Pregnancy is often regarded as one of the most exciting times in a woman's life. But the stress and fear of bringing a child into the world safely, providing for and raising that child can often cause mild to severe depression in pregnant women.It is believed that up to 20 percent of women experience some form of depression during their pregnancy, with half of these cases being considered severe depression. Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects nearly one in four women at some point in their lifetime. Depression experienced during pregnancy is often overlooked by medical personnel and even family.The hormones produced during pregnancy can affect chemicals in the brain, resulting in the same chemical imbalance that causes clinical depression. Just as untreated clinical depression can be harmful, depression during pregnancy can be harmful to both the mother and the unborn baby if not diagnosed, treated and monitored.Women are at increased risk of depression during their pregnancy if they have a history of depression, a history of PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), live alone or have little to no support. Studies also indicate that the younger a woman is or the more children she has, the more likely she is to develop some form of depression during her pregnancy.
Signs of depression include changes in sleeping patterns, unjustified or unexplained feelings of guilt, loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, changes in appetite and suicidal thoughts or actions. If left untreated, depression during pregnancy puts the mother at increased risk of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure), use of drugs or alcohol and suicide.Women who are experiencing signs of depression are encouraged to reach out to loved ones as well as their health care provider. Often times, pregnancy related depression can be managed with group therapy, private therapy or light therapy, though more severe cases may require medication. Many antidepressants on the market today have been determined to have no negative effect on the developing baby, though long-term effects of these medications have not yet been determined.The challenge of treating depression during pregnancy is that while one patient (the mother) is experiencing an illness and requires treatment, the other patient (the baby) is not and could be harmed by either treating or not treating the depression. Currently, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as Elavil, are the most commonly prescribed medications available to pregnant women.Symptoms of depression during pregnancy should not be written off as "simply hormones;" it is a medical condition that needs to be treated with the utmost delicacy.
Posts Tagged ‘pregnancy’
Pregnancy: Dealing with Depression
July 26th, 2010 
admin 
How To Deal With Depression Naturally During Pregnancy
June 7th, 2010 admin Since one is bringing new life into the world, pregnancy depression, like other forms of this emotional encumbrance, is one disturbance that must be attended to. Although use of conventional drugs is the oft-times prescribed method, when one considers the side-effects of drugs and the health of the baby, it may be time to revise one's stand.
Pregnancy is a period in a woman's life when needless to say, several internal and external changes are occurring on a daily basis.
To some women, this is a source of joy and excitement as they anticipate the responsibility of motherhood-especially the first time, to others; it is a source of a particular type of depression: Pregnancy Depression.
At this stage, what must be of uttermost concern is : there is a life inside of you, consequently, extra care must be taken on how to treat pregnancy depression as anything you ingest does have the tendency of getting into your baby's bloodstream.
After discovering this, most women, after discovering the side-effects of several of the so-called anti-depression drugs, make the decision to cease the use of some popular depression medications even as they may be going through pregnancy depression.
Well, it is safe to say it is a wise choice considering the risk factor of exposing babies to the numerous side-effects of depression drugs. Well, it's safe to say
This leads one to think what can be done as an alternative for treating depression during pregnancy?
There are other options.
The following three limbs of drug-less healing may be sufficient as pregnancy depression treatment options and I will have you know after the delivery of your child, they can still be used effectively in place of synthetic, side-effect laden depression drugs.
-Proper Exercise:
This method exercises the motor centers of the brain, making the blood flow away from the emotional activity center; consequently one becomes more receptive to positive thoughts. Though I personally recommend yoga for its numerous therapeutic effects on depression, depending on the stage of your pregnancy, it may not be the safest choice, at least not while you're pregnant. However, there are some poses you can use that alleviate pregnancy depression and actually will strengthen the lower body in preparation for childbirth. They include: The ‘corpse/relaxation pose', the ‘Diamond/Vajrasana Pose', The ‘Eagle Pose', ‘Lord of the Dance Pose', ‘Tree Pose' and Simple ‘Yogic Square breathing exercises'. Of course, exercises of the western culture such as walking, use of treadmills, bikes and things of that nature can be incorporated as alternatives for exercise.
-Proper Diet:
Ladies (and expectant dads who may read this) think about this quote by the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates: "let your foods be your medicine and your medicine your foods…" Needless to say for your health and that of the baby's, it will be essential
that you eat properly. This includes knowing what, when and how to eat even the proper foods for nourishment.
-Positive Thinking:
"Be renewed by the transformation of your thoughts" (Rom 12:2)
That quote says it all. What and how you think plays a very important role on your life and how you view it. This also dictates your actions towards fixing the things that may be causing or aggravating your depression during pregnancy. Read up on self-help books, your religious books (if applicable) and helpful media sources that advocates and promotes positive thinking.
So, if you are considering drug-free, natural ways of coping with depression during pregnancy and even afterwards, empower yourself with these methods for success.
In Friendship.
dealing with panic attack – pregnancy and panic attacks – natural panic attack
January 28th, 2010 admin dealing with panic attack
Panic attacks are extremely frightening. Panic sufferers often believe they are having a heart attack and they dash to their physician or end up in an emergency room. Which is exactly what they should do. An accurate diagnosis is the first step in relieving panic attacks. A diagnosis is vital because panic attacks mimic a number of potentially serious medical conditions
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Most US adults will suffer some form of anxiety producing stress sometime in their lifetime. Everyone has experienced the heady rush of adrenaline from a terror movie or an unexpected noise in the night. This normal reaction is due mainly to the body's natural reaction to stress. This sometimes known as the 'fight or flight' reflex. Around 2% of adults will suffer a fully-blown panic attack with most experiencing their first attack sometime in their late teens or early twenties
In order to begin to control or eliminate your panic it's important for you to know what are panic attacks. Awareness is the first step to making any kind of change for if you are not aware then you can't change it. In this article the medical definition of panic is given
Psychotherapy is an integral part of the treatment for panic attack. Support is given to the patient to eliminate extreme fearfulness and the feeling of something bad is going to happen. Sometimes psychotherapy is enough as a treatment for panic attack. However since the cause of panic attacks in most patients is not clear treatment varies from person to person. And in some psychotherapy alone may not be sufficient to eliminate the disordePanic and Anxiety attacks are terms that are swapped about so much that most people regard them as them same condition. Panic and anxiety attacks are a closely related phenomena and the symptoms of a panic attack may include problems with breathing. Panic and Anxiety attacks can be horrifying experiences and are much more common place than the person who suffers from them thinks
In today's lexicon the terms 'panic attacks' and 'panic disorder' are used almost interchangeably. This article aims to distinguish the difference between the two term in an effort to aid the reader in developing a clearer picture as to which condition he or she suffers from if any at all
I have always been afraid of an elevator. But one day I just lost control over myself and fainted when I was forced to take an elevator. It was crowded irritating and frightening for me. I didn't know whether it was normal or not as I've always seen people taking the elevator without any hesitation until I realized that I was actually behaving abnormally. My friends suggested that I look for a cure for panic attacks and I should visit a doctor and when I did to my extreme horror the doctor said that I was suffering from panic attacks and I needed panic attack treatment
Heart Attack or Panic Attack - How to Know the Difference You feel your heart begin to beat wildly in your chest as you break into a cold sweat and have trouble catching your breath; is this a heart attack or panic attack? Your first thought is that it's a heart attack since you have an impending feeling of doom which you may even have felt before your attack began. This makes your heart beat even faster and you become so overwhelmed that the feeling gets even worse until you begin to feel light headed or maybe
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