy Living Database, BETA Release - NOW AVAILABLE! Click here to learn more...Bright Light Therapy for Prenatal Depression
Bright light therapy is often used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a condition that some people struggle with during the wintertime months when sunlight is limited, but this treatment can also work to treat other types of depression. Light therapy is extremely safe during pregnancy, yet can produce surprisingly powerful effects. Indeed, studies have shown that bright light therapy is at least as effective as psychotherapy and even some antidepressant drugs, but without any of the side effects.Light therapy can be administered using a special bright light therapy box, which should emit 10,000 lux light. Women with prenatal depression can sit in front of this light for 30-60 minutes every day; ideally, spend time in front of the bright light box first thing in the morning upon waking, or as soon as you can after you wake up in the morning. Alternatively, you can spend 30 minutes per day in direct sunlight with as much skin exposed as possible (if you can, spend your sun time either completely naked or in a bikini). It’s vital that you don’t wear sunscreen during your time in the sun.
Even if your weather is cloudy, spending some time outdoors with skin exposed to the light can be similarly beneficial to mental health. Combining bright light therapy with sunlight exposure or even a morning walk or some time spent outside on cloudy days is a good choice for women struggling with prenatal depression.
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SAM-e (S-Adenosyl L-Methionine) for Depression During Pregnancy
NOTE: Women with bipolar depression should not use SAM-e. SAM-e is a supplement that’s frequently used for depression treatment (regardless of whether a woman is pregnant or not). This is a natural substance that is used in the body during the methylation process, and directly supports the production and utilization of various neurotransmitters that help regulate mood, including dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.SAM-e is manufactured naturally from methionine, an amino acid, and plays a role not only for the production of neurotransmitters, but also in 200+ other chemical reactions in the body. Therefore, if methionine and/or SAM-e is in low supply, there are a lot of different processes and areas of the body that are liable to suffer.
Take 400-800mg of SAM-e per day to treat prenatal depression. Start with the lower dose and see how you feel before increasing to the higher dose; it’s not uncommon for women to need to take the higher 800mg/day dose to experience more noticeable effects. If you take this higher dose, consider splitting it into 2 doses by taking 1 dose of 400mg in the morning and another 400mg in the evening.
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Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a Treatment for Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy
Acupuncture is a great way to treat all kinds of pregnancy-related problems safely, naturally, and effectively. Studies have shown that acupuncture treatments do indeed help relieve even more severe depression symptoms during pregnancy, with no adverse effects to either the mother or fetus reported from the treatments.One study observed that 63% of pregnant women with major depressive disorder who received acupuncture treatments for depression had a 50% decrease (or more) in their depression symptoms after 4-8 weeks of regular acupuncture sessions. This was in contrast with only 44% of the women who experienced benefits after receiving only massage or acupuncture treatments unrelated to depression. The women received 12 total acupuncture treatments during the 8-week treatment period. Other case reports of women at different stages of pregnancy have reported similarly positive results in regard to the use of acupuncture for depression during pregnancy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine views health differently than western medicine, and it’s helpful to discuss how TCM views prenatal pregnancy in order to understand this condition from a different perspective. According to TCM, when a woman first becomes pregnant, Blood and Qi can accumulate in the Liver due to the sudden halt in the woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. This can cause the movement of Qi to become inhibited, and the Liver may develop Qi Stagnation, or Blood Stasis may develop in response to differences in blood flow. Besides this potential for Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis, the pregnant woman’s body must produce more Qi and Blood during pregnancy in order to support the growing fetus. This increased need for Qi and Blood can also, in some cases, Blood and Qi Insufficiencies or Damp or Phlegm Accumulation. Prolonged Qi Stagnation may lead to Heat or Fire.
Due to the dynamics of the Kidneys during pregnancy (read more about the role of the kidneys during pregnancy in this article), Kidney Yin Insufficiency may contribute to problems in the Liver since inadequate Kidney Yin can make it difficult for the body to moisten and relax the Liver. Finally, insufficient amounts of Blood or Blood flow can put a strain on the Heart, which houses the Shen (the spirit). The Heart relies on Blood to house and maintain the Shen, therefore any problems with the Blood can ultimately contribute to problems with the Shen. The Heart is also the seat of Joy, so according to TCM, the health of the Heart and the Heart Meridian dramatically affects a person’s ability to feel joy (or not).
This complex process between the organs of the body can contribute to the development of depression during pregnancy. Maintaining the health of these organs and taking actions to encourage Qi and Blood flow in particular is thus valuable for both preventing and treating prenatal depression.
Lithium Orotate Supplements for Prenatal Depression / Anxiety
Lithium orotate is an excellent choice of medicine for depression during pregnancy (as well as for pregnancy anxiety) because of its safety and status as a nutritional supplement. Indeed, your body, and your baby's body, needs lithium in reasonable quantities, and the reality is that not many women actually get any lithium in their daily diet or from drinking water. Read more about the benefits of lithium orotate supplements for mood and the treatment of prenatal depression and anxiety in this article.Herbal Medicines for Pregnancy Depression and Pregnancy Anxiety
Chances are, if you're pregnant and suffering from depression and/or anxiety, or any other kind of health problem, for that matter, that you've wondered which herbs may be useful as treatment options. There's actually a long list of herbs that are safe for use during pregnancy, and nearly all of these are significantly safer and less risky than their pharmaceutical counterparts. This article discusses some of the most effective, safest herbal remedies for the treatment of pregnancy anxiety and pregnancy depression.Motherwort is an amazing medicine for women's health in general, and has powerful effects in the treatment of pregnancy depression and pregnancy anxiety. It can also be used in a wide range of other contexts, not only during pregnancy, but also in the postpartum period, the remainder of a woman's reproductive years, and during and past menopause. This is an herb that every woman should have available and be familiar with. Read more about motherwort in this article.
Aromatherapy with Essential Oils for Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy
Aromatherapy is a great therapeutic choice during pregnancy for the treatment of mood issues because there's no question in terms of its safety, and because aromatherapy can be highly effective when administered using the appropriate oils in the right context. This article discusses some of the best essential oils for anxiety and depression during pregnancy. It's likely that you already have a few in your medicine cabinet!
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Resources:
• American Pregnancy Association (n.d). Depression During Pregnancy. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://americanpregnancy.org/uncategorized/depression-during-pregnancy/
• National Institute of Mental Health (2022). Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders
• National Institute of Mental Health (n.d). Perinatal Depression. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/perinatal-depression
• Corliss, Julie (2022). Light therapy: Not just for seasonal depression? Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/light-therapy-not-just-for-seasonal-depression-202210282840
• Romm, Aviva (n.d). Natural Approaches to Depression in Pregnancy. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/light-therapy-not-just-for-seasonal-depression-202210282840
• Farnsworth, Carolyn (2022). What to know about SAM-e for depression. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sam-e-for-depression
• Manber, Rachel, et. al. (2010). Acupuncture for depression during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20177281/
• Schnyer, Rosa N., et. al. (2003). Acupuncture Treatment for Depression During Pregnancy: Conceptual Framework and Two Case Reports. Retrieved March 23, 2023 from: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1076167502238384
