05/03/2010 by junonaturalfertility.

According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority over 20% of conception problems are diagnosed as unexplained infertility¹. This means that following a series of fertility tests and semen analysis no medical reason can be found for the couple’s inability to conceive and, therefore, no treatment can be offered – other than suggesting assisted conception such as IVF, ICSI or IUI.

Homeopathy offers an alternative viewpoint and an alternative, gentler, non-toxic form of treatment. In this blog post Nicola Berman and Cassie Everett, homeopaths and co-founders of Juno Natural Fertility, explain what homeopathy is and how it can help you get pregnant.

Homeopathy is a natural, holistic medicine which views the mind and body as one, understanding that how you feel emotionally can determine how you feel physically. Stress, anxiety and trauma will almost always manifest themselves in the body. If you have been under prolonged stress your body will divert its energy to those organs which are needed to cope with the stress and unfortunately your reproductive organs will move to the bottom of your body’s priority list.

Herbert Benson, MD, identified the reverse of the body’s stress response, which he called the ‘relaxation response’².  He found that undertaking relaxation techniques can bring about many beneficial changes in the body including a lower heart rate, slower breathing, reduced muscle tension and positive changes in brain waves. Homeopathy recognises that in order to effectively treat fertility issues, it is important to treat any underlying emotional stresses.

Another possible factor in unexplained infertility can be found in the family medical history; homeopaths call this inherited weakness. Strengthening a person’s whole constitution, including addressing any inherited weakness, using homeopathic remedies, can reduce the chance of them expressing familial diseases later in life. So if there is a history of reproductive disorders or early menopause in your family, homeopathy can be used to lessen the impact of this on your health to facilitate a natural conception. Another way of looking at the inherited weakness is that we have our own unique patterns of illness. When under considerable stress we get ill and our body produces symptoms. For you it might be that every time you’re run down you get cystitis or perhaps it’s tonsillitis or a skin breakout. If your inherited weakness is in the reproductive system, you could be more likely to have fertility problems and we would use homeopathic remedies to address this.

Homeopathy works by the ‘law of similars’, also described as treating ‘like with like’. In short, this means that a substance that causes symptoms in a healthy person can also bring about cure in a sick person. One simple analogy is the onion. In its crude form it can cause symptoms such as streaming eyes and runny nose and in its homeopathic form, called allium cepa, it is often used to treat hayfever. Similarly drinking too much coffee can cause sleeplessness and restlessness, but used homeopathically the remedy coffea is an effective treatment for insomnia.

A homeopathic consultation involves a thorough investigation of a person’s health, physical and emotional, as well as their personal medical history and family medical history. This is most important, as homeopathy understands that any unresolved event, emotional or physical, or any active inherited weakness may cause a lasting imbalance which will eventually be expressed in physical symptoms such as infertility. Homeopathic treatment is always individualised to the person and remedies are given based on the particular details of each person’s case.

Kate (37) had been trying to conceive for almost three years when she decided to try homeopathy with Juno Natural Fertility. She had had all her tests done on the NHS and they had all shown normal levels.

Kate had a chronic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), which she had suffered from since the age of 15. This condition affected her joints and soft tissues, resulting in her muscles, tendons and ligaments being painful most of the time, which was very debilitating for her in terms of her day to day life and frequently caused her to feel upset and frustrated. The intensity of this condition over a prolonged period of time would take up a lot of her energy reserves.

Her periods were very painful and heavy and she also experienced some PMT symptoms including irritability, breast tenderness and weight gain, suggesting she had hormonal imbalance. In the past Kate had taken the pill for nine years, which may have contributed to this.

Kate was given a combination of homeopathic remedies to help support her endocrine glands in order to balance her hormone levels, as well as detoxify any residual effects from the contraceptive pill. These remedies included: Carc, Folliculinum, Medorrhinum, Borax, Nat Mur and Sepia.

During her second consultation Kate reported that her next period had been lighter and the pain was less intense. These were positive signs that her hormones were rebalancing and her system was detoxifying. Her EDS symptoms had increased in intensity, which suggested that more energy was being diverted to this area, so her next homeopathic prescription Carc and Calc Fluor focused on these symptoms with the aim of freeing up more energy for other areas of her body.

At her next consultation Kate reported little change in her EDS symptoms, although the focus of the discussion moved more towards the stressful month she had had and her feelings of frustration and sadness. It became apparent that her emotions were having a greater bearing on her overall health and wellbeing than was previously evident. Therefore, she was prescribed the homeopathic remedy Thuja to also take into account her emotional state. 

