Going through fertility treatment often creates physical and emotional stress. You may be aware of where you hold this stress in your mind and body. Some feel it in the pit of their stomach, while others feel it in the jaw, back, neck or shoulders.
There is often an associated mood that comes with the physical component of stress. Anger, fear, worry and anticipation are just a few of the emotions you may be experiencing. Self-hypnosis is an excellent tool to cultivate calm in the mind and body, creating a virtual oasis amidst the stressful chaos.
Self-hypnosis moves us from a fight and flight mode into attending and befriending our experience. The technique activates our parasympathetic nervous system which organically relaxes.
Research has demonstrated that hypnosis has been associated with increased IVF success rates. It is a tool that can be used at any point along the fertility journey from preparation to embryo transfer. It can also be used if you are trying to conceive naturally. The best part is that you can do it on your own, whenever you want or need a reprieve.
Self- Hypnosis
The first and most important step in self-hypnosis is creating a goal that you believe can be achievable.
Then comes the “induction.” This means helping yourself get into a relaxed mode, similar to the kind of relaxed you feel just before you drift off to sleep. The goal is for you to get YOU as calm as possible so YOU you can start speaking to your subconscious mind about the goals you want to achieve. You can induce relaxation through a number of different ways such as focusing your glare on a spot on the wall or doing a body scan, relaxing each part of your body.
Soon, you will get very relaxed.
Once you are fully relaxed, and the conscious mind is dozing, the work begins. As you visualize your oasis and walk down towards the garden and lake, you allow yourself to let go of the things that no longer serve you. You raise your hands up and surrender, taking it all in.
Slowly you begin to talk to yourself about the suggestions that you want to believe and goals you want to achieve. These are the ones your conscious mind normally judges, criticizes and fails to believe.
Some suggestions:
- I Am Healthy.
- I Am Fertile.
- I Am Enough.
- I Am Deserving.
- I Can be a Mother.
- I Can get Pregnant.
- I Can carry a Baby to Term.
- I Am Happy.
- I Am Powerful.
- I Am Open.
- I Just Am.
Sometimes what lies beneath in our subconscious minds no longer serves us like it used to. Like a computer program that requires updating, we need to manually go in and make changes that better suit our current situation.
Amira is a Social Worker in Toronto, Ontario. She works with individuals and couples who are struggling with infertility. Amira facilitates the Mind-Body Fertility Group at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
She is also a mother of three miracles.
