by Dr. Lindsay Kramer, psychotherapist and staff writer at The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
www.KickFear.com
A lot of people associate pregnancy with a joyous experience in which new life is being brought into the world. There are terms such as “pregnancy glow” or “miracle of childbirth” that lead us as a society to presume pregnant women are happy, excited, and blissful. This is not always the case. Pregnancy can be very stressful, uncomfortable, and scary. And for first-time expectant mothers, the body experiences drastic changes that inevitably affect daily functioning. That is why it is important to be aware of all aspects of pregnancy.
www.KickFear.com
A lot of people associate pregnancy with a joyous experience in which new life is being brought into the world. There are terms such as “pregnancy glow” or “miracle of childbirth” that lead us as a society to presume pregnant women are happy, excited, and blissful. This is not always the case. Pregnancy can be very stressful, uncomfortable, and scary. And for first-time expectant mothers, the body experiences drastic changes that inevitably affect daily functioning. That is why it is important to be aware of all aspects of pregnancy.
Though it is not often spoken or announced,
pregnancy can cause high levels of stress and anxiety. Anxiety attacks are actually very common amongst pregnant
women, even if they have not had prior attacks. It's been reported that as much as 10 percent of woman struggle
with panic attacks during pregnancy.
Let’s review what comprises a panic or
anxiety attack.
Panic attack symptoms can include:
Panic attack symptoms can include:
-racing heartbeat
-chest pain or feeling like you're having a heart attack
-trembling or shakiness
-numbness
-shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing
-dizziness
-nausea
- feeling like you're "going crazy, dying or losing control".
Panic attacks generally frequent no more than ten minutes, but can occur multiple times
throughout a day.
Women who have a history of anxiety or panic attacks are more likely to experience
them in pregnancy. Anxiety attacks when pregnant can be triggered by a multitude of different reasons. Some of the most common issues are listed below:
-Increased anxiety due to hormonal
changes that can initiate a panic attack.
-Anxiety due to fears of
the future (being an adequate parent, increased responsibility, financial
stress).
-History of anxiety prior to
pregnancy, becoming more frequent while pregnant.
-An anxiety attack may result from coping with
changes in your appearance and body.
This
is by no means a definitive list of the causes for anxiety attacks during
pregnancy. The causes depend on
the individual and can vary in severity and frequency of attacks. It is important, especially for
pregnant women, to seek out help to manage anxiety. So what can you do to best ensure
health for yourself and your baby?
Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been the most
successful treatment for anxiety and panic attacks.
This type of therapy involves facing fear gradually with strategies and techniques. It also involves training people to replace negative
thoughts with realistic thoughts, helping people gain more control over their patterns of
thinking, behaving, and feeling.
This type of therapy can also aid pregnant women in identifying the
triggers for their anxiety and can reduce the amount of anxiety attacks in the
future. Therapists at The April
Center specialize in the treatment and management of anxiety. Pregnancy can be a vital time to seek
out professional help and learn different techniques and tools to overcome
anxiety, so that you and your baby can lead a happy and healthy life.
All the best,
DR. KRAMER
from The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
P. S. Don't forget to sign up for our anxiety newsletter on our website's home page where you'll receive free anxiety tips!
______________________________________________________________________________________
All the best,
DR. KRAMER
from The April Center For Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
P. S. Don't forget to sign up for our anxiety newsletter on our website's home page where you'll receive free anxiety tips!
______________________________________________________________________________________
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