I am experiencing panic anxiety about pregnancy and childbirth. What can I do to prevent it from dominating my life?

Parenting can be challenging for many couples, not only on a physical level, but also emotionally and psychologically. Pregnancy and childbirth not infrequently represent a joyful, shared anticipation of the birth of a new family member in the absence of disturbing signals. However, it happens that in addition to the positive experiences, there are those that are more negative. One of the most difficult can include antepartum anxiety, increasingly diagnosed in the offices of physicians psychiatrists. The presence of tocophobia (Gr. tokos - childbirth, phóbos - anxiety, fear) is noticeable not only in the group of women, but also in their partners. Although there are clear differences in the substrate of antepartum anxiety in both genders sexes, the most important thing is that couples receive timely and adequate support perinatal support from specialists and are not left with the difficulty alone. The process of recovery can also be aided by the actions taken by their loved ones..

What is antepartum anxiety?.

Emotions associated with pregnancy and childbirth (e.g., fear or anxiety of low intensity) are a natural part of human existence. This is because they are a reaction to the change taking place, a preparation for the reorganization of certain pieces of our lives. Only a significant intensification of them, often destabilizing daily functioning, may indicate the need to to seek help.

Antenatal anxiety is described as experiencing intense anxiety associated with the broader childbirth situation, while having a positive attitude toward having children. Excessive anxiety can lead to postponing or avoiding pregnancy and/or childbirth. Theophobia occurs in both those without children and those those who have already gone through an obstetric situation (usually traumatic) (Hofberg and Brockington, 2000; Hofberg and Ward, 2003).

What are the causes of antepartum anxiety?".

Among the possible causes of the formation of Tokophobia in women include a person's natural predisposition to experiencing anxiety, as well as: fear of pain, loss of control, uncertainty about the the course of childbirth (due to the uniqueness of each birth) or past negative experiences. Researchers also pay attention to the aspect of socio-cultural aspect, namely: a general fear of the unknown and the influence of family stories of family stories regarding frightening situations related to childbirth (passed down from generation to generation) (Fisher, Hauck and Fenwick, 2006).

Causes of prenatal anxiety in Men include: fear for the health and life of the partner/child, fear of inadequate medical care, anxiety about the inability to take on tasks and paternal responsibilities or ensuring financial security for the family. Also indicated is men's concern about not being able to provide their female partners adequate support (Ganapathy, 2015; Ledenfors and Berterö, 2016).

What symptoms indicate the presence of tokophobia?.

It is very important to monitor The severity of specific symptoms. Among them may be:

- A panicky fear of pregnancy/childbirth, despite the presence of the desire to to have children,

- intrusive thoughts and constant worries about, for example, the health of the child/partner,

- sleep nightmares,

- a sense of constant irritability,

- Somatic complaints: abdominal pain, tension pains, nausea, tightness in the chest chest, gastrointestinal problems,

- avoiding/restricting sexual contact,

- use of contraception (usually several forms at once),

- difficulties with concentration and attention,

- fear of losing control,

- strong fear of complications and possible complications,

- anxiety about taking on the role of a parent,

- intense concerns about losing attractiveness during and after pregnancy,

- negative predictions about the future,

- panicky fear of labor pains,

- a sense of powerlessness.

What you can do if you observe symptoms of prenatal anxiety in yourself?.

In the case of noticing clear, symptoms mentioned above, it is worth focusing on seeking reliable information on the biology of pregnancy and childbirth itself (e.g., the preparation of the organism of the of the woman for the arrival of the child into the world, certain processes occurring in the body, etc.). In addition to knowledge gained from books and the Internet, consider discussing your concerns with your gynecologist, midwife or birth school instructor. The most important thing is not to be afraid to to ask questions that can dispel many of your doubts. Talking about your fears and accompanying anxiety constitute an aspect of self-help, as it opens us up to to seek outside support. It ensures that we are not left with our thoughts and emotions emotions alone.

As a crisis intervener, I encourage you to to create your own personal safety plan for various worrisome situations, e.g.: sudden delivery at home/car, emerging pain of too severe for you, etc. What actions will you take? Who will you ask for help? How will you communicate that you are very scared and need support information?

The next step may be to realizing that the stories about painful births we observe on us on television or social media, or told by loved ones loved ones, do not clearly indicate that in our case the event will be marked by equally great suffering. If you have already had a traumatic birth, remember that due to the individual nature of each subsequent one, you are not able to confirm that it will look the same and the the pain will be equally severe. Often, fear tells us the worst-case scenarios, Which represent cognitive errors. Try to focus on the facts.

It may also be helpful to Involve loved ones (family, friends, acquaintances). Tell them about your concerns. Ask them, if possible, not to pass on scary stories about births in the family, and do not scare you. Ask if they will be able to support you in a particular situation.

Remember that the birthing situations of our great-grandmothers, grandmothers and even mothers may differ significantly from those that we experience now. Medical care continues to evolve and doctors' knowledge is growing. A woman's body, however, remains adequately prepared to go through pregnancy and childbirth.

When to seek help from a mental health professional?.

Noticing symptoms of of significant severity that prevent daily functioning may be an the right time to seek the help of a specialist: psychologist/psychotherapist/psychiatrist. If you feel that you are unable to cope on your own, seek help. Expressing your concerns in psychologist's office, working on the difficulty, or consulting with a physician psychiatrist regarding the possibility of implementing pharmacotherapy are the first step toward regaining your mental balance.

How to Support people with antenatal anxiety?.

In case a person close to you is experiencing anxiety about pregnancy and childbirth, offer to meet and talk. Try make an effort to listen to her. Remember that talking about your fears does not always come easily. Don't rush or judge. Don't scare her with stories of painful births in the family. Encourage you to seek reliable information. Ask how how you can help. Be.