One of the things I’ve always struggled with when I hear a story about overcoming a PMAD without medication is the lingering question, could it have resolved sooner if medication had been used? And one of the things I’ve always struggled with when I hear a story about overcoming a PMAD with medication (since my experience in life has taught me that there is no such thing as a silver bullet) is the question, how? I’m all for using every tool available to you, but I can’t help but wonder…how did you know you needed it? How did it help you? What else did you do? So in order to answer those how’s, here are some questions to ask yourself when considering taking this tool out of your toolbox.
|
Symptoms |
Yes |
No |
| Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or your baby? | ||
| Have you experienced a lack of appetite leading to rapid weight loss? | ||
| Does your anxiety or depression interfere with your ability to care for yourself or your baby? | ||
| Have you had trouble following your OBGYN or pediatrician’s recommendations, either pre- or postnatal? | ||
| Do you use alcohol, marijauna or other substances to manage your anxiety or depression? | ||
| Do you have symptoms that worry you or those who know you? If they don’t currently know, would they be worried if they knew? |
adapted from Nonacs et al. 2005
If you marked yes for any of the symptoms above, please make an appointment with your physician to discuss medication as an option to treat your depression or anxiety. An open and honest discussion together with your doctor can help you determine the best treatment plan for you and your baby. Please advocate for yourself to be well, even if that means asking for a second opinion with a psychiatrist who specializes in maternal mental health. Remember, even though exposure to medication might not be ideal in your mind, infant exposure to the symptoms of anxiety and depression can have a real impact as well.