Fertility and Mind-Body Interventions
Thursday, September 29th, 2011Stress 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)