Girl’s Trip & Valentine’s Day
In this episode of the Pursuit of Wellness podcast, Mari candidly shares the emotional rollercoaster of her IVF journey. She reveals how IVF has become an all-consuming presence in her daily life, causing anxiety and stress that she manages through mindfulness routines, exercise, and her support system. Mari also discusses the pivotal role online communities and connections with other women undergoing IVF have played in helping her feel understood.
The episode delves into the ways IVF has prompted transformations in Mari's life, from shifting priorities and embracing self-care to dealing with travel challenges. Listeners gain insight into the profound mental and emotional toll of fertility treatments and the vital coping strategies employed by those walking this path.
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1-Page Summary
Mari's IVF Emotional Journey
IVF Dominates Mari's Life
Mari says IVF is a constant presence in her daily thoughts and conversations. While she embraces holistic treatments like pomegranate juice and acupuncture, her doctor is skeptical of her "magical thinking," leading Mari to call these her "crunchy granola stuff."
Emotional Rollercoaster
Mari describes the emotional turbulence of IVF, alternating between positivity and intense anxiety. A single event can deeply impact her well-being, she says.
Finding Support Online
Connecting online, through TikTok and Facebook groups, has helped Mari feel understood by others on the IVF journey. She says the overwhelming response on TikTok makes her feel less isolated.
Coping and Support Strategies
Mindset and Routine
Mari credits her spiritual routine, starting with morning prayer and evening gratitude, for maintaining positivity. Exercise is also key for her mental well-being, she says.
Support System
Mari emphasizes not isolating herself, relying on friends and family for vital emotional support. Connecting with other women experiencing IVF has provided crucial comfort, she says.
Life Changes for IVF
Shifting Priorities
Starting IVF prompted a slowdown in Mari's "fast-paced LA life," allowing more self-care. Activities like reading fantasy novels help her escape IVF anxieties, she notes.
Travel Challenges
While on a Colorado trip, Mari diligently maintained wellness routines to manage her mental health. Still, the anticipation of her upcoming embryo transfer triggered anxiety, leading her to seek support from her therapist and the TikTok IVF community, she says.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personalized wellness map to navigate your IVF journey, plotting out daily activities that promote mental and physical health. Start by identifying the times of day when you feel most stressed and assign specific, soothing activities to those periods, such as a 10-minute meditation in the morning or a short walk after dinner. This visual plan can serve as a daily guide to help you stay focused on self-care.
- Develop a 'comfort playlist' with music, podcasts, or soundscapes that bring you peace and joy, especially during moments of high anxiety. Curate a selection of audio experiences that you can turn to when you need a mental break or emotional uplift. For example, create a playlist of nature sounds for relaxation, upbeat songs for motivation, or inspiring podcasts for moments when you need a boost of positivity.
- Engage in a creative hobby that requires focus and provides a sense of accomplishment, such as painting, knitting, or gardening. These activities can offer a therapeutic outlet for emotions and a break from the intensity of IVF. Choose a project that can be completed in stages, giving you a tangible sense of progress and a rewarding distraction from daily stresses.
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Mari's Personal Journey and Emotional Experiences With IVF
Mari’s current life chapter is deeply marked by her experiences with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), from her daily thoughts to the emotional upheavals brought about by the treatment process.
Mari's Life Focus: IVF
IVF Consumes Mari's Thoughts and Conversations
IVF dominates Mari’s daily life, continuously at the forefront of her thoughts and conversations. Mari discusses the disconnect between her holistic interests and her IVF doctor’s more conventional approach. When she mentions alternative treatments like pomegranate juice, red light therapy, acupuncture, and eating pineapple husks and Brazil nuts to her doctor, she is met with skepticism and the term "magical thinking." Despite this, Mari continues to embrace these practices; indulging in what she calls “crunchy granola stuff,” which she feels are beneficial to her wellness and prep for IVF.
Mari Shares IVF Emotional Rollercoaster: Alternating Positivity and Anxiety
Mari details the emotional turbulence that accompanies her IVF journey, marked by alternating positivity and intense anxiety. Her emotional state is precarious; some days she feels barely able to cope, while on others, she maintains a positive outlook. Mari is acutely aware of her fragile state, knowing that a single event can have a profound effect on her well-being. ...
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Mari's Personal Journey and Emotional Experiences With IVF
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personal wellness journal to track your emotional patterns and identify triggers during challenging life events. Start by jotting down your daily emotions, significant events, and any coping mechanisms you've used. Over time, you'll be able to spot trends and triggers, which can help you develop personalized strategies to maintain emotional balance.
- Develop a digital storytelling project to share your experiences and connect with others facing similar challenges. Use a simple video diary format or blog to document your journey, and share it on platforms where community support is strong. This can foster a sense of belonging and provide mutual support.
- Explore and document the impact of various ...
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Coping Strategies and Support During IVF
Mari shares her personal strategies for coping with the emotional and mental challenges of undergoing IVF, highlighting the importance of routine, support networks, and open communication.
Coping Mechanisms Mari Uses For the IVF Journey: Prayer, Gratitude, Exercise, and Support Network
Mari's Prayer and Gratitude Routines Maintain Her Positive Mindset and Focus On Blessings
Since her return from Colorado, Mari finds that her dedication to spiritual practices plays a pivotal role in maintaining a positive mindset. She starts her mornings with a prayer, seeking strength and hope for the day ahead, and caps off her evenings by practicing gratitude. This routine is a chance to reflect on her health, home, husband, and life's blessings which counterbalances the challenges of IVF. Mari expresses a broad sense of gratitude for her life's foundation, which she sees as setting her up for success on her IVF journey.
