Anxiety symptoms are relatively common during pregnancy, but they are almost always undiagnosed and consequently left untreated. A recent study involving 2,793 women found that 9.5% meet the criteria for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at some point during pregnancy, therefore, anxiety therapy during pregnancy should be adopted. The highest rates of GAD were observed in the first trimester (7%). Only 2% of women met the criteria for GAD in the second trimester and 3% in the third trimester. This study indicated that a woman with a history of GAD before pregnancy is more prone to developing episodes of generalized anxiety during pregnancy.

Most Common Anxiety Disorders in Pregnancy?

Anxiety disorders are part of a group involving mental health conditions. These conditions are categorized together because they all focus on dysfunctional levels of fear, worry, or some other anxiety-based reaction to general or specific circumstances. Examples of disorders that require anxiety therapy during pregnancy:

  • Panic disorder or syndrome;
  • Generalized anxiety disorder;
  • Social anxiety disorder;
  • Specific phobia;
  • Separation anxiety disorders;
  • Agoraphobia

Two other conditions—post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)—were previously classified as anxiety disorders, although they now have their own individual diagnostic categories. Pregnant women develop symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder and panic syndrome almost always when they develop symptoms of depression or other forms of depressive illness. In addition, pregnant women who require anxiety therapy during pregnancy almost always develop obsessive-compulsive disorder symptoms as frequently as they develop depression-related symptoms.

Symptoms of Anxiety in Pregnancy

The specific manifestations of anxiety disorders or OCD during pregnancy may include:

  • Increased levels of general worry;
  • Recurring thoughts of harmful or fatal outcomes for a developing child;
  • Inability to get adequate restful sleep;
  • Excessively deep or rapid breathing pattern, known as hyperventilation;
  • Onset of temporarily debilitating episodes known as panic attacks.

Whenever possible, doctors try to avoid medication-based anxiety treatment for pregnant women, since this form of treatment can pose health risks to a developing child if not strictly limited.

Is Anxiety Harmful During Pregnancy?

Anxiety during pregnancy is not necessarily a benign event. Several studies indicate that women who experience clinically significant anxiety symptoms during pregnancy are more likely to:

  • Have premature births;
  • Babies with low birth weight;
  • Poor adaptation outside the womb, including respiratory difficulties.

Risks for the mother include:

  • Suicide;
  • Pregnancy interruption;
  • Preeclampsia;
  • Preterm labor;
  • Postpartum depression or anxiety;
  • Substance use such as alcohol or drugs;
  • Problematic attachment with the baby;
  • Poor self-care of physical health.

Thus, it is crucial that women with anxiety disorders are closely monitored during pregnancy, so that treatment and anxiety therapy during pregnancy can be provided if anxiety symptoms arise during this period.

Anxiety Treatment in Pregnancy

There are several therapies that do not involve medication and are therefore considered safe for a developing baby. For women who need medication, there are low-risk options that can provide realistic relief. Anxiety therapy during pregnancy, relaxation techniques can be very helpful in treating anxiety symptoms during pregnancy and may reduce the need for medication. The following treatments have been shown to help pregnant women with mild to moderate depression.

  • Psychotherapy, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), where a qualified therapist teaches new approaches for managing thoughts and emotions.
  • Omega-3, found in foods like fish and nuts, and can act as a natural mood enhancer.
  • Light therapy, in which patients are exposed to artificial sunlight at specific times of day to help relieve depression symptoms.
  • Acupuncture, the Chinese practice that (in this case) involves placing tiny needles in areas of the body that influence mood

Although these modalities have been shown to reduce anxiety symptoms, we have less information about the effectiveness of these interventions in women with severe or pre-existing anxiety disorders.

What Is the Name of the Therapy for Anxiety During Pregnancy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the name of the therapy for anxiety during pregnancy, and it is designed to do several things. First, a therapist practicing this type of therapy helps their patients understand why and how their emotions, thoughts, and actions contribute to dysfunctional or harmful reactions to stressful situations. Next, the therapist will help their patients learn to recognize specific examples of harmful emotions, thoughts, and actions. Finally, they help their patients develop new emotions, thoughts, and actions that do not foster dysfunctional or harmful stress responses. Cognitive behavioral therapy is well supported by a large body of evidence-based research and has been proven to be useful in treating a number of serious mental health issues.

Benefits for Pregnant Women

In a study published in the Archives of Women’s Mental Health, researchers from McMaster University in Canada and St. Joseph’s Healthcare used a small-scale pilot project to help determine the usefulness of cognitive behavioral therapy as a treatment for pregnancy-related anxiety disorders and anxiety. This project was developed because, while cognitive behavioral therapy is a well-known effective treatment for general anxiety, the research community knows very little about the impact of this anxiety therapy during pregnancy. Some of the 10 women enrolled in the project were pregnant, while others had had a baby in the previous year. All the women had some form of diagnosable anxiety disorder. For the research, participants enrolled in a six-week group-based cognitive behavioral therapy course instead of an individual setting. At the end of the anxiety therapy course during pregnancy, it was concluded that the participating women experienced a substantial decline in their anxiety disorder symptoms. In addition, the women experienced a similar decline in their exposure to depression symptoms. Crucially, the participants in general found the treatment enjoyable and self-reported a belief in the effectiveness of the approach. The researchers believe their findings point to the usefulness of cognitive behavioral therapy as a treatment for anxiety in the context of pregnancy and postpartum. However, they note the small scale of their work and require that future researchers conduct larger studies capable of confirming or challenging their results. See Also: Anxiety in Pregnancy – How to Cope with It? Photos: Pixnio