Alternatives to psychotropics in pregnancy (and in general!)

• Cope with anxiety on pregnant women by Jose' Carlos Rocha, 5/15/98
  • There is Help for Pregnant People that have Anxiety by Dixie Bamel , 2/10/99
    • Psychotropics are inappropriate in pregnancy by Paul Salkovskis, 2/10/99
      
      

I fully agree with Dr. Salkovskis' concerns and warnings about the use of psychotropic drugs during pregnancy. We know very little about their impact on the developing brain. Having a baby is a challenge that can bring great joy but also uncertainty and fear just like other major life changes. Dealing with such changes -- and any fear accompanying such changes -- should be done by attempting to identify the issues that specifically arouse fear and developing ways to manage them.

I am becoming increasingly more concerned about the increasing use of drugs to deal with anxiety (and depression for that matter) because there are such powerful psychological nondrug-based alternatives available -- unfortunately, this cannot be said for every other psychological problem area. But there really are few instances and cases of anxiety where drugs are truly essential and necessary. And there are many cases where drugs can do considerable harm (not just in pregnancy) -- particularly when individuals never learn to deal with their problems in a more direct "natural" way, that is, without drugs and by changing their behavior .

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