Lifestyle Glitz - September Tranquility 2016

and it is easy to confuse symptoms of one with the other. Postpartum anxiety can take various forms,
including generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic attacks and phobias.
Mild levels of anxiety are common during pregnancy and after childbirth as the body adapts to the
drastic changes taking place. Symptoms of anxiety include feelings of restlessness, muscular tension,
frequent episodes of feeling fearful or worried, and repetitive behaviors like checking up on the baby.
Treating anxiety can be with a combination of medication and psychological counseling. Often, both
approaches complement each other, so approaching a psychologist and a psychiatrist is recommendable.
Psychiatrists normally prescribe antidepressants that can be safely taken during pregnancy or
while the mother is breastfeeding the child to avoid any effect on the baby. Counseling methods include
behavior therapies that enable the individual to develop deeper perspective about their problems
and become better at coping with feelings of fear and worry caused by specific situations.
B I P O L A R D I S O R D E R
Compared to postpartum depression and anxiety,
bipolar disorder is relatively easier to identify.
People with bipolar disorder experience varying
emotions ranging from extremely negative to extremely
positive moods. Although it does not
seem to be so, bipolar disorder can become serious
if left untreated. An important feature of bipolar
disorder is that it is hereditary. Therefore, if
others in the family have experienced bipolar
disorder at some time in their lives, then you
should be attentive towards bipolar disorder
symptoms during and after pregnancy. Feelings
of depression and fear are common and the earliest
symptoms of the condition.
Bipolar disorder can be identified by the presence
of different symptoms for depression (the
phase of heightened negativity) and mania (the
phase of heightened positivity). The symptoms of
depression are the same as those for postpartum
depression, i.e. unexplainable urges to cry,
heightened fear and feelings of lowness. Episodes
of mania are easy to identify by reduced
sleep and high energy levels, frequent engagement
in risky behaviors, hyperactivity, irritability,
and feelings of grandiosity.
As with postpartum depression and anxiety, bipolar
disorder is controllable by a combination of
pharmacological and psychological therapies.
Medication largely consists of antidepressants
and mood stabilizers. Psychological counseling
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