Kate became pregnant the following month and in August 2009 she gave birth to her beautiful daughter Evie.

If you are currently experiencing feelings of anxiety or emotional upset, then why not try a homeopathic remedy to help relieve these feelings? Putting your body into a calmer and more balanced state may be exactly what you need to help you fall pregnant. Simply select the remedy below that most closely matches your thoughts and feelings and take one pill when needed, up to a maximum of three a day for three days, leaving at least a week before repeating:

Arg Nit 30c - for anticipatory anxiety, worrying about the baby before or during pregnancy, anxiety before doing a pregnancy test

Gelsemium 30c - for anxiety especially after a shock or bad news e.g. from a miscarriage or diagnosis from the doctor

Ignatia 30c - for the emotional rollercoaster, feeling very tearful and even hysterical, embarrassed about emotions

Natrum Mur 30c - for repeated grief and disappointment, want to be on your own, can’t cry any more

Phos Ac 30c - for emotional exhaustion, feeling flat and lacking energy, foggy head

Pulsatilla 30c - for feeling weepy all the time, don’t want to be alone, feel better after a good cry

If you have not experienced improvement after a month, then consult a qualified homeopath for a more thorough investigation and personalised remedy. Nicola and Cassie from Juno Natural Fertility offer consultations in clinics across London; in Covent Garden, Mayfair, Thornton Heath and Hendon, and if you are based outside London telephone and Skype consultations can be arranged upon request.

In April Juno Natural Fertility are running two seminars ‘How to get pregnant with natural remedies’; one focussing on Unexplained Infertility and the other on Polycystic Ovaries and PCOS. Tickets cost £25 and can be booked online at www.junonaturalfertility.com/seminars or by calling 0845 423 8962. Places are limited, so early booking is advised.

Tickets can be booked online for Juno natural fertility seminars here

Posted in Infertility & Stress, Homeopathy & Fertility, Alternative medicine, Stress relief, Stress, Alternative Therapies & Fertility | No Comments »

15/01/2010 by amymarner.

Theta Healing is and energy healing which allows us to explore and release the memories we hold which may be blocking our full potential.  The Fertility Solutions Programme uses Theta Healing and Hypnosis to gently discover and release any beliefs, memories or emotions that may be blocking conception.  The process can also address physical symptoms such as PCOS.

<!–[if !supportEmptyParas]–> Tracy Holloway developed the Fertility Solutions Programme after years of working in the area of fertility.  Tracy has worked as a Hypnotherapist, Psychologist and Theta Practitioner who is renowned in the area of fertility.  She has brought together her rich knowledge and experience to develop the unique programme which explores the well being of the whole person in order to support their reproductive health.

<!–[if !supportEmptyParas]–> Using Theta Healing it is possible to address physical symptoms which may be affecting fertility, for example PCOS, Fibroids, Endometriosis and Sperm motility (to name a few).  It is also possible to address emotional issues which affect couples who are experiencing fertility challenges.  Many of my female clients will talk to me about their grieving each time their period arrives.  They describe their fertility journey as a roller coaster ride. They have hope during the month then the grieving starts as their cycle begins again.  Using the Fertility Solutions Programme it is possible for women to view each cycle as a positive thing, their body is working in the way that will make pregnancy possible at some point in the future, rather than a setback.  Sometimes a simple relieving of stress is enough to support conception.

<!–[if !supportEmptyParas]–> One thing that is important to remember is each couple is unique, their journey is unique and they will conceive in their own time.  In other words it’s best not to compare yourselves with others because everyone’s journey is different.  Using the Fertility Solutions programme it is possible to address the emotional stresses and strains and focus on other areas of your life (enjoying your relationship for example) rather than relying on conception to bring happiness.  By addressing both physical and emotional aspects of fertility it is possible to have your best chance of conception.

<!–[if !supportEmptyParas]–> <!–[endif]–>

Posted in Fertility Experts, Male Infertility, Guest blogger, Alternative medicine, Fertility Services, Running on empty, Hypnotherapy, Fertility Blog, Support for infertility, Theta Healing, pcos syndrome, Fertility Blogger, Infertility & Stress, doing things differently, Self care, Alternative Therapies & Fertility, Stress, Fertility, Infertility, Natural Fertility Methods, Womens Health, Fibroids & fertility, Stress relief, lifestyle and fertility, Fertility Treatment, PCOS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Male Fertility Issues | No Comments »

23/11/2009 by Anya Sizer.

