Mental Health During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can be a very emotional time as you have a baby growing inside your body. But, not only do you have to look out for your physical health, you also need to think about your mental health as well. By knowing about what your mental health can be like when you are pregnant and how you can keep it in check, you will be in a good state by the time your baby is born.
How Pregnancy Affects Mental Health
Because you know how big the responsibility is to carry a baby in your body for nine months, this can be an emotional challenge for you. You may be feeling stressed in that this is a big change coming to you. While you may have read all the baby books and taken the classes, it still cannot prepare you for the hormonal and physical changes your body will go through. Unexpected things may happen to your baby even if you do everything that the doctor tells you. Especially if you had bad experiences in the past like a miscarriage or if your last baby dealt with health issues, this may put you on edge during your pregnancy with high anxiety that something will go wrong. Your anxiety can also grow higher if you google every complication that you may experience, making yourself even more on edge.
Mental Health Problems During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can often lead to anxiety and depression. The chances can increase if you have had problems with your mental health in the past and are not doing anything to treat it. It can also occur if you feel like you do not have support. Your spouse may be at work the whole time you need something, does not come to classes with you, or you live in an area where there is no family near you. It could be that while you are pregnant, you are having problems with your spouse or boyfriend/girlfriend which is making you even more stressed and emotional. You may have also dealt with past abuse before which can put you in a depression while pregnant.
Best Time to Get Help
Remember that there is nothing to be ashamed about in terms of having a mental illness. The important thing is that you take care of yourself for the sake of your baby and yourself. When you notice the signs that something is off about your mental health, do not be afraid to do something about it. By getting a proper diagnosis for what you have, you will feel relieved knowing there is a reason for your behavior and that it can be treated. This can mean if you have been constantly feel sad for longer than a couple of weeks. It can also mean that the negative thoughts and feelings that you are experiencing are affecting your everyday life. If you are losing interest in the things that you used to enjoy or you feel hopeless, that means that you have depression. If you do not do anything about your depression, this can impact you doing what the doctor tells you to do to take care of your baby. Being anxious or worried all the time is having anxiety which will also not leave you in a healthy state during your pregnancy. If you experiencing any of these issues as well as developing panic attacks or obsessive compulsive behaviors, feel free to let a mental health professional know.
What Pregnant Women Need to Be Aware Of
Depression is never the fault of the woman who is pregnant. No one asks to get depression just like no one asks to have a physical ailment. There are many factors that lead to someone getting depression. While developing depression may not be in your control, how you treat it always will be.
You should also know that you are not alone in developing mood disorders during your pregnancy. Because it is a common stereotype how emotional women can be, especially during pregnancy, this may prevent women from getting help. That it is not natural to see a woman not full of joy while pregnant. The point is that mental disorders are serious and always need to be paid attention to. It is also important to know that the sooner you get help, the sooner you and your baby will feel better. Getting early treatment will help you be able to better bond with your baby once he or she is born. Do not wait until your symptoms turn serious to realize you need urgent help.
How Your Mental Health Can Be Treated While Pregnant
One method of treatment is taking prescription medication. Always make sure that you talk to a doctor first to make sure it is safe to take while pregnant. If you were taking medication for your mental health before you were pregnant or you plan to be pregnant, still speak to a doctor to see if you should still continue. Another option is to use talk therapy to better manage your stress, depression, and anxiety while pregnant. By joining a support group, this will more than prove to you that you are not alone in your struggles. You can also do things at home like eating right, getting a good amount of sleep, yoga, and speaking to a friend. By taking care of your mental health, you will have a successful pregnancy.
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