The stress of infertility can be comparable to a cancer diagnosis. Anyone navigating the world of appointments, shots, ultrasounds, and multiple doctors knows that there is a lot to manage and a lot to think about. So how do you cope with all of it? How do you let yourself relax?
To relax means to make or become less tense or anxious. Take a look at what you do to relax now. Does it involve food or alcohol or shopping or social media? If it involves any of those things I would wager that you may not feel better or less tense or anxious from it.
After an unsuccessful round of treatment or a miscarriage, you are bound to feel stressed and sad. But then what? How do you feel afterwards? If eating the bag of chips or having that third cocktail don’t bother you at all, by all means continue. But if you are left in a deeper pit of misery after indulging in those things, that is worth evaluating.
Here are seven common stereotypes when it comes to relaxation. (Keep track of how many you do.)
- Take a bath
- Have a glass of wine
- Enjoy a massage
- Take a vacation
- Eat some ice cream
- Have a cup of tea
- Spend time exercising
All of these activities have to be motivated by a feeling first and every feeling is caused by a thought. Being relaxed is a feeling, which means it is triggered by your thinking. Thoughts are the only thing that can lead you to feeling relaxed. No amount of other action will get you there. Perhaps the thoughts driving you to feel relaxed lead you to participate in one of those seven common stereotypes, but the activity is never the reason you are relaxed. Your mind always is.
Want to learn a new way of relaxation that doesn’t depend on outside influences? Reach out to me and schedule a free mini session to learn how.
