Anxiety, Stress and Trying to Conceive

LaureliLemons

So, I have anxiety which is a hard thing to admit. I went off my medication awhile ago with the knowledge my husband and I want to start a family. I have health-related anxiety which makes me super scared about all the terrible complications that can happen during pregnancy. I am worried that the health-related stress and the stress I feel from work (I have an often stressful job) and life in general is going to affect my chances of conceiving. I'm just super nervous...about my health, age (34), etc. Any suggestions or helpful tips?

doxiemoxie212

Hi @LaureliLemons - welcome! This is a bit of a different board setup than you might be used to on other sites or even other boards on The Bump. We try to keep a community setup with minimal one-off threads so the board doesn't get cluttered. Would you mind introing in the newbie thread? Then feel free to jump into the WTO or TWW threads (based on where you are in your cycle). We also have mental health check ins, etc., where a lot of ladies are struggling with very similar things. I think you'll find a lot of support here! 

vflux33

Hi @LaureliLemons.

Stress can be an issue when TTC (specifically, it often delays ovulation, among other things). I can definitely relate to the fears about stress and age (I'm 34 too). Obviously if you can think of any ways to reduce stress and still maintain the things you want/need in life, that's a good idea. Sometimes talking to other people going through it can be helpful and may put some specific fears you have at ease and/or in context. Do you chart? If you chart you'll get to know how your body works and have a better idea of how stress might be affecting your cycles specifically and it also may reduce stress to do that because the knowledge will be helpful to you and may put your mind at ease. 

There are lots of knowledgable ladies in this community who can help you with that and talk you down from the edge when you need it and offer support. If you lurk here a bit, intro on the newbie thread, and then post in the daily WTO/TWW threads, you'll get to know lots of other people struggling with similar things. So I say, join us! And good luck!

JennyColada

Hi @LaureliLemons! It sounds like you certainly do have a lot on your mind. Have you been going to any sort of therapy? It may be useful to have someone that you can speak to openly about your fears and worries. Have you been open with your SO about your thoughts as well? That seems like a great place to start.

eggplantface

Have you talked to your doctor? Or did you stop the meds on your own? We have a mental health check-in thread that may offer some insight into how to deal with anxiety while TTC and what meds are safe during pregnancy. I used to take xanax to help me sleep and my doc said it was safe for pregnancy. 

pebbledam

Just wanted to encourage you to intro and join in on our daily and weekly discussions. I have chosen to stay on my SNRI to manage my anxiety while TTC. I made this decision with help from my doctor, but some doctors feel more strongly about going med- free than others. 

@eggplantface - Your doctor said xanax was safe!? It's most definitely a category D drug and my GP and and OB both said to not even use it while I was in the TWW. 

Eta typo

jenotontx

pebbledam said:

snip

@eggplantface - Your doctor said xanax was safe!? It's most definitely a category D drug and my GP and and OB both said to not even use it while I was in the TWW. 

Eta typo

Yikes I was thinking the same thing... this is why I ALWAYS suggest more then one opinion! Xanax is really only supposed to be used as needed and not long term because it's addictive. Taking it while TTC seems scary to me. 

lurvleybunchococonuts

RE: meds while TTC, my dr doesn't seem too concerned that I take 40mg fluoxetine daily for anxiety while TTC.  Obviously Xanax is a completely different drug than Prozac.  But I never 2nd guessed or even thought about getting a 2nd opinion on it since my GP was like "meh, nbd."  Any thoughts?

kmalls

lurvleybunchococonuts said:

RE: meds while TTC, my dr doesn't seem too concerned that I take 40mg fluoxetine daily for anxiety while TTC.  Obviously Xanax is a completely different drug than Prozac.  But I never 2nd guessed or even thought about getting a 2nd opinion on it since my GP was like "meh, nbd."  Any thoughts?

Prozac is category C, which means either studies have not been conclusive on their safety in pregnancy, or not enough studies have been done. It's a personal choice between patient and doctor: is the unknown potential risk greater than the mental health of the mother? Or is the drug so beneficial it's worth taking despite the unknown? 

Xanex is a very different situation. It's class D, meaning there are KNOWN adverse reactions. I'm really surprised a doctor would be ok with taking it to induce sleep, never mind giving the go ahead for pregnancy. 

lurvleybunchococonuts

Hmm... great food for thought, thanks @kmalls!  

pebbledam

@lurvleybunchococonuts - In addition to what @kmalls said, Prozac is considered one of the safest SSRIs for pregnancy and BFing. Unfortunately, Prozac didn't work well for me, but my meds are also considered class C. 

lund

I love how everyone is being so nice to a rando, yet she hasn't even come back since yesterday. 

kmalls

@lund -  I don't really have it in me to be snarky at someone who is seeking advice about mental health issues. Besides, even if she doesn't come back, I think it's great information to have out there for anyone else who may be wondering the same thing. 

lund

@kmalls whoops. Re-read my post - I didn't mean that everyone shouldn't be nice to her, just that it's annoying that she hasn't come back to acknowledge the advice everyone has given her. 

dpjennifer

I agree with the above. Definitely seek out therapy if you're not already there. Talk to a doctor about your concerns and your medication. Also, charting helps me with my anxiety as I can clearly see when I have ovulated, what my body is doing, and feel like I am actively paying attention to my cycles. 

However, with that being said, you're right. Tons of things can go wrong with TTC and PG. Other than being proactive with your health (physically and mentally), working with health care professionals, and giving it a go, there's not much else you can do. Just realize that tons of women have MC and PG complications, and that it's something that can make you stronger. Nothing really that you can do but prepare the best you can for your situation and give it a go.

[Deleted User]

Not sure if OP will come back but for any lurkers who are considering going off meds like this: first, discuss it with your psychiatrist. If your anxiety is very severe it is often better to stay on a lower dose than to go off. Second, if you and your doctor do decide it would be safe for you to go off do not just cold turkey it! You have to come off slowly and your doctor will tell you how to do that. Third, get yourself to a good therapist if you aren't already regardless of if you stay on meds or go off.

kmalls

@lund - got it. Thanks for the clarification. 

eggplantface

Yeah, she said it was ok to keep taking to sleep (.5 mg). I didn't do any of my own research into it bc I stopped taking it. She said "Its ok to continue if you need it" (maybe to her not sleeping is worse than the drug?) "but if you want to wean yourself off you should, bc what kept you from sleeping before may not be affecting you now," and she was right. And it is addicting in that I got to a point I couldn't sleep without it, so that's why I wanted to stop. I didn't do the research into it when I started it, I didn't even consider it that powerful. Thanks for the info though!