Exercise Essential For Mari's Mental Well-Being
Another pillar of Mari's routine is exercise, which she credits with keeping her mentally well during the process. She finds that a big workout in the morning has a positive impact on her mood and outlook, suggesting that staying physically active is critical for maintaining her mental balance through the stresses of IVF.
Emotional Support From Friends and Family Crucial for Mari Despite IVF Challenges
Mari emphasizes the importance of her support network, insisting on the value of not self-isolating during such a taxing time. She regularly reaches out to friends and family whose support becomes a ...
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Coping Strategies and Support During IVF
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While prayer and gratitude can be helpful for some, they may not be effective or suitable for everyone, as individuals have different beliefs and coping mechanisms that work for them.
- Exercise is beneficial for many people, but it's important to acknowledge that not everyone may be able to engage in intense workouts due to physical limitations or health conditions, and alternative forms of stress relief may be necessary.
- Support networks are indeed important, but some individuals may find it difficult to reach out or may not have a strong support system in place, necessitating professional suppor ...
Actionables
- Create a digital gratitude wall where you post daily affirmations or things you're thankful for, using a simple app like Trello or Pinterest. This can serve as a visual reminder of the positive aspects of your life, and you can easily share it with friends or family for mutual encouragement.
- Start a virtual workout group with others who share similar challenges or goals, using a platform like Strava or Fitbit to track progress and provide support. This can help maintain accountability and foster a sense of community, which is especially beneficial if you're going through a stressful period like IVF.
- Establish a peer support chatbot using free tools like MobileMonkey or ...
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Lifestyle Changes due to Ivf Process
Mari discusses the profound shifts in her day-to-day life prompted by the demands and stresses of in vitro fertilization (IVF), indicating how the process has necessitated changes in her work life and self-care practices.
Mari's Routine Slows as Ivf Shifts Work Priorities
Mari's Transition From Fast-Paced La Life to Self-Care on Her Ivf Journey
Starting IVF, Mari has experienced a notable deceleration in the pace of her life as her work priorities shift, with heightened focus on self-care. This change has resulted in an identity shift, as she steps away from the fast-paced Los Angeles lifestyle to one that accommodates the demands of the IVF process.
Mari Adjusts Wellness Routines for Essential Self-Care While Traveling
Drawing on self-care practices becomes a cornerstone of her IVF journey. She shares that spending time with animals like chickens, dogs, and horses has been lifesaving. When discussing managing anxiety, especially at night, Mari emphasizes the importance of reading, particularly fantasy novels such as "Fourth ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Lifestyle Changes due to Ivf Process
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personalized self-care map to visually organize your priorities and activities that promote well-being during challenging times. Start by drawing a simple map that includes your home, work, and any other places you frequent. Mark spots where you can engage in self-care activities, like a nearby park for walks or a cozy corner in your home for reading. This visual aid serves as a reminder and motivator to incorporate self-care into your daily routine.
- Develop a "positivity playlist" with songs, podcasts, and audio affirmations that reinforce a positive mindset while you're on the go. Curate a collection of uplifting and soothing tracks that you can listen to during your commute, travel, or whenever you need a mental boost. This can help maintain a positive outlook and provide a sense of comfort and familiarity, especially when away from home.
- Engag ...
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Mari's Experiences During Her Recent Trip to Colorado
Mari's Colorado Trip: Girls' Getaway to Vail and Romantic Aspen Escape Provided Distraction From IVF Process
Mari sought a reprieve from the emotional weight of her IVF process through a carefully planned getaway to Colorado with her girlfriends and partner.
Activities Like Skiing, Snowshoeing, and Time With Friends Let Mari Escape the IVF Journey and Find Joy
Mari’s Colorado adventure began with a fun-filled girls' trip to Vail, marking her first true girls' outing as she had never been on one before, including bachelorette parties. Her stay at her friend Nikki's family ski house featured playful dress-up sessions, après-ski drinks, and dining with her friends. These joyful distractions allowed Mari to temporarily escape her IVF journey.
In Aspen, with her partner Greg, Mari embraced the outdoors by snowshoeing to Pine Creek Cookhouse and skiing, despite Greg's business meeting obligations. These activities, alongside shopping and cafe hopping, were part of what Mari considered her last hurrah before her impending embryo transfer.
Mari Struggled With Anxiety in Colorado While Anticipating the Embryo Transfer
Mari’s time in Colorado wasn't without its mental challenges. Conscious of her tendency to slip into anxiety, she diligently maintained a routine to keep her mental health in check, evading lifestyle habits like alcohol that could exacerbate her stress.
Mari's Anxious Thoughts Led Her to Seek Support From Her Therapist and Connect With the IVF Community on TikTok
Amidst the stunning Colorado backdrop, Mari grappled with her anxiety, particularly when alone. The silence left room for thoughts about her embryo transfer and its potential outcomes to spiral. To navigate these turbulent emotions, she leaned on her therapist for support and found solace ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Mari's Experiences During Her Recent Trip to Colorado
Additional Materials
Actionables
- You can create a personalized relaxation playlist that combines soothing music with affirmations tailored to your specific challenges. For instance, if you're going through a tough medical procedure, include songs that calm you and intersperse them with recorded affirmations that reinforce your strength and resilience. This can be done using a simple music app and a voice recording tool on your phone.
- Organize a virtual support group with people who share similar experiences, using social media platforms to facilitate regular meetings. This could be a group for individuals undergoing fertility treatments, where members can share tips, offer emotional support, and discuss their journeys in a safe, understanding environmen ...
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