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Welcome to pregnancy! It's wonderful, you feel great and nothing is standing in your way! Right? Maybe not for everyone. While pregnancy can be a beautiful journey, there can also come alot of fear, worry and panic with what's to come.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is our body's natural response to stress. If you think about an upcoming exam, you may feel the pressure to study to feel prepared for that exam. A litte bit of anxiety can actually be helpful such as in this instance where the anxiety motivated you to study (to decrease the stress of being unprepared for the exam). However, anxiety can begin to become "A problem" when it fully consumes you. That worry or fear doesn't go away, even after you took the test. You continue to worry about the grade you'll get, what people thought of you as you were taking the test, etc.
Pregnant and Anxious?
What exactly does this look like? Do you have it? Lets talk about it.....
It is completely normal to have some worries or fears such as "Will I be a good parent, what will labor be like , will this nausea ever go away?". You do some research as any one would. However, you go on a spiral of searching all the possible things that could go wrong, you begin to self diagnose yourself "Maybe that heartburn is something more than just heartburn". You can't control these intrusive thoughts and they start to take over every minute of every day. You are very likely struggling with anxiety in pregnacy.
What to do next?
Reach out! Whether to a trusted family/friend or professional. In the meantime, here are a few tips to take with you everyday through this journey.
*Take a moment to sit outside and breath fresh air (If you are reading this during the Covid-19 Pandemic, this is a must for everyone!).
*Reflect on what is in your current ability to control (Ex: eating healthy, attending regular health appointments and getting ready for baby).
*Spend time resting. This can be napping, resting in front of your favorite show, or outside on the patio with a cup of tea.
*Focus on the here and now (Look and observe the things around you, use your 5 senses daily, take pause).
*If you feel ready, make an appointment and start making some changes to your thinking or behavior patterns. Feel free to book a free consultation with #BalancedMindCounseling (909) 366-9343 in Rancho Cucamonga or utilize the free resources listed below from Postpartum Support International.
Call the PSI HelpLine:
1-800-944-4773 #1 En Español or #2 English
Text “Help” to 800-944-4773 (EN) Text en Español: 971-203-7773
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