As I sit at my kitchen table and write this blog I am incredibly aware of just what a lot has happened over these last few years . And how , for all the noise , tantrums and lack of sleep I will never cease to be amazed that I have finally got here .That I can finally be a mum .I guess thats one of the only advantages to having had such a fight to get my family . I will never take it for granted .Change the scene to about 8 years ago and the situation was very different and in a sense  where our  journey began  . 

I had met my husband at university and always had a strong friendship as well as romantic hope for him . So it was with little suprise that we finally told family and friends that we were getting married in 1997 . We were very much in love and talked from early on about how great it would be to be parents .The summer before we officially started trying I remember being on holiday and writing a list together of our top girls and boys names for the family which lay just within our reach . There was such optimism and such hope . It was to be over so soon .We tried for a family for about 9 months before I could take it no longer and assumed there was something wrong .

I was never known for my patience and thus nearly everyone told me to calm down , stop trying so hard etc etc ….the usual . But deep down I really just wanted reassurance . And so I persuaded a doctor to do some initial tests on both of us . Fully expecting the results to match the helpful comments of friends and family . That we would be fine and to just relax more .However the results for my husband were utterly devestating . He was Azoospermic , there was no sperm whatsoever  present . The ” kindly ” doctor pronounced we would never have chidren and we were sent on our way .

And just like that our world crumbled and a new chapter began .We then went through every test we could do , choosing to use my savings rather than wait ..again that old impatience . I found out information about my inner workings that I never thought I would know . And certainly more about my husband than is common in most marriages !Finally we saw one of the top specialists in the country and were told in no uncertain terms that ours was one of the worst situations a couple could find themselves in .” If I were you mr Sizer i wouldnt put my wife through IVF but would look at Donor or adoption . You have a 1 in 125,000 chance of this ever working “To say my husband was crushed would be an understatement . And I grieved that day as Much for what it was doing to him as  for the loss of our dreams .

Over the next few weeks we re emerged from the duvet and began to talk . ..and talk ..and pray and talk . Until finally , and for no good practical reason we chose to give that 1 in 125,000 chance a go . Not good betting odds but I guess we needed to close the door before moving on .And so we started IVF number one at the lister clinic , a wonderful warm enviroment who supported us all the way , even when they felt it was a run to nothing .The cycle went badly to begin with and then got worse with the realisation that I was what they called a “poor responder ” ( how I hate that phrase !) and probably early menopausal ..just to add to the tension !!Finally however 4 eggs were obtained , my husband had a very painful op to remove the few sperm he did have and the wonderful world of science miraculously made 4 embryos .Just 3 days later 2 little bundles of potential were lit up on a screen and shown going into my womb …and so began the dreaded 2 week wait .Again we were so low on hope that I almost didnt do a test on the set date . But eventually we did . And amazingly 1 little ball had made it .I was pregnant !! 9 months of  elation and anxiety ensued until finally on April 26th 2003 our first miracle was born and Hope Sizer came into the world .We were literally over the moon to become parents and loved those early days with our new daughter .

And yet our dreams of a family had always been of two or more children .And though family and friends pretty much begged us not to keep going we entered the wonderful world of ART once again when Hope was just over a year old . The abridged version of what happened next was that amazingly , our odds actually seemed to get worse ! I was diagnosed with High FSH , and an over active immune system as well as the initial poor responder bit !  We went through 3 more cycles and two miscarriages before our final attempt at the ARGC clinic .This was to be it . Enough of the battering .And so a new regime was started ,new protocol and an immune suppresant drug for a mere £2000 extra .Two embryos put back in and …..well lets just say Barnaby sizer is a very meant little boy !

We finally felt like a family.I have done many things in my life that I am proud of and many things make me grateful . none of them howehver come close to the pride I feel personally and as a couple, in fighting for our family .It was without doubt the hardest thing I have ever done , possibly ever will do  , and amazingly it was worth it .During my time going through IVF I retrained from a counselling background , into Life coaching and began to specialise in supporting encouraging and resourcing couples through Infertility .

To come up with specific coping tools  through this most emotional of times .One of the key things I always say to people is to never belittle what you are facing . Infertility has recently been given a stress point reading akin to Cancer and Bereavement and as such a person dealing with fertility issues needs support . A new chapter has again then started for me through this work . A new chance to help support and encourage other people facing the difficulties of Infertility . Whether it is running the support group , running workshops or speaking to the media I remain passionate that people facing Infertility should be as best looked after as possible .

