Pregnancy is meant to be an exciting part of life. You are a soon-to-be parent of the little person you’ve been carrying for some time. This process could even be considered a roller coaster of emotions, and it could potentially catch you off guard. Some women feel joy at every flutter or kick, ecstatic at their changing bodies. For other women, pregnancy is hard, as it brings severe fatigue, mood changes, and constant worries.
Causes of Anxiety During Pregnancy
You may notice that with every passing month, your thoughts are spiraling out of control, affecting your performance at work and your relationships at home. But how do you manage your anxiety, and should you treat it? These are all very natural questions when facing issues with anxiety during pregnancy.
Worries during pregnancy can come from all sorts of different sources. Hormonal changes, miscarriages, and sleep difficulties may all contribute to the anxiety experienced by soon-to-be mothers. You may worry about how a baby will affect your relationships with friends or family members, what the health of your future child will be, how the delivery experience will go, or what impact the financial burden of an additional family member will have.
All of these worries are completely normal. A certain amount of anxiety is critical for us; how else could we motivate ourselves to complete our work or run away from a neighborhood dog? Although anxiety may be necessary, it’s also important to make sure you’re managing and maintaining your mental health.
Anxiety Symptoms While Pregnant
Although it’s normal to be worried about the health of you and your baby, in some cases, this worry becomes serious, and it may require further attention. Thoughts about the health of the baby may become obsessive, even when doctors are reassuring you. Worries may also begin to manifest as physical symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, or panic attacks.
If this is the first time you experience a high level of anxiety, this may be frightening in itself. When anxiety starts to interfere with your day-to-day functioning, relationships, or job performance, it may be classified as an anxiety disorder, to the point where you may want to talk to a doctor, psychologist, or therapist about it. At this point, it becomes necessary to take on tasks that help you take more control of your mental health.
Anxiety can rear its ugly head at any time during pregnancy, or it can first appear after delivery. This can be referred to as perinatal anxiety, which is anxiety that occurs during pregnancy and immediately after delivery. The rates of generalized anxiety disorder appear to be highest in the first trimester due to hormonal changes.
The most common symptoms of anxiety include constant worrying, restlessness, muscle tension, irritability, feeling dread, an inability to concentrate, and difficulties falling asleep due to worries. Some women also experience symptoms as a result of other anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Although they are underdiagnosed, anxiety disorders during pregnancy and postpartum are common and may affect up to one in five women. Many women suffer in silence.
Treatment Options
Although everyone can develop issues with anxiety during pregnancy, certain risk factors can contribute. Things like your family history can make someone more prone to issues with anxiety. While pregnant, it won’t hurt to ask your mother or grandmother how their pregnancy was in regards to anxiety.
Also, if you find yourself regularly dealing with stress before you are pregnant, it is important to make plans to manage it before your pregnancy. Fortunately, many treatments can reduce anxiety during pregnancy and help you feel better during the process. For many women, medication for anxiety is not an option during pregnancy, but sadly, there is little to no information on the safety of this type of medication on the fetus.
Some women who had previously taken medications for anxiety may wish to discontinue medications during pregnancy for personal reasons. Therapy options like cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) demonstrate promise in the period shortly before, during, and after pregnancy. CBT focuses on challenging unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and actions, and it uses anxiety management strategies for regulation.
Self-care can frequently be forgotten, even though it’s essential. Everyone needs to breathe and take some time for themselves so that they can recharge. Some forms of self-care are meditating, yoga, and journaling. Many things that can make someone feel good about themselves can be a positive form of self-care.
Pregnancy comes with many changes to the mind and body, and it’s important to maintain your health during it. Take pregnancy a day at a time and take steps to keep things as low stress as possible. Surround yourself with a strong support system that wants the best for you and your baby. Before, during, and after pregnancy are all great times to receive professional help from healthcare providers. At HealthyU, we can help you and your family get to a place of great mental health to prepare you for the birth of your child. As many as one in five adults in the United States struggle with their mental health, and most people could benefit from a counselor at least once in their lives. Treatment options are available, and more insurance companies recognize the importance of helping people get the mental health care they need. Contact us today at (619) 542-9542 for more information.
