Build Your Family With Us.

Stress is a part of life.  According to Thea Singer in her book, Stress Less, stress can be categorized as either “challenge stress” or “threat stress.”    Challenge stress refers to situations that are difficult but we are able to cope.  Threat stress refers to situations that are overwhelming (possibly challenging some of our core values/plans) and we may not have the resources to cope.

 Infertility treatment often increases stress.  Many times the stress is experienced as “threat stress.”  Mind-body medicine offers ways to cope better with this high level of stress.  Recognizing this connection between our mental health and our body’s health is important in finding solutions to face difficult situations.

Here are some examples of mind-body interventions:

• Yoga
• Acupuncture
• Meditation
• Guided imagery
• Prayer and spirituality
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Hypnosis
• Expressive writing
• Art therapy
• Biofeedback

 Join us for our monthly meeting, “exhale”, where we discuss stress and infertility.  Find out how to cope with fertility treatment in healthy ways.  We meet on the third Thursday of each month from 7-8pm at the Grand Rapids location of The Fertility Center.  Meeting are open to any current patient at The Fertility Center and are offered free of charge.

Please call Kristin (616-988-2229 X 104) for additional information or to let us know you plan to join us.

Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW (October 2011)

It’s getting slightly darker earlier every night.  I feel the shift toward the next season. 

 It is interesting that no matter what we are going through, some things are constant.  The seasons change.  Good and bad things happen.  Life continues on.

 However, despite the unchanging aspects of life, we are constantly able to evaluate our circumstances and change our approach to any challenge we face. 

 Fertility treatment can, at times, be difficult. 

 Ask yourself what could happen if you change just one thing about how you approach your fertility journey.  Could you feel more hopeful?  Could you sleep better?  Could your relationships with others improve?

 If we mentally connect to a positive outcome, we are more likely to have real, sustaining change.

 Certain aspects of fertility treatment are consistent – appointments, medications, tests, etc.

 Other aspects – our attitude about treatment, the way we care for our body, our priorities – we have the ability to change.

 “We cannot direct the wind but we can adjust the sails.”  ~Author Unknown

 For additional information or help discussing your own situation, feel free to schedule an appointment with Kristin at the Grand Rapids office.

 Submitted by Kristin Blackwell, LMSW (counselor at the Fertility Center)  September 2011