What is my risk of postpartum depression as a mom-to-be with social anxiety disorder?

Dear Reader, 

You’re right that pregnancy can cause major shifts in your hormones and mood. Anyone who has given birth may experience depression or anxiety in the year after. However, people with a history of mood disorders may be more likely to develop what’s known as perinatal depression and perinatal anxiety. That said, lifestyle changes and professional treatment can help reduce your risks. Read on to learn more about depression and anxiety after birth, risk factors, treatment options, and support.   

What are perinatal depression and perinatal anxiety? 

Perinatal depression and perinatal anxiety are mood disorders that affect people during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. The symptoms of the two have some overlap. These include:  

• Irregular sleep patterns
• Feeling restless
• Forgetfulness
• Irritability  

However, they also have some distinct traits. Depression causes sadness, guilt, or worthlessness. Anxiety causes worrying and irrational fears. In both conditions, these are persistent feelings.  

People may experience one or both of these conditions. Additionally, these are separate from the “baby blues.” While the baby blues have similar symptoms to depression, they go away after the hormones level out whereas with depression, they may not. 

What causes perinatal depression and anxiety?    

There’s no singular cause of perinatal depression or anxiety. Instead, they’re often caused by a combination of things. Being pregnant causes your body to produce more of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can affect your mood. After you deliver, you’ll likely experience these hormones dropping quickly, causing another major shift in emotional regulation. Some people may feel overprotective, sensitive to stress, and experience overall mood changes. These feelings may be risk factors for perinatal depression and anxiety.  

Additionally, there are other factors which can affect someone’s risk:  

• Demands of being a new parent (stress, sleep deprivation, emotional and physical support for a child)
• Personal and family history of psychiatric disorders
• Experiencing perinatal depression after a previous pregnancy
• Lack of strong support systems
• Stressful life events
• Financial constraints 

While these are all risk factors, experiencing these doesn’t mean that someone will absolutely have perinatal anxiety or depression.  

How do lifestyle changes interact with different treatments for anxiety and depression? 

Lifestyle changes like consistent physical activity and good sleep quality create a healthy and resilient foundation. That said, lifestyle changes aren’t exactly more effective than clinical treatments for anxiety and depression. Medications for anxiety and depression can help regulate brain chemistry. Talk therapy can change thought and behavioral patterns. Limited research shows that lifestyle changes can even increase the benefits you gain from medication or talk therapy.    

What can you consider before seeking additional treatment? 

As you’ve mentioned your history of anxiety and treatments, this may be a good time to reflect on potentially returning to medication or therapy.  

Some questions to consider when deciding if that’s the right move for you include: 

• What were your reasons for stopping your SSRIs currently?
• How do you feel about the idea of going back on medication?
• Would those feelings change if your medication use was temporary and limited to during pregnancy or postpartum?
• What concerns do you have about going back to these treatment options?
• If you’re not currently meeting with a mental health professional, would you consider meeting with one again during pregnancy or postpartum? 

These questions may help you feel more prepared to have a conversation with a health care provider about additional treatment options to help strengthen your support system. 

How can you lower your risk of perinatal depression and anxiety? 

Meeting with a health care provider throughout your pregnancy can help you monitor symptoms of perinatal depression and anxiety. Because of your history, a health care provider may recommend taking medication or starting talk therapy right after you give birth. This can provide support when you may be the most vulnerable.  

These conditions aren’t guaranteed to be preventable, but your lifestyle behaviors are a great step towards creating a strong supportive system for you during this time.  

Here’s to keeping your worries at bay,