Study Shows Taking Antidepressants In Pregnancy Associated With Raised Anxiety In 3 Year Olds

[ms spock]

Sorry wrong post.

 

[Lucycat]

Thalidomide made a huge difference to pregnant mothers suffering from extreme morning sickness that could even kill them.

Until recently I thought that Thalidomide was an antiemetic. It was only from watching the Story of Thalidomide from the beginning up to the current situation, that I learned that it was being marketed as a treatment for anxiety, and morning sickness was considered a great area for selling it. At the time the medical opinion was that morning sickness was an anxiety disorder - or as they put it - all in the minds of women that did not want to be pregnant!! In the UK it was marketed by a drinks company who were concerned that their market share was declining with the reduction of alcohol consumption and increased awareness of the risks of excessive drinking.

So, yes, in a round about way the Thalidomide did help the mother's morning sickness by reducing their anxiety about it. However it never treated the sickness itself.

You are right that there is so much more research needed - I think in all areas of mental health. Here in the UK there is a current argument about the state of services for Children and Young People. Service provision is poor, inaccessible and time delayed. The three year olds with anxiety are unlikely to get any support for years. I can imagine the suggestion of 'lets wait and see how they get on in pre-school' followed by ' we'll see how school entry goes', then 'lets wait until they have a couple of years settled into school before re-assessing' and so it goes on. That child becomes a troubled teenager, involved in the criminal justice system and then the CAMHS suddenly sit up and offer 2 sessions of counselling. Yes, I am cynical.

If a medicated mother has attachment then the effects of medication can be mediated.

Attachment, Attachment, Attachment. Here is the key to mentally healthy individuals in my opinion.

 

[shimmerz]

it was being marketed as a treatment for anxiety, and morning sickness was considered a great area for selling it

And for this reason we need to recognize that the companies selling are biased. I know we would like to think that the government 'cares' about us and wants us well and that they keep the pharmaceutical companies in line. Ummm, nope. The companies who sell these drugs are looking to boost their financials every year. As long as our governments are invested in business then money is what this is going to be all about. Not health.

You are right that there is so much more research needed

Personally I think we need more humanity. We need family (and good ones). We need to not allow sexual assault against our children. We need decent food that isn't sprayed with pesticides or made out of plastic. We need more natural cures allowed if people would like to use them. We need companies employing us who give a shit and recognize that we are human beings.

And when we don't have any or all of that and we react to the stress they make a DSM that keeps expanding every year. They tell us that our reactions are not normal which in turn tells us that we aren't normal. They ridicule us and take away our quality of life. There is always someone else to fill our place in society so if we can't 'hack it' then get the f* out.

And here. Take a pill. If that doesn't shut us up they change the diagnosis and give us a bunch of pills. If that doesn't help they section us. Anything.to.shut.us.up.

Honestly. I am tired of being told that I have to behave this particular way only in order not to be to deemed mentally ill. Humanity is about being able to react and have support in that reaction. To be able to adjust what we are reacting to. To make money and enjoy a decent standard of life without breaking our backs to be perpetually poor.

It is hard NOT to be depressed in these times. Oh, yeah. Eat more blueberries. It's a dirty crop though so make sure you can afford organic. If you can't afford organic then you deserve to be poisoned.

Wow. Rant over. Something got me obviously....

 

[Queen Boudica]

Go for it @shimmerz I agree state of mental health care and support is shit. And I think I have told my sisters story and her experience with pills and sectioned and her suicide and I want to scream every time I think about it.

You are right, it is very hard not to be depressed if you look at a lot of things happening in society. No answers. Do think we should start fighting for the truth about the pills we are being given. But we are vulnerable. I don't know. Maybe that is the answer. The mental health party that is going to be set up in this country. To represent mental health sufferers. We need a strong voice.

 

[ihateusernames]

At the time the medical opinion was that morning sickness was an anxiety disorder - or as they put it - all in the minds of women that did not want to be pregnant!!

BaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa
<---HG sufferer, lemme go die laughing now

And you are so, so right @shimmerz. It may be a rant, doesn't make it any less true.

 

[spookedlife]

But children can also be fundamentally and permanently compromised physiologically, during gestation, by having a non medicated mother - and that also lasts a lifetime.

Good point. I would agree that the issue is far too complex to generalize regarding, certainly, and can and should only be addressed on a case by case basis, by a professional. However, postponing any addition until later stages of gestation would be much more likely to avoid the serious damage so likely to occur as a result of early-stage gestation addition of a chemical agent, at least...while still providing the mother with relief in time for the child's birth. But I agree, studies have conclusively demonstrated, at this point, that a lack of early, even immediate, mother-child bonding, physical nurturing behavior, etc...results in neurophysiological deficits which last a lifetime, as well.

 

[ms spock]

It is a case by case situation @spookedlife.

There are many women that have to take psychiatric medications during pregnancy, it would be great if women didn't have to do this but there are many mental health conditions where there is little choice. Better to be alive on medications, rather than be dead and not on medications.