What do you do

when you need to take your mind off the fact that you're stuggling with IF?

I need some new ways to try to cope with it.

Re: What do you do

I wish I knew the answer to this. I work long hours and still I am not busy enough to keep my mind off of IF. Sometimes taking on a project in my house helps. DH and I are planning some rennovations for the spring and summer which I am really looking forward to. Vacations also help. Oh, and don't forget about retail therapy.

ETA: No offense to anyone but sometimes taking a break from the message boards for a while also helps. I took a 6 month break from LIF to regroup and clear my head.

Message edited 2/22/2008 7:06:02 PM.

Re: What do you do

Yoga is really great for stress relief over IF. Actually, I find acupuncture is relaxing also.

We just went on Vacation for a week and I was really depressed prior and now I feel great.

I just got AF (we took the month off of doctors/procedures too, though a miracle would have been nice) and I'm not upset. Maybe because I know I'm starting my IVF cycle and moving forward.

And I agree shopping does wonders.

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Thanks for this. We're moving next month into our house so maybe that will help.

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I've been doing a lot of reading, which seems to help. Try to find some good books to get into in order to escape your worries - that's what I'm trying!

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Vacations (although a somewhat costly answer) seems to do the trick for me- A matter of fact we just booked a trip to Disney for March and I'm hoping it clears my head enough to forge forward with a positive attitude- And as someone else mentioned - a little"retail therapy" never hurt anyone !!!

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well, therapy has certainly helped, I'll tell you that Even though I started therapy to talk about issues with my Dad, we always seem to shift focus to this stuff. The best lesson I've learned in all of it is that the choice is MINE - I can either focus on all the wonderful, positive things in my life, or I can focus on all the stressful factors in my life. Up until now, it has always been a subconscious choice to focus on the negative. But now that it's at the forefront of my brain, I make a conscious choice each and every morning to focus my energy into all the wonderful things in my life I should be happy for - my family, my friends, my job, my health (sorta), etc.

That's not to say I don't let myself feel the disappointment when I get bad news, or AF. I do, but I give myself one day to have a nice little pity party for myself, instead of letting the dark thoughts consume me for weeks at a time.

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I dont let myself get upset about it... I just focus on whatever "plan" of action I am currently involved in to deal with it. Ill say to myself "ok so next week we start..." Feeling proactive helps me a lot

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This last cycle, I took a very different approach to things. I was tired of being "all over the place" with my thoughts an felt I needed more peace and focus.

I am not one who believes in good luck charms per se, but after speaking to one of the nurses at my RE's office, she reminded me of the Native American fertility deity, Kokopelli. Just on whim, I went on EBay and bought an inexpensive silver charm to wear around my neck. Every time I would look at it or feel it on my neck, it gave me a focal point and a little sense of peace. I still wear it because I still have elements of fear that may never go away.

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Message edited 2/23/2008 2:41:49 PM.

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I was sent two emails that I look at whenever I am feeling down. Fm me your email address if you would like them. I would be more than happy to send them to you.

One is kind of religious and the other is a lecture this man gave on Oprah.

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These are all excellent ideas.

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I just started accupuncture - and honest to God - I have never been more relaxed in my entire life.

Also, we are planning a vacation for June which helps with anticipation. We will find out a tthe end of March if IVF worked for us. So it will either be a celebratory trip or a let's drink & party until we forget trip.

I have also started exercising again. Mostly doing spin classes. That has helped clear my head.

That's my ideas... good luck to you!

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