We need to start talking about this common – and debilitating – symptom of pregnancy



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"Many patients with no history of anxiety begin to experience symptoms during pregnancy," says Kimberly Magna, MD, deputy director of education for the Columbia Women's Program. "Anxiety is often caused by a lack of perceived control and life transitions. Women may begin to have health-related fears, be concerned about the physical symptoms of unimportant or unimportant pregnancy, and feel incompetent. They may not be rebadured by the comforting attempts of doctors or their relatives. "

Your experience is valuable and you should not have to suffer in silence.

Pregnancy is one of the main triggers of anxiety: in addition to the major transition of life and lack of control, one of the main factors of prenatal anxiety is the hormone. As Duncan explained to me, everyone's hormones affect them differently. For example, although I may not have had a nap in the middle of the day or have morning sickness like some women, my elevation in hormone levels was an anxiety. "Hormones affect levels in the brain that control a woman's mental state," she said. "They can make us more depressed, happier or more anxious. In the first trimester, when hormones get stronger while pregnancy is developing rapidly, women can be extremely anxious. And that does not help that the risk of miscarriage is higher [in the first trimester]. "

If you think that a wave of anxiety caused by pregnancy might be a possibility, it is helpful to plan a treatment plan with your doctor. before you become pregnant, says Stephanie Mclellan, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Tia Women's Health Platform. "This type of pregnancy-specific anxiety can affect the quality of pregnancy and even have an impact on the baby's life and baby's, via an epigenetic signal," she explains. So even before trying to conceive, find a mental health professional you trust. Consider cognitive-behavioral therapy and try to eliminate daily stress through lifestyle changes such as regular exercise, quality sleep, proper nutrition, acupuncture, journaling , meditation and mindfulness.

If you do not see your prenatal anxiety coming, do not worry, you still have plenty of time to take action during your pregnancy. According to Duncan, the most important thing to do is to inform your doctor of what is happening immediately.

"Whether or not you think normal what you are experiencing is normal, it's important to say something so that you can get tested for anxiety and depression," she says, adding that women who suffer from anxiety and depression during pregnancy or who are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression and anxiety disorders. "Your gynecologist can refer you to a counselor and help you develop a plan of action. Lifestyle modifications and conversation therapy may help, and in some cases we use drugs to help calm anxiety symptoms and panic attacks, but the risks and benefits need to be weighed. This should always be done under the supervision of a doctor. "

My advice to all those who suffer from prenatal anxiety? Do not wait to tell someone what's going on. Your experience is valuable and you should not have to suffer in silence. Make sure to inform your doctor and discuss it with other women – more people are suffering than you probably think.

Leigh Weingus is a freelance writer based in New York who deals with health and well-being, women's issues, entertainment, etc. Follow her at @leighweingus.

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