Increased anxiety during pregnancy

Pregnancy with VSD and panic attacks

Is it possible for a woman suffering from attacks of vegetative-vascular dystonia and/or panic attacks to become pregnant?
There are no contraindications. While carrying a child, attacks may become less frequent, due to the fact that all the attention of the expectant mother will be focused on the birth of a healthy baby. She will not, as before, be fixated on her fears and anxieties, but will make every effort to safely carry the child. Attacks may, on the contrary, become more frequent if they are provoked by fears:

• about the upcoming birth;
• injury to the unborn child (the pregnant woman becomes clumsy and may fall);
• uncertainty about how to cope with pregnancy and the subsequent role of a mother;
• get sick with an infectious disease;
• regarding the health of loved ones;
• husband's job loss;
• betrayal of the spouse (a pregnant woman often suffers from an inferiority complex, thinks that she has lost her attractiveness, her husband will leave, etc.);
• the risk of vegetative crises caused by hormonal changes or that have already occurred before gestation - the woman is afraid of dying from suffocation, worries about the health of the baby;
• confined spaces, crowds of people and many other reasons that served as an impetus for the development of PA before the gestation period (the pregnant woman fears a relapse).

Panic attacks in early pregnancy

In the first weeks of pregnancy, PA is caused by:

• fear of miscarriage;
• hormonal changes;
• a new unusual role of a woman for which she is not ready;
• overwork, lack of sleep - a pregnant woman needs proper rest, but the woman continues to work, run the house, and spin “like a squirrel in a wheel.”

Clinically, attacks are expressed in vegetative

(suffocation, tachycardia, facial flushing, sweat, chills, tremor, dizziness, dyspepsia) and
emotional
(tearfulness, irritability, causeless aggression) disorders.

The danger in the early stages is the threat of miscarriage, caused by high levels of stress hormones that cause hypertonicity of the uterus.

At the peak of an attack, an uncontrollable woman may take prohibited medications, which will cause irreparable harm to the fetus.

Cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis, the leading cause of the development of VSD, provokes panic attacks. Due to pinching of the nerve roots of the corresponding parts of the spinal cord by deformed vertebrae, cerebral circulation is disrupted, hypoxia develops, leading to VSD and, ultimately, to PA.

Panic attacks in the 2nd and 3rd trimester

During this period, the causes of PA are:

• protracted conflicts at work and in the family - it is increasingly difficult for a woman to cope with her responsibilities, she is nervous, misunderstanding of management and family provokes the situation;
• exacerbation of chronic somatic pathologies due to a persistent decrease in immunity;
• fear of impending birth;
• rejection of the new look and fear of being abandoned.

Panic attacks at 37 weeks of pregnancy can provoke premature birth (a sharp increase in uterine tone during an attack). Also, in 2-3 semesters, frequent PAs lead to fetal hypoxia, which negatively affects its development.

But during this period, a reverse development of PA is possible, up to complete disappearance. This is facilitated by a favorable family atmosphere, the correct regime of the pregnant woman, classes at school for expectant mothers, which normalize her psycho-emotional state. All her thoughts are aimed at waiting for a miracle - the birth of a new life. She knows how to cope with the negative aspects of pregnancy and has a clear idea of ​​the upcoming birth. And he doesn't feel fear. After all, fear is caused by ambiguity, the unknown. And when everything was explained to the expectant mother in labor, she has no need to be afraid.

panic fear of childbirth

Dear girls, I want to share my misfortune in the hope that there will be someone who had a similar story and survived it and can give advice. Let me start with the fact that I have a child, a 6-year-old daughter, a sweet, kind, affectionate, caring and independent girl. Her pregnancy was easy and carefree, but after giving birth trash began in the form of depression, which I did not recognize, thanks to which she left after 7 months. After three years, it’s time to return to work and to the session (there are still 3 years ahead until the diploma). But after a year of studying. I had a panic attack at work, so bad that I had to take antidepressants. After drinking for a year, everything returned to normal, but there is a diploma ahead, which returned my panic attacks to me, but still I decided to fight the change without medication, it was a pre-fainting state. In June of this year, I gave up with grief, and in July I became pregnant, I didn’t plan it, right when “friends were leaving Krasnodar,” there was shock at first, then fear, and in the seventh week something terrible happened, depression began, that I saw a way out through the window only plus panic attacks, I couldn’t go back, I never advised anyone, I think it’s a sin. My condition worsened every day, I didn’t eat, I was losing weight, I was vomiting from panic, I was crying and didn’t want to live, so I made it to 14 weeks, periodically visiting a psychotherapist, but at 14 I realized that everything was very scary, because my thoughts We talked about death and I turned to a psychiatrist who prescribed me antidepressants. 1.5 months have passed since I took them, my depression has become a little easier, there is no constant crying, but panic attacks remain, which paralyze my entire brain. My pregnancy became very difficult for me, it became somehow unbearable for me. Constantly thinking that I’m afraid of my belly, which is growing and what will happen next when it gets big, if it’s already difficult for me. Fear of CS, which is indicated for me for my illness + first child through CS, fear that I will not be able to cope with the child, since I raised my daughter without the help of relatives, my husband did not help much, and she had allergies and obstructive bronchitis for up to 3 years. without escape, fear of how to end it in the maternity hospital, because you can’t feed on pills, you can’t take pills that stop lactation either, because there are problems with blood vessels, and I’m not even talking about the worst fear, which is that something will happen to the child It’s not so because of the pills and my psyche will not be able to withstand all this and I will end up either in the next world or in a hospital, it’s clear which one. Panic attacks are usually strong in the morning and tachycardia is 120-140. If anyone has had a similar situation or someone you know, for the love of God, help with advice, whatever you can. It's all just unbearable. Beg

Panic attacks during pregnancy: what to do?

