never realized how stress I was feeling...

Samidez

Geez, we all know this TTC thing is stressful...but it was only during this last week or so that I noticed how tight my chest was feeling. Today I had a major panic attack...(I've been prone to these for years when under lots of pressure). Still, right now I feel so under pressure to get this TTC done because of my age I'm not sure how to decompress. I'm not really one for self-medicating...but I think I need a glass of wine. I'd go to the gym but I've got sore legs from my run yesterday. What other things do you guys do to lower your stress?  

Jacque Sills

Hi Samidez,

I am so sorry to hear that you reached one of those alright moments...

I definately know all about panic attacks.  My doctor has helped train me to do breathing exercises to help.  Meaning, You count to ten and during counting you breath in One, two, three, hold four, five, six and exhale seven, eight, nine, ten.

Do this breathing exercise for a least three minutes, and try to do it while you are sitting down in a nice comfortable spot/chair.  After I do this exercise, I find one of my favorite candles that smells really relaxing and light it up, grab a nice glass of wine and either read a magazine/book or listen to some soothing music.

That does the trick for me.    Maybe, your loved one can give you a wonderful hug for a minute or two, as well....  The warmth and touch makes me feel really good.

I, so understand the TTC pressure of being older and not knowing what the future holds is hard at times.  Know that we are here for you and that you are surrounded by people who love you at home.  That always makes me smile and gives me a lift in my step to move forward.

Best of luck to you and I am sending you, lots of (((((Hugs)))))! 

Take care and enjoy your wine!

HeathernSteven

At night when I lay in bed I tighten my body, starting at my toes and working my way up, its a way for me to identify where I am holding tension and stress, as I release each contraction I exhale.

concentrating on your breathing is extremely helpful because if you can do deep belly breaths and not breathing from your chest, you will begin to trigger your parasympathetic system which is your rest and relaxtion phase, which will calm you. That is the most important thing is to get that Parasympathetic response going, when we are in that sympathetic, "fight or flight" mode it inhibits our reproductive system (among many others) because its not needed when you are being chased by a cheetah, and the more we are activating the sympathetic mode the more we inhibit many of our body systems. The sad thing is for humans, we don't actually need to be in danger for flight or fight, we just need to think about it...a major flaw imho.

I hope I rambled somthing useful to you!!