Best of luck to everyone reading this 

Anya Sizer

www.thefertilitycoach.co.uk     

Posted in Fertility Blog, Infertility & Stress, Fertility Blogger, ART, fertility coach, Male Infertility, Infertility, IVF, Assisted reproduction, Male Fertility, Male Fertility Issues | 1 Comment »

20/11/2009 by amymarner.

Fertility problems are one of the most stressful experiences to go through. What is more a lot of people do not understand what it is like for couples experiencing problems. Often couples who have been planning for a baby for years are asked “When are you going to start a family?” This can only add to the stress, particularly if the couple have decided not to tell others about their fertility challenges. What is more high stress levels are known to reduce the chances of conception so it is very important for couples to reduce their stress levels as best they can.

Mind/body techniques can be really helpful when dealing with the stress Fertility issues can bring. Meditating is great because it brings stillness to the mind relieving it of all the clutter that we tend to live with on a day-to-day basis. Regularly meditating can help to reduce that clutter at other times. If you are someone who finds meditating difficult listening to a CD of guided meditation can be helpful to start with. It’s a question of finding what works best for you.

Practicing being mindful during day-to-day tasks is also a helpful way to reduce stress. For example being mindful whilst eating means that you smell the food. Look at the colour. Be aware of the texture in your mouth. Really taste it as you chew. Take your time. You can apply this mindfulness to anything; just make sure you are using all your senses to do it.

Of course Fertility Solutions can help too. Using Theta Healing it is possible to reduce stress levels and using the Fertility Solutions Programme means you will not only reduce your stress levels but also give yourself the best chance of conceiving be it naturally or with medical intervention. For more information on how Fertility Solutions can help you go to www.amymarner.co.uk

Posted in Fertility Tips, Guest blogger, Alternative medicine, Fertility & stress, Fertility Blog, Fertility Blogger, Infertility & Stress, Assisted reproduction, doing things differently, Alternative Therapies & Fertility, Trying to Conceive, Stress, TTC over 35, lifestyle and fertility, Stress relief, Natural Fertility Methods | No Comments »

16/11/2009 by amymarner.

Hypnosis is a natural state that we all enter daily. It’s those times when your imagination is active, so watching a film or reading a book. If you are immersed in the story and your imagination is involved that is hypnosis. You are completely in control and free to leave it at anytime. Our subconscious does not know the difference between our imagination and reality so we can use our imagination to access the subconscious and create what we want in our lives.

Using hypnosis is a great way to address fertility, because we can access our imagination and address what is going on in our subconscious. For example we may have spent years trying not to get pregnant, our subconscious may not have caught up with our new plans to start a family so using the imagination we can show the subconscious what we really want and it can catch up. This then supports our body to conceive.      

We may often have negative thoughts running through our minds, worry creating more worry and affecting our well-being. Our negative thoughts can affect our hormonal balance but with hypnosis it is possible to bring them back to a healthy equilibrium therefore supporting conception.

Fertility Solutions hypnosis CDs have been developed by Tracy Holloway (a qualified hypnotherapist and renowned fertility specialist) in order to prepare the subconscious mind for conception. The powerful CDs begin with deep relaxation; this prepares your mind for suggestion and supports you to release stress. Once you have listened for at least a week to the first CD you can move on to the next. Each one brings you relaxation and prepares the body for conception. Some are designed specifically for those who are planning to conceive naturally, others support assisted conception and there are also CDs for those who have experienced miscarriage and fear their body cannot support a healthy baby.

These powerful CDs go hand in hand with the Fertility Solutions Programme but can also be very effective in their own right. For more details and to buy online click here.

Posted in Guest blogger, Alternative medicine, Running on empty, Assisted reproduction, Hypnotherapy, Fertility & stress, Fertility Blogger, Infertility & Stress, Fertility Blog, doing things differently, Stress relief, Fertility, Infertility, Recurrent Miscarriage, Alternative Therapies & Fertility, Stress, female fertility, Miscarriage, Womens Health, Natural Fertility Methods | No Comments »

12/10/2009 by Tums2Mums.

I’ve been wondering what I could write that would be useful for the readers of this blog and as a lot of what I get when I mention that I am a Hypnotherapist is “oooh, that’s not for me.  I don’t want to be out of control.  I probably can’t be hypnotised anyway”.  I thought that it might be useful to write a series of posts that will take you through what Hypnosis for Fertility sessions might involve for you. All treatment plans are devised based on the individual so your sessions may not follow exactly the same path but these posts will hopefully give you an idea of what to expect and clear up any myths or concerns you may have or heard regarding hypnosis.

