What about distractions? I am really looking forward to the holidays and pouring all my energy into shopping and decorating and wrapping. Movies? Dumb tv?
Oh yeah- focusing on my job!

Maybe fill up your schedule with things that both keep your mind occupied and are good for conception - like yoga, acupuncture, massage, long walks, cooking organic dinners, etc.

Good luck!

I have the same type of personality. I recommend acupunture. It can help with the feelings of anxiety. It is also very relaxing. I have been acupunture and am not pregnant yet, but you do hear of women who get pregnant when they combined acupunture with there fertility treatment. Good luck with your IVF cycle.

I go back and forth, with how I am.
I see a massage therapist for other reasons, but find it helps me center myself. I also got guided meditation cd's. There are several that are only 10 mins long. But even 10 mins helps make a difference. If one day at a time is too much then do one hour or even one minure at a time. Many days I do one breath at a time. That is all we really have any ways.

It is easy and normal for us to think about the "what ifs" especially since we are let down every time AF shows up.
I agree that distraction is also a good thing. My last IVF cycle went by quick b/c I had so much going on. This time, I do not want to be as busy b/c then I may be stressed, but I have put other things in place to help relax my mind.
The meds can make it harder to stay calm, or at least that is how I feel. But you will get through it with all of us here to support you.

I want to add something from one of my meditation cd's that helps me a lot. During the meditation I am supposed to focus on either the breath going in and out of my abdomen or in and out of my nose. Sounds simple, but for someone like me who usually has at least two thoughts going on at once, it is not. As my mind wonders and I am not focusing, I would get angry with myself. One line on the cd made a difference... "If your mind wonders off one thousand times, then bring it back one thousand times." Meaning it is okay and normal to go off in thought and not be hard on yourself if you do. Just try to focus once you realize you wondered off. It really does help me quiet my mind. And any amount of quiet time in my mind makes a huge difference on my stress levels.
Did any of that make sense?

I agree with the suggestions the other women have given you - I've been doing acupuncture as I prepared for my first (and hopefully last!) IVF - which I'm right in the midst of - and I think it has helped a lot. Massage therapy has also helped my stress level - and I know I should have been doing yoga!

I too, am the same personality as you and through this whole entire process i've learned how to be patient. What helps me is working out (that centers me and relaxes me) walking my dogs, playing with them, reading, spending time with my hubby and family and i just try to stay positive. Some days are easier than others but i try to hold on to the thought of getting my BFP someday soon and being pregnant, a mom etc. Good luck.

Try absorbing yourself into your hobbies. I also found that if i did less talking about the IVF process ie injections, daily bloodtest..., and just let it "happen" helped me.I wanted to talk about other things, which would be a distraction.
Take care.

I wish I knew how to relax through all this. All I can say is I totally understand. I'm trying accupuncture to help me relax and increase blood flow. I'll let you know how it works. If it doesn't I'm going for a massage because that does help me relax. Wishing you the best.

You're not alone... I'm manic and had a total anxiety attack and break down over all of this a few weeks before I started the shots. I kid you not, I was determined to run away. I had mentally packed my bags and nearly convinced my husband that we should forget all this, forget everything, sell all our shit, move to New Zealand and start over. I came to my senses 2 weeks later. What helped me was allowing my self to completely fall apart and seeing that it got me absolutely nowhere. All the worry, paranoia, anxiety, repetitive thoughts and indecision is wasted energy. I accepted my fate and decided to embrace it, all of it. So when I find my self starting to freak out, I remind myself that the benefits of stressing are none and I try to turn it around in my head.
I have also been doing acupuncture 1x week and made a pact with my dh to be positive and to stop trying to control this. Also I find making lists and organizing my meds and keeping calendars calms me down significantly. If I can't control IVF and my body then by-gum I will control everything else - ha! Oh and stay busy. Good luck! It goes faster than you think it will.

I am an extremely neurotic person by nature. I can't think of anyway to stop stressing over things, over analysing every bit of info given to me, and pre-setting my fate. On that note...I got pregnant with twins on my first shot at IVF. You still have hope girl. If my stress didn't hurt my chances than your gonna do great.
Good luck & if you ever need to talk I'm here.

I am just like you and did 4 IUI none was successful and about to do my first IVF but was cancealed due to not producing enough follicles for IVF so did 5th IUI on my and I am still waiting for my result.
What I did to relax was acupunture. It is the best thing I did for my self and I don't know if I should say that but get closer to God and have faith in him. It really helps. God doesn't want bad for us so it will happen for you one day when you least expect it.
Godd luck u sweetie

Also i am so scared of shots as well and my Dr. put me on vaginal Del instead of Progestone shots. Other shots are not too bad.