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
Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Moscow
Treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Moscow at Dr. Isaev’s clinic is carried out after a survey, examination and consultation of the patient with a number of specialists - a neurologist, psychiatrist, medical psychologist and psychotherapist. Each admitted patient receives an individual approach after identifying the prevailing symptoms and the cause of the disease. The latest methods of influence allow you to get rid of obsessive neurosis in a short time.
Psychotherapy
The most effective ways to influence the patient are the following methods of psychotherapy:
- cognitive-behavioural;
- hypnosuggestive;
- group;
- psychoanalysis;
- psychoeducation.
Cognitive therapy helps, after several sessions, to change your attitude towards the thoughts that constantly come to mind and not react to them with obligatory rituals. First, the patient and the specialist list in the form of a list all his fears and other signs of an obsessive state. After which the patient is brought face to face with the object of his phobia, initially for a short time. After a frightening situation is realized and nothing terrible happens, the brain is convinced of safety. This leads to a gradual decrease in the number of obsessive thoughts and the disappearance of the need for action to reduce their intensity.
The method is suitable for patients who have willpower and basic self-discipline. After several weeks of such exercises, it is possible to cope with the pathological condition forever.
Treatment of obsessive convulsive disorder is also effectively carried out using suggestion with simultaneous immersion in a hypnotic trance. This helps to delve into the depths of the problem and establish new patterns of behavior and thoughts. Such exposure helps quickly, as it allows you to consolidate the correct skills and conclusions immediately at the level of consciousness and subconsciousness. Suitable for suggestible patients, it gives positive results after just a few sessions.
Classes are usually held in a group format, which serve to provide the patient with the information he needs and to train him to manage stressful situations. Such psychological assistance allows people with the same problems to support each other and share their experience of improving their condition and reducing fears. While visiting several people, you can improve the quality of cognitive behavioral therapy by simulating various problem situations with a request to play them out and make the most rational decision under the given conditions. A positive result becomes noticeable after two or three months with regular visits.
Psychoanalysis helps the patient when his rational thinking is well expressed. Using this technique, it is possible to detect hidden causes in deep childhood that led to psychotrauma and obsessive neurosis. For this purpose, a person tells the specialist all his thoughts that constantly come to him, even if they are shameful or obscene. As a result of this, they together find signs of repressing a dramatic situation into the subconscious, return it to the conscious area and explain the reason. When constructing a cause-and-effect relationship, the signs of the disease gradually weaken and disappear.
Psychoeducation of the patient and people close to him helps to develop a reasonable attitude towards the disease. And this knowledge allows you to manage your condition. The fact is that relatives are often involved in the rituals of a person suffering from this disorder and their help should consist of refusing to participate.
Depending on the severity of the disorder and the presence of concomitant mental pathologies, the attending physician recommends treatment on an outpatient basis with regular visits to specialists or hospital stay. The latter option is more acceptable if it is necessary to correct the patient’s condition with the help of potent medications. 24-hour monitoring helps to select the minimum dose of the drug to achieve the desired result.
Use of medications
The use of medications for obsessive-compulsive neurosis is an auxiliary method. It is required when psychotherapy has an incomplete effect or there is a need for additional treatment for anxiety or heart pain, as well as other somatic and mental disorders. The following groups of tools are used for this:
- sedatives;
- antidepressants;
- antipsychotics;
- mood stabilizers;
- tranquilizers;
- anticonvulsants.
All medications are prescribed only by a psychiatrist; independent treatment with their help can lead to unpredictable consequences. And after stopping the drugs, the disease will appear again, since its causes will not be eliminated. Quite often, with such a deviation, it is necessary to treat depression, since obsessive thoughts are perceived negatively by the patient himself and can cause a strong decrease in mood levels.
All the products that are given to patients at Dr. Isaev’s clinic are proven branded drugs from the manufacturer. All of them undergo multiple studies before they are used for their intended purpose.
In addition to psychotherapy and medications, your doctor may prescribe supportive treatment for OCD. To speed up recovery and consolidate the positive results already obtained, herbal medicine is used using natural plant components with a calming and tonic effect. B vitamins will help improve the functioning of the nervous system, and nootropics can eliminate dizziness and normalize the supply of nutrients to the brain.
