Depression during pregnancy

05.12.2019

Pregnancy is supposed to be one of the happiest times in a woman's life, but for many it is a time of confusion, fear, stress and even depression . According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 14 to 23% of pregnant women experience some symptoms of such depression .

Depression is a mood disorder that affects one in four women at some point in their lives, so it's not surprising that women and pregnant women can be affected by the condition. But too often depression is not properly diagnosed during pregnancy because people think it is just another type of hormonal imbalance. This assumption can be dangerous for the mother and her unborn child. Depression during the wonderful period of pregnancy is a disease that can be treated and treated . However, it is important to seek help and support first.

What is depression during pregnancy?

Depression during pregnancy , or depression before birth, is a mood disorder similar to clinical depression . Mood disorders are biological disorders that involve changes in brain . During pregnancy, hormonal changes can affect chemicals in the brain that are directly linked to depression and anxiety. They can be aggravated by difficult life situations, which can lead to depression in a woman even during pregnancy .

Symptoms

Depressed women typically feel sad, worthless, and hopeless, have difficulty concentrating, sleep too little or too much, lose interest in things they enjoy, feel guilty, and often change their eating habits. Symptoms of depression last for 2 weeks or more in some women, and possible causes include relationship problems, depression in the family or personal life, fertility , stressful life events, pregnancy , or a history of violence or trauma.

Can depression during pregnancy harm your baby?

Without treatment , depression can have potentially dangerous risks for mother and baby. Without treatment, depression can lead to poor eating, drinking, smoking and suicidal behavior, which can cause premature birth , low birth weight and problems with child development. A woman who is depressed often does not have the strength or desire to care for herself or her newborn. Children born to depressed mothers may be less active, less attentive, and more agitated than children of those who are not depressed . Therefore, getting the right help is important for both mother and baby.

What is the treatment for depression during pregnancy?

If you think you may be struggling with depression , the most important step is to seek help. Talk to your doctor about your symptoms and internal problems, and he or she will advise you on what treatment or therapy is needed in your case.

Are there safe medications to treat depression during pregnancy?

Antidepressants during pregnancy

There is much controversy about the safety and long-term effects of antidepressants taken during pregnancy . Some research suggests that some medications used to treat depression may be associated with newborn problems such as physical birth defects, heart , pulmonary hypertension, and low birth weight. A woman with mild to moderate depression can manage her symptoms through support groups, psychotherapy , and light therapy. But if a pregnant woman suffers from severe depression . of psychotherapy and medication is recommended In these cases, pregnant women should be aware that all medications will cross the placenta and reach their babies. There is not enough information about which medications are completely safe and which are at risk, but when treating severe depression you should always seek professional help.

Are there treatments?

Due to the controversy surrounding the use of some antidepressants during pregnancy , many women are interested in other ways to treat depression . As mentioned above, support groups, psychotherapy , and light therapy are alternatives to medication in the treatment of mild to moderate depression . In addition to this, you can try exercise, build a regular sleep schedule, eat healthy foods, acupuncture , take omega-3 or herbal and vitamin supplements, and of course, consult your doctor . And remember - your child needs you, so take the necessary measures!

Published in Psychotherapy Premium Clinic

Causes of neuroses

The cause of neurosis can be one of the following factors:

stress and nervous tension;
negative emotions;
psychological trauma;
chronic overwork;
lack of sleep.

Some experts consider upbringing, a negative environment (especially in childhood), as well as innate properties of temperament and personality to be psychogenic factors of neurosis. Less commonly, neuroses develop against the background of physical head injuries, infectious diseases of the brain, or under the influence of psychotropic substances, drugs and alcohol.

Stages

Doctors distinguish three stages of development of the disease:

The first one . Fear and negative thoughts arise only when a person is directly confronted with a traumatic situation.
Second . The worries are becoming more and more frequent. The patient often has thoughts that something bad will happen to him or that he needs to do something urgently.
Third . The patient is unable to get rid of bad thoughts on his own. They constantly pester him, which makes a normal lifestyle and productive work activity impossible.

OCD is most easily corrected at the first stage. In advanced cases, doctors have to put in much more effort to help the person.

Signs and symptoms

Common signs of neurosis include:

constant feeling of fatigue;
indecision in decision making;
irritability;
increased sensitivity to external stimuli (light, sounds, smells);
sleep disturbances, dizziness, headaches;
dyspeptic disorders;
problems in the intimate sphere (frigidity, impotence).

There are also different types of neuroses according to their signs and manifestations. ( is often encountered in medical practice . This form of neurosis is expressed in a person’s irresistible need to perform certain actions of a ritual or automatic nature (for example, clicking a ballpoint pen, counting objects). Often the repetition of rituals, the meaning of which may be illogical and incomprehensible to others, is combined with an excessive desire for personal hygiene (a person can wash his hands or brush his teeth every half hour). As a rule, obsessive-compulsive disorder causes great inconvenience and suffering to the patient, reduces the quality of life and affects his socialization and performance.

Another form of neurotic disorder is hysterical neurosis, which is expressed in demonstrative behavioral reactions that attract the attention of others. Reactions to stress factors in hysterical neuroses are expressed in:

expressive feigned behavior;
crying, moaning, screaming, hysterical laughter;
pain in the heart area;
tachycardia;
lack of air;
stuttering;
loss of speech and other psychosomatic and mental manifestations.

Neurosis and depression, which can develop against the background of a neurotic disorder, are severe psycho-emotional conditions that significantly reduce a person’s quality of life. But, fortunately, this is a reversible disease that can be stopped with the help of comprehensive psychotherapeutic measures.

Treatment

Treatment of neurosis consists, first of all, in eliminating the traumatic factor. For example, if a neurotic disorder has developed against the background of a violation of the daily routine, lack of sleep and severe emotional stress, then it is necessary to reduce stress factors as much as possible, normalize the schedule, and regulate the time of sleep and wakefulness. If a severe emotional state is a consequence of psychological trauma, negative emotions, or improper upbringing, then the help of a psychotherapist or psychologist is needed who will find out the internal mechanisms of neuroticism and eliminate them.

In the treatment of neurosis, various sedatives, antipsychotics, tranquilizers, and antidepressants are used. Massage, aromatherapy, herbal medicine, and various relaxation procedures help relieve emotional stress.