Panic Attack During Pregnancy

!±8± Panic Attack During Pregnancy

Even if you've never had a panic attack before, you may have them during pregnancy. That doesn't mean you will have panic attacks, just that you shouldn't be terribly surprised if you do.

When you become pregnant, the physical, chemical and hormonal changes that take place have an affect upon every part of your being. Your chemicals are hip-hopping, your hormones are slam dancing, and you glucose levels are spiking and plummeting. You may be cheerful and optimistic one minute, and feel completely overwhelmed the next. But what's worst is when fear and anxiety prey upon your mind and gnaw at your nerves until you can't get enough air, your body is trembling, you're sweating profusely and you think you're going crazy!

You may have an unfounded fear of miscarriage, or being a bad parent, feelings of inadequacy or fear of the pain of childbirth, or even that you won't survive the birth of your child. This isn't uncommon. It's a panic attack, and no matter how overwhelming your fear and anxiety, you don't have to have panic attacks and you can stop them!

Pregnant or not, many people have anxiety and panic attacks. So, you aren't alone, and you're not crazy or weak. It truly isn't your fault that you have them. However, you can learn to control them so they don't take over your mind or your body.

Anxiety and fear can be so debilitating that one feels paralyzed and afraid to leave the house for fear of having an attack in public. With all the other things pregnant women have to cope with, they certainly don't need the additional complication of having panic attacks!

If you're attending Lamaze or other natural birthing classes, you already know the positive impact using correct breathing methods has on your body during the labor and delivery process. This also applies to controlling panic attacks. By practicing deep breathing techniques and calming exercises, such as visualization, you can learn to cut those feelings of panic and anxiety off and not allow them to take control.

When you first feel fearful or anxious, take a deep breath, drawn in slowly through your nose, all the way into your tummy. Hold it for a count of five, and then slowly exhale through your mouth, being sure to fully expel all the air. Repeat. As you breathe, you need to distract your mind from the feelings of panic. You can do this by counting out loud, singing, taking a walk and focusing your attention on the birds, trees, squirrels, clouds or even on the cracks in the sidewalk! You can call a friend or family member and talk about anything but the anxiety, and if you can laugh, all the better, because laughter is one of the quickest and most fun ways to release tension and anxiety.

Don't keep your fears and anxieties hidden. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your doctor should know that you're experiencing panic attacks. And so should your family and friends! They may brush it off with "Aw, that's all in your head!" Well, yes, it is, but that doesn't change the fact that you actually feel what you feel! Throw a brochure about panic attacks at them, and insist they read it! That'll fix them!

In the meantime, you breathe! Practice breathing deeply even when you're perfectly calm and content, and this will also help prevent panic attacks. Deep breathing keeps you relaxed and improves your blood circulation. So, you can nip panic attacks before they even begin to bud!