I was wondering if anyone had advice on how to deal with stress and depression during pregnancy. I was taken off of my antidepressants and I feel like I am having trouble functioning properly. I stress out easily and a lot. I feel like I am going to explode sometimes and I do not know what to do. Please, help me! Any suggestions would be helpful, thanks.

What’s the cause of nervous exhaustion? Chronic stress. When you experience stress, your body produces adrenal hormones that excite your nervous system. Whether you’re late paying the mortgage or a Bengal tiger is chasing you, the result is the same – rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, and emotional agitation. On a short-term basis, this is a good thing because it is your body’s method of self-preservation.

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Many mothers during pregnancy face extremely stressful circumstances. Pregnancy is a nine month journey for both you and your baby. Pregnancy typically lasts 40 weeks (about 9 months). Stress-related changes in a pregnant woman’s heart rate and blood pressure, along with chronic anxiety, can affect the heart rate of her developing fetus, a new study concludes. Maternal stress during pregnancy is also found to cause of asymmetry in coordination of ears, fingers, feet, elbows, etc. Maternal stress is also linked with imperfections in the developing nervous system which can lead to problems of perception, thinking, and memory. These mothers experience constant stress, shame, loneliness and, sometimes, clinical depression during pregnancy or after giving birth. Their partners or families may not encourage them to seek help because the problem it is not seen as a medical one. There are many negative side effects of stress during pregnancy. Very high levels of stress may contribute to an increased risk of premature delivery or low birth weight babies. Still other studies suggest that overly high stress levels can increase your heart rate, blood pressure and produce chronic anxiety.

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