The peculiarities of the female psyche determine the greater (in comparison with men) susceptibility of women to various kinds of depressive disorders. Pronounced apathy, sadness, negative mood, which knocks you down so much that it interferes with a normal life for several weeks or more – this is depression in women, with which you can and should fight.
Depression in pregnancy
Although the emotional state of a woman during pregnancy is far from always positive and cloudless, it is not always possible to talk about real depression . But if for several weeks the expectant mother has consistently present characteristic symptoms, you should pay attention to this.
Depression: symptoms during pregnancy:
- Any problems with sleep, whether insomnia or, conversely, the desire to constantly sleep.
- Appetite problems. Indeed, the appetite of pregnant women is an unpredictable thing, however, an unreasonable refusal to eat, or, conversely, excessive appetite may be a sign of a psychological disorder.
- Negative moods. Uncertainty about what will happen next, a sharp drop in self-esteem, hopelessness are true companions of depression in pregnant women
- Irritability , hysteria, a woman can burst into tears at any moment, although she herself does not fully understand the reason.
- Atypical movements. Compared to normal behavior, any movement becomes slower or too fast.
The difficulty is that most of these manifestations are associated with a condition normal for a pregnant woman. But if such violations are persistent, and not episodic, it is better to consult a doctor – after all, depression in women during pregnancy negatively affects the child. The fact is that in this condition, the level of cortisol in the mother’s blood is increased, which, being transmitted with the blood to the baby, can lead to various neurological and other disorders of the child, as well as provoke a miscarriage.
The causes of depression during this period can be various factors – both internal and external. Difficulties in family relationships, a difficult financial situation, pressure from relatives, a change in one’s own appearance and poor health caused by toxicosis can become an impetus into the abyss of a negative emotional state. Problems with previous pregnancies also contribute to the development of depression.
This may surprise many, but it is recommended to protect a pregnant woman from the “carriers” of such psychological disorders in the same way as from infectious patients. Psychologists have proven that neurotic disorders are very quickly transmitted from one family member to another, so this situation can also cause depression in a pregnant woman.