How to get rid of pregnancy depression

Treatment of pregnancy depression

Treatment of depression during pregnancy, or so-called prenatal depression in the early stages, is essential after diagnosis and confirmation of the condition, as the early treatment reduces the effect of depression in the child, as well as reduces the likelihood of developing postpartum depression in women, and the first step in treatment is to go to the competent doctor, where he initially subjects women to necessary examinations including It can be excluded from diseases whose symptoms are similar to depression, and after confirming depression the doctor develops an appropriate treatment plan for the mother to overcome her depression, and it should be noted that the treatment plan that is developed varies depending on the severity of depression; Antidepressants, taking into account the availability of safe-to-use types during pregnancy and lactation.

Counseling and psychotherapy

The principle of counseling and psychotherapy for pregnant women with depression is based on discussing their thoughts and feelings with the psychotherapist, by understanding these feelings and thoughts the psychotherapist can determine the exact nature of the psychological problem and may require teaching women certain techniques to help them overcome this situation It should be noted that psychotherapy has been used for many years to control depression, and the techniques used within it are aimed at reducing pressures in relationships between individuals, accessing beliefs and ideas that negatively affect the individual, and seeking to change them, and can be explained the most prominent meetings that are followed in psychotherapy as follows:

Interactive psychotherapy

Interpersonal Psychotherapy is a method of treating depression in people with moderate to severe depression, and this type of treatment initially understands the psychological symptoms of women at this stage as a response to the current difficulties they face in their interactions with others daily, as the treatment aims to influence these psychological symptoms and increase women's effectiveness in the surrounding environment. It, this improves her condition and reduces the severity of her symptoms.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) changes the way you think or behave as a result of believing in ideas and beliefs that cause certain life difficulties, and plays a role in changing the way they deal with things, and following this type of treatment in pregnancy depression helps control relationship problems, sleep, and relieve anxiety. Depression as much as possible, so it can be said that understanding the relationship between an individual's behavior and these beliefs and ideas would control the emotional problems that led to suffering from depression.

Pharmaceutical treatments

Antidepressant medications are prescribed as a primary option for the treatment of many types of depression but are not used as a primary option in all cases of pregnancy depression. In fact, the decision to use antidepressants during pregnancy depends on balancing the benefits of their use with the risks that may ensue, taking into account the low likelihood of fetal abnormalities if safe types are used by a doctor and under his supervision, and in this context it is noted that many studies have shown the safety of using certain types of antidepressants during pregnancy, while some have been associated with risks to the child, to achieve the highest possible safety and to avoid the development of any complications or risks that may occur, doctors resort to prescribing only one antidepressant drug with the lowest possible effective dose, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, and antidepressant medications that can be used during pregnancy as follows:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are coded as SSRIs and are safe-to-use species during pregnancy: Citalopram and Sertraline.

Serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors are safe-to-use species during pregnancy.

Tricyclic antidepressants are a safe-to-use type during nortriptyline pregnancy, and this type of medication does not represent the first or second line of treatment in controlling depression in the pregnant woman but is used if women do not respond to other types of treatments. Bupropion is used to alleviate depression, and this type of medication is not the first line of treatment to control depression in pregnant women but is used if women do not respond to other types of treatments.

Electroshock therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy is one of the most effective treatments for depression, performed under anesthesia and used during pregnancy, and considered safe, This option includes the transmission of a small electrical current to the brain to cause temporary seizures, causing a change in brain chemistry, leading to improved symptoms of depression.

Deep brain stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation is based on the use of electromagnetic pulses to generate an electric current in certain areas of the brain that alter mood, and is considered safe and used in cases where depression does not respond to medications and is an ideal, effective, and safe treatment for women with symptoms of depression during pregnancy, as it avoids exposure to medications and their potential side effects.

Phototherapy

Light therapy is a method used to control the biological clock that controls the sleep and waking cycle in humans, where humans experience physical, psychological, and behavioral changes as a result of responding to light and darkness during their daily life. Phototherapy aims to adjust the biological clock by sitting next to a box that emits light in specific quantities similar to real quantities abroad, for a specified period, and phototherapy technology has been designed in a way that allows the use of visible light and its filtering of UV rays, It should be noted that this type of treatment is used if certain treatments are not sufficient to control depression, or if the symptoms of depression are severe, and in this context, it is indicated that phototherapy sessions are conducted daily, with a period of one session ranging from one to two hours, and is indicated to take place in the morning, as undergoing it late in the day may cause eye strain, headaches and difficulty sleeping.

Risks of not treating pregnancy depression

Many are preoccupied with the potential effects of taking antidepressant medications in pregnant women, while the risks of not treating depression are significant; women with depression who do not receive treatment are at risk of chronic depression, as well as the possibility of frequent episodes of depression, and leaving depression untreated during pregnancy increases the child's chance of experiencing behavioral problems and may delay speech ability, and may cause cognitive problems, on the other hand. It should also be noted that stopping taking antidepressants puts the pregnant woman at risk of relapse and the return of symptoms of depression, especially after birth, and it should also be noted that people with depression are more addicted to dealing with symptoms associated with depression, knowing that alcoholism or drugs during pregnancy are accompanied by serious long-term consequences for both the mother and her child, and the pregnant woman may sometimes reach advanced stages of depression to the point where she does not eat. Or gain the necessary weight to maintain their health, so pregnant women are advised not to stop taking antidepressants without consulting a doctor or caregiver, so it can be said that the risk of leaving antidepressants is greater than the side effects that are likely to appear, provided they are prescribed by a specialist.

Tips for preventing and alleviating pregnancy depression

Following a range of tips and guidelines reduces the likelihood of developing depression, reduces the severity of symptoms in cases of depression, and here is a statement of the most prominent guidelines recommended to achieve this: Getting enough rest every day, as lack of sleep affects the brain's ability to deal with the stresses and challenges of everyday life, and a routine sleep schedule should be set up to regulate sleep and wake up at the same time every day as much as possible. Take care to eat healthily, and reduce the intake of caffeine-rich foods, sugars, processed carbohydrates, industrial additives, and protein-poor. Exercise, can raise serotonin levels and reduce cortisol. Control tension and good handling of the situations that motivate it.

Reasons for seeing a doctor

In fact, symptoms of pregnancy depression may be similar to those of pregnancy, including changes in appetite, sleep pattern, energy levels in the body, and sexual desire in pregnant women, which causes confusion that prevents the doctor from diagnosing pregnancy depression, as these symptoms may be attributed to pregnancy rather than depression, It should be noted that some symptoms may be similar to those associated with other conditions, such as thyroid problems or Anaemia, which calls for measures and tests to exclude the association of symptoms with these conditions, In general, the appearance of certain symptoms in a disturbing way or their continuation for more than two weeks requires a review of the competent doctor, given the possibility that this may be associated with depression, and we note from these symptoms the following: depressed mood and great sadness. Women feel incompetent as a mother. Changes in appetite and sleep may be anorexia or increased loss of sleep, or prolonged sleep. Crying seizures occur without a clear reason to do so. Guilt, lack of self-esteem, or loss of hope. Isolation and the desire to stay away from husband, family, and friends. Feeling impatient, uncontrolled, or power-deficient. Difficulty concentrating or cluttering ideas.

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