First aid depends on the type of PA.

PA with reduced A/D

happen in the morning or afternoon. It seems to a pregnant woman that her heart is about to stop, her pulse slows down sharply (up to 45 beats/min). You feel weak, dizzy, and dyspeptic symptoms occur.

PA with increased A/D

typical for evening time
.
Main symptoms:

• rapid heartbeat (“your heart is about to jump out of your chest”),
• choking (“tightens the throat”),
• severe headaches, pounding in the temples, numbness of the hands, hyperthermia to febrile levels are observed.

Table 1 presents first aid measures for different types of PA.

Treatment of panic attacks during pregnancy

During gestation, conventional drugs effective in the treatment of PA are contraindicated. If a woman has previously taken tranquilizers, antidepressants and antipsychotics, they should be discontinued gradually so as not to provoke a “withdrawal syndrome”. If pregnancy is planned, medications should be discontinued 2 months before the expected conception. The best way to combat PA is psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, and breathing exercises.

Working with a psychotherapist

begins before the planned pregnancy, so that conception takes place in a calm emotional state of the woman. They use art, sand, music, and fairy tale therapy techniques.

An effective exercise for spontaneous muscle relaxation

. To do this, first, alternately strain the muscles of the limbs and torso as much as possible, count to 10, then exhale deeply. Gradually learn to tense all muscle groups at the same time. This exercise must be done 7-10 times a day, bringing it to automaticity. It allows you to control muscle tone during attacks, the increase of which is dangerous for the fetus.

Breathing exercises are based on exercises to gradually lengthen exhalation by reducing inhalation time. This prevents the development of hypoxia and vegetative symptoms.

Childbirth with panic attacks

For childbirth during PA to be successful, it is necessary:

• Take a course of psychotherapy.
• Reduce muscle tension with breathing exercises and relaxation exercises.
• Take herbal sedatives.

With proper management of pregnancy and comprehensive support from specialists, there are no obstacles to natural childbirth for a woman with PA.

Alina Veyts, psychoneurologist, candidate of psychological sciences, especially for Mirmam.pro

anxiety during pregnancy

Dear girls, hello everyone and have a nice day! I just registered and already want to share my news)))). On July 27, 2016, I found out that I was pregnant! I took three tests and all showed positive results)! First pregnancy! According to my calculations, I was somewhere around 7 weeks, but to be honest, I couldn’t believe it. The sensations are both pleasant and alarming, probably because I don’t know where to start, where to go, what to do). Only now I began to understand and in my head, like a puzzle, pictures began to come together how obvious everything was. When walking, I didn’t pay attention to the fact that my legs were terribly tired, and periodically it became hot, considering that at that moment I was in St. Petersburg and it was far from hot). I didn’t notice how my chest began to hurt, because I put up with it, thinking that it was due to the onset of menstruation. And of course there is a delay) at that moment I was undergoing treatment and taking pills, and on the Internet everyone wrote that after treatment a delay is normal) that’s what I thought until in the evening I wrote to a friend who had also been treated. And having received the answer that she had no delays, under her persistent text messages I went to the pharmacy for a test. And TaDam)))) Happiness suddenly fell upon me and immersed me headlong! It’s only been one day since I found out that I’m going to become a mother, and I’ve already downloaded different programs onto my tablet, and equipped myself with a bunch of literature) and everything so interesting!) Thank God I haven’t started choosing strollers yet)). Not much about the sensations, all days my stomach was pulling with spasms (only later I found out that it was a threat, but thank God it’s all over) and at the beginning, apparently, my fingers were swollen a little from the heat and my legs were swelling a little... I’m turning into a gnome) )but I’m ready!) And I’ve also become very sensitive) I just burst into fits of tears, then I laugh) and all for no particular reason.)) but if I started crying, then everything... almost unstoppable))) In general, funny sensations), but all this happened almost 2 months ago...

So today my belly is already 13 weeks old))) all that’s left behind is the hospital, lying at home, and no driving. Now I have already had my first screening, and I am preparing for the next scheduled examination. And now I have a new war!!!! which I think many have encountered... STREAMS, although the period is not long, they are already confidently occupying their territory! About what remedies were recommended to me and what I tried in my next post.

Good mood to everyone, and have a good day!!!!))) See you later

Increased anxiety during pregnancy

13 hours ago, Mom_since_this_year said:
Well, if something is wrong, then I don’t seem to see my future life... it’s hard to describe.

But for now this is what we are working with. “Difficult to describe” - this cannot be corrected. Only that which can be described can be described and a person is ready to put effort into it. Alas, working on your inner world is quite hard work - you have to think, strain, listen to yourself, go through resistance... But there is no magic pill here, there is work. Although it brings results.

But you already described something.

Can't see your future life? Why? Do you think that you only have one attempt in principle? Could there be another pregnancy? You seem to think that there is no chance, why?

And your whole life comes down only to the role of a mother? Is there really nothing else in your life? “Other” does not mean abandoning the idea of ​​children, but if the whole meaning of life is in them, then you can hardly raise them happy. How will they learn anything about how to build their lives, look for their own meanings, if they only know one meaning received from their mother: “life is all about children”? I think you would like your children to succeed in something in the future? And then they need to have an example (including yours, and not just the father of the children