Mental Health Services
Whether planned or unplanned, pregnancies can bring about a mix of feelings, and not all of them are good.
If you are feeling worried, you are not alone!
Most women experience worry during their first pregnancy or an unplanned one. This worry, however, can take form of anxiety and depression if conditions surrounding the pregnancy are undesirable and continue to persist. As a result, professional help is often necessary to ensure your mental and physical well-being as well as that of your partner's and the next generations'.
Resources:
At Amirrah, we look to provide you with mental health resources that are specifically geared to address your unique challenges, free of cost. Our services include individual counselling as well as group therapies that allow you to receive support and encouragement from people who are trained to deal with such issues as well as those who are going through the same thing. Talking about your feelings and participating in such groups can help you feel less alone and build a network of support figures.
Things you can try to practice good mental health
DO
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Talk about your feelings and/or concerns with friends, family or a doctor
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Try breathing exercises when you feel overwhelmed
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Do physical activity where possible - this can improve your mood and help you sleep better
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Eat a healthy diet
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Join support groups that fit your current situation
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Compare yourself with other pregnant people - everyone has different circumstances and ways of doing things (culturally, familially, financially)
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Feel scared to talk to your doctor or healthcare professional
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Use alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to make you feel better - these can harm you and your child(ren)
DONT
Pregnancy-related mental health challenges
There are many pregnancy-related mental health challenges that women can experience. Understand that they can happen at any time during your pregnancy - even if this is not your first pregnancy.
Common mental health problems include stress, anxiety, and depression. However, larger issues can be related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, tokophobia, postpartum depression, post-abortion anxieties, and others. A general description of some symptoms related to such problems is provided below. If you suspect or believe that you may be suffering from any of the below-mentioned issues or other mental health difficulties, please get in touch with us here.
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You feel sad/ hopeless all the time
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You have lost interest in things that you used enjoy/ like
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You feel persistently low in spirit
Depression
Post-partum depression (PPD)
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You feel sad/ hopeless all the time
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You have severe mood swings
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You experience difficulty bonding with your baby
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You want to withdraw from friends and family
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You sleep too little or too much
Post-abortion anxieties
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You feel sad/ hopeless all the time
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You feel guilt/ anger/ shame/ regret/ remorse
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You experience feelings of isolation/ loneliness
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You suffer from low self-esteem or low-confidence
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You experience relationship problems
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You experience suicidal thoughts
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
This can happen if you have had a pregnancy go wrong in the past
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You experience nightmares/ flashbacks
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You experience intense distress when reminded of the past
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You suffer from insomnia
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You find it difficult to maintain your concentration
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You experience irritability and guilt
Tokophobia
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You feel so afraid of giving birth, you don't want to do it
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You experience nightmares/ sleep disturbances
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You suffer from panic attacks
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You are extremely fearful of birth defects, stillbirth, or maternal death
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You are insistent for birth via Caesarean section (C-section)
Men's Mental Health
While most people know that depression and anxiety can affect women during pregnancy and early parenthood, little attention has been given to men's mental health.
At Amirrah, we recognize and promote a space for men to openly talk about their feelings and emotions as they too can experience depression and anxiety as a result of factors ranging from a lack of social and emotional support, stress and changes in your relationship, a lack of sleep, loss or grief issues (caused due to miscarriages and/or abortions), difficulty adjusting to parenthood, amongst other things. Associated symptoms for such mental health problems can include:
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tiredness, headaches and pain
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irritability, anxiety and anger
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loss of libido
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changes in appetite
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feelings of being overwhelmed, out of control and unable to cope
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a tendency to take risks
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changes to sleep patterns, especially a lack of sleep
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feelings of isolation and disconnection from partner, friends and/or family
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increased hours of work as part of withdrawal from family
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increased use of drugs or alcohol instead of seeking treatment
If you find think that you or your partner may be experiencing any of the above-mentioned symtpoms/ issues, please reach out to us here.