Of course, stressful events may well crop up that are out of your control. So, should you feel your stress levels increasing, try these quick techniques to calm down:
- Take a break; stand up, stretch, and walk, and take yourself out of the environment completely by stepping outside if necessary.
- Breathe deeply; inhale through your nose for five seconds so that your breath fills your belly, then breathe out through your mouth for another five seconds.3
- Distract yourself by watching a funny clip or a few minutes of stand-up comedy online – whatever makes you smile. Laughter really can be the best medicine.
- Choose a calming aromatherapy oil and keep it to hand. Inhale deeply when you need to relax.
- Listen to music, ideally something calming or uplifting. In one study, listening to music before surgery was found to have a significant anxiety-reducing effect on patients.4
If you’re starting to feel like your stress levels are becoming unmanageable, or you’re worrying all the time, you might be suffering from a Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD). 1 in 10 women suffer from anxiety in pregnancy5 but the good news is there are numerous ways to manage it. Read about the symptoms of prenatal anxiety and depression, and the treatment and support available.
If you’re worrying about something in particular – whether it’s a pregnancy niggle or you’re anxious about giving birth - the experts on our Careline may be able to put your mind at rest. Why not give them a call and talk it through? You can reach them by phone on 0800 996 1000, Live Chat, WhatsApp or email them at any time, day or night.