Actually, although this is about session one there is some stuff that goes on prior to me ever meeting you and so I will mention this first. Normally there will have been a first phone call or at least an email. Someone will have read about HypnoFertility and probably have had a look at my website www.tums2mums.com and found out a bit more about me and the way that I work. The phone call / email enables them to ask any initial questions to make sure that they are comfortable with booking their first session. Once this has then been booked I send out an ‘Intake’ form for them to complete and return to me prior to attending. I also send them a stress buster and progressive relaxation mp3 to start listening to.

Session one itself is all about information giving on both sides. I spend time explaining how hypnosis supports fertility (both natural and assisted conception), how the mind works and its impact on the body both positive and negative and what being in the state of hypnosis feels like (not what you would expect from a stage hypnotic show - just a nice relaxed feeling mainly). We will review the information provided in the intake sheet and most importantly discuss your goal of therapy.

Now you might well say “but you know my goal - I want a baby”. But goals need to be SMART (I’m drawing on my days as a trainer here). Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timebound. Now whilst I do spend time with you helping you to imagine what it will be like to be pregnant, holding your baby in your arms, feeling positive about you ability to have your baby. Because we actually have no control over timescales or achievability for this it is not a goal we can measure. What we will be aiming for is creating the best possible circumstances which themselves will support fertility.

This in turn means that the feedback I get from clients is that they feel more in control of their lives than they have for years. Friends and family are saying that they look more relaxed and happy. They are feeling less obsessed and more able to enjoy life. Things that had been bothering them for a long time now don’t seem significant at all. And many other positive changes particular to them. These things in themselves help to return the body to a state of normalcy and give the best opportunity for having their desired baby.

There may or may not be time to actually carry out some hypnosis during session one but if there is it will be something gentle introducing them to how it feels and starting the process of restoring balance in their lives.

In part 2 of this series I will be taking you through the next steps as we move on to Session two.

If in the meantime you have any questions based on what you have read about Session one please post a comment and I will answer them.

Dany Griffiths

Hypnotherapist specialising in

Fertility, Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond…

www.tums2mums.com

Posted in Hypnofertility, Infertility & Stress, Hypnotherapy, Alternative medicine, Stress relief, Alternative Therapies & Fertility | No Comments »

30/09/2009 by yourgreatlife.

Take a Time-Out to Control Your Stress 

Liken the accumulation of stress from infertility to a traffic accident in which the first car stops suddenly. No one has been injured and the damage from the two-car accident is contained, but neither of the parties has put out flares signalling danger.  As a result, each successive car behind them piles up, multiplying the level of damage.  Similarly, small signs of stress like nail-biting or cranky behaviour, may seem harmless, but you don’t have to be falling apart to internalize damage.  If your ultimate goal is to become pregnant, your initial, short term goal must be to lower your level of stress, clearing a space for the work to begin.  Then, keep it clear throughout your attempt to conceive.  

If you are aware of areas of your life in which stress shows up, the next step is to acknowledge the stressor and change your response to it. When you feel your personal signs of stress creeping up, you can deal with them on the spot by practicing this short visualization technique I call a time-out. 

Time-Out – I call this visualization a time-out because all it takes is excusing yourself for a few minutes. When you become practiced at it, it feels like you have had a mini-holiday. It is useful in a few ways.  

• Replacement - By focusing on an image in your “mind’s eye,” you block out the image corresponding to your stressor.
• Relief - Placing yourself within the positive image/scenario you have chosen, and imagining its sights, sounds, smells and tastes, helps to break the emotional connection you felt in response to the stressor.
• Rapid - It’s a quick fix, free of cost and no prescription needed.
• Restorative - It is very empowering. Mastering the visualization allows you to re-gain control of your stress and restore calm.    

