For our last look at stress I thought it maybe helpful to have a brief look at practical solutions to help deal with stress.

Different avenues suit different people. It is very important to choose something you are comfortable with – something that won’t make you even more stressed!!

WAYS TO RELIEVE STRESS

BIOFEED BACK

Good for people who experience anxiety in the form of muscle tension, rapid heart rate, increase blood pressure, raised skin temperature. It is non invasive, scientific technology that helps a person achieve voluntary control over normally unconscious body functions such as heart rate.

JOURNALING

This stress reliever works by allowing you the freedom to express exactly what is in your head. (This is important) It is very private and gives substance and history to moments of joy / pain that are important to you. It enables you to evaluate “how you are doing” It also forces you to have a quiet time each day to express feelings and thoughts - it also enables you to see things more clearly. It has been proven to aid recovery in various illnesses including fertility and cancer. This stress reliever has the added advantage of being free.

MASSAGE

This is a safe and effective method of stress management. Stress can upset the balance of all the systems within the body. Stress leads to tension which in turn reduces the flow of energy, blood and oxygen. Massage allows the body to heal itself. REFLEXOLOGY This is based on the idea there are zones and reflex areas in the feet and hands that corresponds to all systems of the body including glands and organs. It claims to create a physiological change in the body b improving circulation.

HOMEOPATHY

This works using homeopathic remedies, working on the basis of treating like with like in minute doses i.e. food poisoning is often treated with arsenicum which is a derivative of arsenic! Stress is treated in the same way. There are many different remedies odor the same ailment as looks, personality etc are all taken into consideration. It has the added benefit that the fertility issues can be treated at the same time.

COUNSELLING

This can be an excellent way of relieving stress. Talking to someone who is completely impartial can be a fantastic way of letting off steam – saying what you really think and a very safe ay of working through any un resolved issues you may have. It ca be particularly useful whilst under going fertility treatment. Finding a counselor who can give brief telephone support as well as full appointments can be very useful. (particularly at crucial stages of your cycle)

EXERCISE

This can be an excellent way of channeling the adrenaline our bodies produces when under stress. When we exercise our bodies produce endorphins our bodies natural feel good drug. The final benefit (other than the obvious fitness) of exercise is that it ensures you are healthily tired and sleep better which in turn helps reduce stress.

WHICH VITAMINS FOR STRESS DO YOU NEED?

To start, the entire range of B vitamins are important. These are what are known as the B-complex vitamins, which includes such things as Vitamin B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, and so on. Studies have shown that people who suffer a lot of stress tend to have lower levels of these vitamins in their system...and a deficiency in any of these can actually lead to depression, abnormal nerve function and irritability, to cite just a few things. Vitamins C and E, two well known antioxidants, are also known to be rapidly deleted when the body is enduring stress. However you need more than just vitamins for stress - You need minerals as well...and not only that, but speciality nutrients, which are much more powerful than vitamins and minerals...and indeed work synergistically with them.

For example, it has been shown that the minerals magnesium and zinc are sapped from the body during stressful times. But, what is less well known is that powerful nutrients like alpha lipoic acid help to recycle vitamins in the body. Vitamin C and E levels, for example, can be kept in higher amounts in the body when taken in conjunction with alpha lipoic acid -- they are recycled -- which is very important for those who live a stressful lifestyle. Probably the most important thing you can do for stress is to be pro active, the shear fact of doing something can help you feel more in control and therefore less stressed.

Article written by Victoria Allen who is a holistic fertility therapist.

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