WHAT IS TOKOPHOBIA AND HOW CAN IT BE TREATED

TOKOPHOBIA THERAPY: WHAT IS TOKOPHOBIA AND HOW CAN IT BE TREATED?

Most women receive tokophobia therapy on a regular basis during their antenathal or pre-childbearing years. This alleviates the tension and anxiety that new moms experience when giving birth.

Many of the concerns associated with tokophobia are related to pain and damage. Other women are concerned that they will not be able to control what occurs during labor.

Tokophobia is divided into two categories, according to experts:

•   Primary Tokophobia is a fear of becoming pregnant in someone who has never been pregnant before. It may happen at any moment, even while a woman is pregnant. However, fear can begin as early as adolescence or young adulthood.
•   Secondary tokophobia is a dread of delivery that develops after a prior pregnancy. It frequently happens after a painful labor or birth, as well as after a loss or stillbirth.

  Tokophobia can be classified as a spectrum disorder, and diagnostic criteria are hazy at best. As a result, it’s difficult to estimate how many women have it for sure. However, according to a thorough assessment of research, it affects roughly 14% of women globally.

  What are some of the signs and symptoms of tokophobia?

  Moms-to-be are frequently supposed to be overjoyed and overjoyed about their upcoming bundles of joy. However, the fact is that most pregnant women are worried or apprehensive about giving birth, let alone being a parent. To prevent becoming pregnant, someone with tokophobia may go to considerable measures. Despite their fears, many women who are terrified of delivery become pregnant. Pregnant women who suffer from tokophobia may:

 Feelings of apprehension or concern regarding labor and delivery discomfort that worsens as the pregnancy proceeds. Fear or worry may begin to dominate other thoughts, become difficult to regulate, or make it difficult to focus on other tasks.

•   Have dreams regarding labor or delivery on a regular basis.
•   Even if there is no medical cause, they should consider or question their doctor about having a C-section.
•   Consider terminating their pregnancy to avoid having a child.
  Your concerns or anxieties may make it difficult for you to go about your day normally if you have tokophobia (or sleep well at night).

  What are the causes of tokophobia?

  There are several elements that might influence the outcome. Because pregnancy hormones can make these problems more difficult to deal with, women with a history of depression, anxiety, or another neurological condition may be more prone to developing an excessive fear like tokophobia. Tokophobia can also be triggered by a history of sexual abuse or trauma.

  Birth trauma can also play a role. Tokophobia can emerge in women who have never been pregnant after hearing about a horrific delivery experience from a family member or acquaintance. If you had a horrific delivery experience, you may be terrified of giving birth again.

  What is the treatment for tokophobia?

  Speak to your practitioner if you suspect your labor worries are more severe than usual and might be tokophobia. It is possible to manage tokophobia and have a more positive pregnancy and delivery experience with the help of a mental health specialist. Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can help you better understand your concerns and learn to manage with them.

  Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be beneficial in some circumstances. Your psychiatrist and OB/GYN can help you balance the advantages and drawbacks of taking these medicines during pregnancy, but most experts believe that the benefits to women’s mental health exceed the dangers to the growing fetus.