Breaking the Cycle of Stress and Sadness
Trying to conceive can be one of the most distressing life crises for a couple to face. The cycle of rising hopefulness and sinking despair that can accompany each month of trying to conceive can create enormous sadness and stress.
Trying to conceive can be one of the most distressing life crises for a couple to face. The cycle of rising hopefulness and sinking despair that can accompany each month of trying to conceive can create enormous sadness and stress.
The sadness that you may feel when you find you are not pregnant can be profound and paralyzing, or even result in full-blown depression. In fact, research shows that depression among infertile women is on par with feelings experienced by those who have cancer or heart disease. But men, too, can experience depression.
*
Why It's Important to Decrease Stress
The more difficult it becomes for a couple to conceive, the more one or both partners are apt to experience sadness or even depression. Depression, along with other emotions such as anger and anxiety, can cause more stress.
The more difficult it becomes for a couple to conceive, the more one or both partners are apt to experience sadness or even depression. Depression, along with other emotions such as anger and anxiety, can cause more stress.
While no one should ever tell you not to feel sad when you are having difficulty conceiving, it is important to learn how to manage stress because, as stress hormones rise, it can become even more difficult to conceive.
One way stress may affect women is that it increases stress hormones that can interfere with the proper balance of the levels of estrogen and progesterone, the hormones necessary for reproduction. Prolonged stress also may cause fallopian tubes to spasm in women. In men, stress can lead to decreased sperm production.
Whatever approaches you choose, just remember to be patient with yourself and your partner. This is a difficult time and to make it through the process, you both need to take good care of yourselves. And remember, the goal is worth it!
*
How to Stop Feeling Sad and Stressed
Increased stress levels could further impair your fertility and can create even more feelings of anxiety, which then can make the situation more difficult. That is why it is important to develop specific ways to cope with the ups and downs you feel during this stage. Whatever you do, keep in mind that you may need more comfort than you realize.
Increased stress levels could further impair your fertility and can create even more feelings of anxiety, which then can make the situation more difficult. That is why it is important to develop specific ways to cope with the ups and downs you feel during this stage. Whatever you do, keep in mind that you may need more comfort than you realize.
*
Learn How To Relieve Your Personal Stress
Since everyone reacts differently to stress, figuring out which stress-relieving techniques work best for you and your partner will make it easier to cope with fertility problems and treatment.
Since everyone reacts differently to stress, figuring out which stress-relieving techniques work best for you and your partner will make it easier to cope with fertility problems and treatment.
Here are some ways you may be able to relieve stress:
1. Join a support group. Although support from family and friends is comforting, members of a support group dedicated to fertility issues may better understand the specifics of what a person is going through during fertility treatment.
.
2. Try relaxation exercises. Learn a relaxation technique such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to decrease anxiety.
2. Try relaxation exercises. Learn a relaxation technique such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation to decrease anxiety.
.
3. Keep a journal. A journal is like a silent best friend: always there to listen to your innermost feelings. You should feel no pressure to write in the journal every day, but writing in a journal can be a great way to express your thoughts and emotions.
.
4. Pamper yourself. A massage, a pedicure, or a day at a spa may be relaxing and even fun. If you don't want to spend money on a spa treatment, get a free makeover at a department store or watch a video with no distractions.
.
5. Exercise. Exercise can alter chemicals in the brain to reduce feelings of stress and even depression. Try to maintain good eating habits.
.
6. Reconnect with your partner. Do something with your partner that does not involve "fertility stressors." Give yourselves a chance to enjoy what you love about each other. Plan a date with your partner, for example, or a weekend getaway to revitalize your relationship. Do what makes you happy. Try to include activities you love in your daily routine. Read for a few minutes, go to the movies, hike, play a board or card game, or see friends.
6. Reconnect with your partner. Do something with your partner that does not involve "fertility stressors." Give yourselves a chance to enjoy what you love about each other. Plan a date with your partner, for example, or a weekend getaway to revitalize your relationship. Do what makes you happy. Try to include activities you love in your daily routine. Read for a few minutes, go to the movies, hike, play a board or card game, or see friends.
~~~
Goodluck and be stress free!!!
~~~
No comments:
Post a Comment