Take Two - A 2-minute visualization exercise can be slipped into your daily life without attracting attention.  Whether you are working, busy with your family, at a party or involved in a project, it is easy to slip away for two minutes at a time.   Any Time, Anywhere – Privacy and safety are the two required elements, in order to allow you to break the connection with your current environment. Be creative; you can find privacy in the busiest places: empty offices, walk-in closets, the loo or even sitting in the car on your own driveway. In order to reach that quiet space inside, it may take four or five minutes at first, but with some practice, you will be able to reduce the time it takes to regain control to about two minutes. Please use caution and do not practice it while driving.  Pull the car over to the side of the road if necessary.  Define Your Image – Close your eyes. Isolate a specific image, real or fantasy, which evokes a 100% positive feeling. If an image of your last beach vacation, however lovely, brings up the nagging feeling that you didn’t look great in your bikini, it isn’t the right image for this exercise. Your image can be a frozen moment in time, such as the kiss at your wedding ceremony, or a conjured image of a beautiful place you will go in the future. Let your mind play on this image, vivid detail and colour, sharpening the detail. Imagine that you can smell the air, hear the sounds and even taste something that is evocative of the memory or fantasy of your choice. This image should make you smile. The emotions evoked by your image might be peace, happiness, confidence, contentment, hope or a mixture of other positive feelings.   Write Your Story – Silently, describe the scene to yourself as if narrating a script. For example: “I am dressed in white, on the silvery-grey, wooden deck of my house. I am looking down at miles of virtually empty beach. The ocean is deep blue and turquoise; the sky melts into the horizon. The late afternoon sun is making millions of white, jewelled ribbons dance on the water.  I see a few people walking or sitting and enjoying the peaceful day.”  Now you know mine; it’s your turn. Make it as real in your mind as you can. Are your feet bare? What is the surface under your feet? Is your skin cool, warm or hot? What do you hear, smell and taste?  Are you alone, or with others?  

To Begin Every Day - Use your Time-Out to start each day until it becomes habit and you can fit the exercise into two minutes. This works well for clearing any non-specific stress; you know, the feeling that you want to crawl back under the duvet rather than face the day.  A good place for this is in your morning shower, because it’s private, you feel the pleasant sensation of the water and it blocks out most noise.  

Step by step:

• Relax - Close your eyes and breathe fully and slowly several times. Concentrate on your breathing for as long as it takes to empty your mind enough to begin the visualization. Invite your positive image into your mind, filling out “the frame” with the context that envelops that beautiful image.
• Drop yourself in to your visualization. If you are a fan of Star Trek, you can imagine “beaming down to the planet.” I prefer to use a different technique:  It feels as if an artist suddenly changed a 2-dimensional picture into a 3-dimensional environment that you can enter.  Imagine that image slip like a liquid over your head and down your body until you see yourself clothed and positioned as you were during the first Time-Out.
• Become One with your image - Focus on and isolate each part of your body and “feel” them connect with the physicality of air, earth or water in the place you imagine yourself to be. Direct your mind to travel up your body, recognizing the sensations you feel, from toes to shoulders, and then out to each hand, up your neck and to your head.
• Emotionally connect to your image – allow yourself to recognize the feelings conjured by your visualization. This is like “getting into character” for your own dramatic performance. Are you: euphorically in love? Flush with success?  Comforted by an embrace? Peaceful and still? Dazzled by beauty? Exhilarated by speed?
• Lock it all in - Bring your arms up and wrap them around yourself. First you were part of a positive image; now draw that positivity into you and lock it in with a hug. I find that the physical embrace centres and comforts me. Try it, especially if you have been feeling tired, lonely, fearful or shaky. If you are not in a private enough space, you may feel it is enough to just clasp your two hands together in a firm grip.
• Acknowledge that you will have challenges during the day and that you are strong enough to embrace them without fear of over-reacting. Then, shake your arms out and slowly open your eyes.
• Repeat your visualization however often you feel the need. 

If ever you can’t relax enough to bring up your Time-Out image, use props and your other senses to give you a prompt:

• When you open your eyes, write down what you saw in your mind’s eye, in a very descriptive way. This is one place that the gratitude journal really comes in handy. Knowing that you are doing something positive for yourself is very empowering. The physicality of writing and seeing your description on paper will further anchor the image and your positive response to it, and you will have it to look back at if need be. 
• Practice your visualization while holding a talisman in your hand.  Then whenever you feel stress rising, hold and rub it between your fingers. I use a tiny silver ball with the faint, twinkling sound of chimes, to trigger both visual and auditory memories of my happy place.

I would be very interested to hear from you about your use of the Time-Out exercise; what your image is and how well it works as a stress reliever. 

My blog is http://yourgreatlife.typepad.comMy website is http://yourgreatlife.co.uk Contact information:  020 8954 2897 or lisa@yourgreatlife.co.uk

Posted in Self Coaching, Fertility & stress, Infertility & Stress, Life Coaching, Guest blogger, female fertility, Self care, Infertility | No Comments »