Anxiety

Evidence

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28283612/

Self-Reported Mental Health Problems Among Adults Born Preterm: A Meta-Analysis

Riikka Pyhälä, Elina Wolford, Hannu Kautiainen, Sture Andersson, Peter Bartmann, Nicole Baumann, Ann-Mari Brubakk, Kari Anne I. Evensen, Petteri Hovi, Eero Kajantie, Marius Lahti, Ryan J. Van Lieshout, Saroj Saigal, Louis A. Schmidt, Marit S. Indredavik, Dieter Wolke and Katri Räikkönen

Education

Adults that were born premature have an increased risk of anxiety than if they were born at full term. The risk is greater the more premature the baby was. The brain develops very fast in the last weeks of pregnancy and preterm delivery may disrupt this and could increase the risk of long-term emotional problems. These problems could have a large impact on work performance and interaction with other adults. Anxiety can also have an effect on adults thinking where they perceive the fear or danger to be greater than it is. Thinking about the situation, makes them more worried and stressed. Adults themselves might be anxious about getting pregnant themselves as they fear they might have pregnancy complications and have a premature baby as well.

An adult with anxiety may:

• Avoid situations they are scared about
• Pulling out hair
• Nail biting
• Feeling worried overwhelmed and out of control
• Afraid to take risks or try new things
• Feeling angry
• Has trouble falling or staying asleep
• Always expecting the worst to happen
• Have complaints of headache, stomach aches, racing heart and sweating

Empowerment

Dealing with anxiety starts with good self-care. The following are good activities to help you with this:

• Exercise
• Eat a healthy diet and avoid alcohol and caffeine
• Get plenty of rest and sleep
• Mindfulness
• Meditation and Yoga
• Practice deep breathing
• Listen to Music
• Plant a garden
• Write in a journal

Acknowledging your emotions and feelings is very important, also talking to someone about how you are feeling. This could be your partner, a friend or family member or a professional like a counsellor or psychologist.  Some people with anxiety may be referred by their doctor to a psychiatrist where they have both medical and therapy training and may find medication works for them as well.

Building resilient families is important so that families can deal with the stresses of life and the challenges they face and be able to move forward even stronger. Recognising that there is support outside the immediate family in extended family and members of the community in difficult times and also family members working together is the key to building resilient families.

Useful links

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/13/very-premature-babies-at-risk-of-mental-health-problems-research

“Whatever you fear most has no power. It is your fear that has the power”
Oprah Winfrey

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