Babies make the world a better place, but when you have been trying to conceive for months and the process does not occur naturally it can take a toll on your emotional state. To make matters worse, everyone is out to tell you right from wrong and it only adds to the stress. This makes you wonder what you are doing wrong and how you can fix it.
Infertility is a growing issue globally and while many may disagree, one of the main reasons why couples are facing problems conceiving is because of stress. According to recent studies, it has been found that women’s day-to-day levels of stress lowered their chances of getting pregnant. The studies also suggest that if women had high levels of alpha-amylase on their saliva, took 29% more time to get pregnant in comparison to those who had less. The enzyme indicates levels of stress in a person.
It is normal for everyone to be stressed every once in a while but that does not come in the way of the baby-making process. The problem occurs when a woman has been stressed for a long time or if they are dealing with a major change or disturbance. This is when ovulation cycles are affected and infertility occurs, only causing more stress and anxiety.
Nevertheless, this problem can be reversed by making a few lifestyle changes. Some of these changes, which you can undergo are as follows.
Ways to destress and boost fertility
- Keep a journal: Believe it or not, journaling your everyday life is a good way to de-stress. According to the Michigan State University Extension, writing a journal can be a great way to bust stress because the procedure allows a person to organize their thoughts, which makes way for solutions. Another 2011 study, published in the Psychological Science journal also stated that it can be an effective way to clear one’s mind by jotting down your thoughts and then throwing the paper away. The actions indicate the process of eliminating negative thoughts from the mind, helping people feel better in the process.
- Take time to exercise and meditate: Exercise has always been proven to be good for the body but very few of us have the time to fit it in our routine. Studies have shown exercise to reduce anxiety levels by up to 25% after exercising on the treadmill for just 30 minutes. So, if you haven’t started it’s time you take a step forward. In a similar fashion, while exercise rejuvenates your body, meditation helps to relax your mind, according to studies. Mindfulness meditation, the practice of being in the moment, can greatly help women and men to overcome anxiety.
- Use positive language: You must have surely heard, “Thoughts become words, and words become actions”. So, be careful of what you think because negativity only increases stress levels. Stop all the negative self-talk that you do just because you are failing to conceive. Instead, pat yourself on the back and be proud of the fact that you are trying everything to get pregnant and deep down you will feel good.
- Take a break from work: Yes, work is important to survive in today’s fast-paced life. But, all work and no play makes everyone a dull person. If you have been too stressed with work lately, take the much-deserved break that you and your partner have been planning on. Taking a break from the usual humdrum can work wonders for you in bringing your stress levels down.
- Eat a healthy diet: While all the reasons above are great ways to relieve stress so that you can get ready to conceive, yet, not watching what you eat can spoil all your efforts. Diet is often overlooked when dealing with the stress-busting process. However, you must understand that nutritious meals are the key to successful stress management.
In fact, according to an article in the Journal of Nutrition & Food Sciences, it has been stated that with the help of a healthy and well-balanced diet people can receive many stress-relieving benefits like improved brain function, increased immunity, controlled blood pressure, improved blood circulation, and elimination of toxins from the body.
Infertility due to stress can be easily controlled by couples cooperating with each other. But, they must also understand that infertility in itself is quite a stressful topic. Hence, to fight it, both must be ready to take a break from the problem for some time. Spend quality time with each other without bringing out the topic every now and then. If stress is truly the culprit, it won’t be long till you receive good news.
