When taking off the filter of judgment, you are released from the “grip of stress.” When stressed, we are compelled to defend and operate from us vs. them mode. This leads to feelings of loneliness and isolation. When relaxed, you can choose to respond with patience and acceptance and operate…
As you’re breathing in, tune into sensations in the body; as you’re breathing out, encourage the body to soften, release, and let go. Notice tightness and tension; tingling, trembling, and shaking; warmth, heat, coolness, and cold; numbness and neutralness. Take 3-4 of these slow, deep releasing breaths.
In the couple’s relationship, it is not uncommon for men to contain their emotions and focus on “fixing” the situation; and for women to feel overwhelmed by their emotions and be compelled to communicate feelings. These differences often cause men to believe their partner is “overreacting” with feelings of hopelessness,…
Infertility represents a life-crisis, and typically experienced as the most stressful event yet encountered. Above all, we know that infertility is stressful and all consuming. The stress of infertility impacts the most important areas of your life: your relationships, your career, your finances, even your sense of self. We assume…
Before the crisis of infertility resolves, you may experience depression, anxiety, and social isolation. Comments meant to be helpful, such as “Why don’t you just adopt?” can feel minimizing and hurtful. Receiving an invitation to one more baby shower can create a real bind. Do you support your friend or protect…
The tendency to waste time and energy “rehashing the past” and “rehearsing the future” can squeeze the present thin. Infertility has a way of overtaking the rest of life. It’s hard to be present in what you’re doing. It is said that mindfulness shifts us from being “no where” to…
Without the medical condition of infertility, the life lessons and profound personal changes that result may have not occurred. Every time you experience guilt and shame, translate this as an “invitation for healing.” Make taking care of yourself a priority. Practice the practices, reach for support. You are carving a…
Mindfulness starts from the perspective that most of our mental suffering comes from the beliefs we have, and how tightly we hold them. When you see thoughts as simply “mental formations,” they are like clouds in the sky, appearing and disappearing leaving no trace. By experiencing these thoughts from a…
Stress and infertility are intimately related, and mind-body practices have helped couples and individuals find a deep sense of well-being. Optimal medical care requires optimal self-care. From a whole-person perspective, fertility treatments must include not only medicines and medical procedures, but also self-nurturance. Choosing a mind-body approach can feel overwhelming…
Central to mind-body medicine is the practice of mindfulness. Simply defined, mindfulness is the practice of paying neutral attention to what is happening right now. Why is mindfulness helpful for infertility? Infertility tends to overshadow everything else in life, keep you focused on past and future events, exacerbate negative self-judgment,…
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