And Why It’s Important For Fertility
While building your family is supposed to be an exciting and joyful time in your life, when it becomes challenging or you realize you will need to seek out medical assistance to get pregnant, it can turn negative really fast.
Fertility struggles trigger stress, anxiety, anger, fear, relationship strain, and a whole host of various mental and physical pressures that do nothing to support your quest to conceive.
The elevated feelings of stress and fear can disrupt sleep, appetite, and ability to find calm. It can have a negative effect on overall wellbeing and function. Additionally, the rise in cortisol (the stress hormone) can disrupt fertility hormones and make it even harder to conceive.
So, what is the answer? You may have been told to ‘Stay Positive’ or ‘Just Relax’ but that advice isn’t actually helpful at all. In fact, it’s quite harmful and toxic. There is nothing positive about denying your feelings and ignoring the weight of what you are experiencing.
Related Read: Infertility Is Hard…How To Make It A Bit Easier
Instead, you want to explore those feelings and give yourself the opportunity to express them openly in a safe space – far from judgement, shame, or guilt.
Healthy positivity supports the overall process of navigating and validating your experience while finding ways to shift toward a healthy positive mindset. We can do this by exploring our feelings and expressing them in a safe space with someone we trust. Using healthy positive practices, it’s possible to challenge negative thinking and train our minds to encourage authentic optimism.
Here are a few examples of healthy mindset practices:
Positive Affirmations
Affirmations are positive statements that when repeated frequently will encourage positive thoughts that challenging negative feelings. Repeat the affirmations out loud consistently and you begin to train your brain to shift toward the positive thought and away from the negative. It may feel somewhat awkward at first but overtime it becomes more natural and is helpful in increasing calm and confidence. Try some of these examples to get you started.
Practice Gratitude
Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can not only have a healthy effect on overall optimism but can also boost the immune system, decrease stress, and support rest. Just writing down a few simple points you found to be positive during the day can be highly effective. Spending a few moments with this practice at the end of your day can promote relaxation and help you find calm before falling asleep.
Related Read: Positive Affirmations For An IVF Cycle
Meditation
Meditation can be incredibly effective for shifting your mindset and finding a calmer and more peaceful place. Meditation has been shown to be useful for reducing stress and balancing hormones, both of which can help with increasing your odds getting pregnant. You can find guided meditations specifically for fertility and pregnancy to help you feel connected to your goals.
Identifying Support
Finding a support system such as a coach, therapist or group can have dramatic positive effects while navigating fertility challenges. Speaking with someone who truly understands how you are feeling can free difficult feelings of isolation, invalidation, and shame. Just knowing you are not alone can have incredibly positive effects on how you view your unique circumstance and the potential outcomes.
Related Read: Working With An IVF Coach
Are you struggling to find center and calm while trying to get pregnant? I would love to help you navigate this challenging road and make the journey more positive. Schedule a chat today and follow Positive Fertility on Instagram for daily support and inspiration!
