Psychological pregnancy: what it is, its symptoms and how to deal with it
Psychological pregnancy, also called false pregnancy, is an emotional problem that occurs when symptoms of pregnancy appear, but no fetus develops in the woman’s womb, which can be confirmed by pregnancy tests and ultrasound.
This problem mainly affects women who really want to become pregnant or who are very afraid of becoming pregnant, as happens during adolescence for example.
Psychological pregnancy can be treated with hormonal drugs to regulate the menstrual cycle, but it is also necessary to monitor a psychiatrist or psychiatrist to eliminate the causes that led to the development of this problem.
Main symptoms
Symptoms of a psychological pregnancy are the same as those of a normal pregnancy, although there is no child, such as:
- nausea;
drowsiness;
- Food cravings
- Absence or delay of menstruation.
- Abdominal and breast growth.
- Feeling of fetal movement.
- Mother’s milk production.
It is still not known for certain why these symptoms appear in psychological pregnancies, but it is possible that psychological triggers generate an increase in the production of certain pregnancy hormones, resulting in symptoms similar to those of real pregnancy.
How to make sure that he carried myself
If a woman has a psychological pregnancy, pregnancy tests, both in urine and in the blood, will always give a negative result, which can also be confirmed by ultrasound, which will show that no fetus is developing in the woman’s womb.
However, it is always important for the woman to be evaluated by a gynecologist and psychiatrist, to confirm the diagnosis and initiate the most appropriate treatment.
The main causes of psychological pregnancy
The specific causes of psychogenic load are not yet known, but they appear to be related to the following factors:
- An intense desire to become pregnant and difficulty becoming pregnant;
- Fear of pregnancy.
- Depression and low self-esteem.
Moreover, in some cases, it seems that the presence of marital problems is also associated with the development of psychological pregnancy, as the woman may think that this is the only solution to save the marriage.
How to deal with psychological load
Key strategies for dealing with psychological load include:
Treatment with a psychiatrist
In some cases, negative results of pregnancy tests are not enough to convince a woman that she is not pregnant, and it is necessary to start treatment sessions with a psychologist. In these therapeutic sessions, the psychologist, in addition to finding out the cause of the psychological pregnancy, helps the woman to better cope with the situation, which helps her to cope with the problem.
In some cases, a woman can become extremely distressed, sad, and disappointed by the absence of a pregnancy, which can lead to persistent sadness and depression, in which cases follow-up with a psychiatrist is necessary.
Controlling anxiety and craving for pregnancy
Anxiety is one of the reasons that often leads to the emergence of psychological pregnancy, and in most cases it is caused by the craving for pregnancy or by the pressure caused by the family or society.
Thus, it is really important to control anxiety using natural remedies, if possible, such as passion fruit tea, valerian, rosemary, chamomile or catnip, which are medicinal plants with sedative and relaxing properties.
In addition, in more severe cases, it may even be necessary to seek medical treatment with a psychiatrist, as medications to control anxiety such as diazepam, alprazolam or lorazepam for example may be prescribed. Discover the home and pharmacy remedies that can treat anxiety in Anxiety Remedies.
Treatment of infertility and early menopause
Women who are infertile or who enter menopause early can have a psychological pregnancy if they want to get pregnant and feel they are running out of time. In these cases, the best solution is to consult a gynecologist immediately when you think you are not pregnant, so that the best treatment can be recommended.
In most cases of infertility or early menopause, treatment involves hormone replacement therapy.
Solve marital problems
Sometimes, marital problems or a history of relationships that ended in abandonment or separation lead to permanent fears and insecurity, which can lead to a psychological pregnancy.
In these situations, it is very important to solve all marital problems and try not to look at the past as an example. In addition, pregnancy should never be considered a way to preserve the relationship, as this type of thinking will lead to anxiety, insecurity and low self-esteem.
In addition, in more serious cases, it may be necessary to undergo tests to find out if there are hormonal problems, and it may be necessary to start hormone therapy, which should be indicated and monitored by a gynecologist.
