When you’re pregnant, you might experience intense anxiety that interferes with your daily life. Lack of sleep, hormonal changes, a miscarriage, or other traumatic pregnancy or childbirth experiences can all contribute to it. Feeling agitated, restless, or as though you can’t control your worries, being unable to concentrate, or having trouble falling asleep are all indications of anxiety during pregnancy. Treatment enables you to better look after both you and your baby while lowering the risk of these and other complications.
Stephanie Collier, MD, MPH, Contributor Dr. Stephanie Collier is a consultant psychiatrist for the population health management team at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, the director of education in the division of geriatric psychiatry at McLean Hospital, and a psychiatry instructor at Harvard Medical School. ….
What’s the treatment for anxiety in pregnancy?
Your midwife or GP will discuss all of your options with you, along with the benefits and drawbacks of each course of action. What’s best for you will depend on things like:
Self-help techniques based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) are typically used to treat anxiety, phobias, and panic attacks.
If you require additional assistance, you might be referred to a pregnancy-specific mental health team. Additionally, a qualified therapist might suggest therapy for you, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness training, and applied relaxation. You may also be offered medication, such as antidepressants.
Find out more about treatment and support for mental health.
Preeclampsia, premature birth, and low birth weight are all conditions that are linked to high levels of anxiety during pregnancy.
Tokophobia is the fear of childbirth. If your anxiety is related to giving birth, you might want to enroll in a birth class. Understanding the different phases of labor, what happens to your body at each stage, and what to anticipate can help to make the process less mysterious.
You might discover that organizing or prioritizing your worries is made easier by writing down your thoughts and feelings. You can keep track of various triggers to discuss with your doctor.
Don’t like to stroll, jog, or strike a pose? Do what you love! Anything that gets your body moving can help. Aerobic activity for as short as five minutes has been shown to have positive benefits. Always speak with your doctor before starting a new exercise routine during pregnancy.
Pregnancy is also a time of tremendous change. While some of these emotions and sensations are pleasant, others are downright unsettling and unsettling. You might even experience complications or other problems that keep you up at night.