Stress reduction tips
Macular degeneration can be stressful - from a new diagnosis to eye injection anxiety. Does anyone have tips for reducing stress when worried about vision loss? Do you find that when you feel stressed, it affects your eyesight? If so, how do you manage that?
I try to focus on the positives in my life. It also helps me to read the inspiring stories our community members share about life after loss of central vision. Sharon Moore Advocate
thanks for sharing this great tip! I'll definitely try to incorporate it more into my own life! - Sonia, MacularDegeneration.net Team Member
I do a couple of things to relieve my anxiety I do a controlled breathing exercise one I learned on the app HeadSpace, it has been a big help to me. I also tell my voices to bring me a better thought, with practice I have gotten quite good at this. I learned how to do this a few years ago from the book "Solve for Happy" For me it works. I also have some other breathing techniques from over the years that help quite a lot. I do meditate, sometimes a few minutes hear and there and that helps as well as a long meditation. I practice gratitude, I get outside and I play music. I distract myself by listening to audio books, or read. I do various things of course not all at the same time. I need an arsenal some days to survive all that goes on.
Your tips for handling the stress of living with MD are so helpful. I learned to use breathing exercises when I had panic attacks. It really helps calm me. Blessings, Sharon Moore Advocate
Not allowing macular degeneration to rob you of your joy can be challenging. What helps me a lot is my daily meditation practice. I love the guided meditations from Calm.com and there are many free apps that can be accessed. Keeping positive is so important with an AMD diagnosis. Linda Hoopes, Team Member
Macular degeneration can be a stressful experience for many people, especially when dealing with a new diagnosis or the anxiety of receiving eye injections. I could share some tips for reducing stress. Learning more about macular degeneration and the available treatments can help alleviate some of the stress associated with the condition. Talk to your eye doctor or seek out credible sources of information online to learn more. Sharing your feelings and concerns with others who understand what you're going through can be helpful. Relaxation techniques like Deep breathing exercises, meditation, and yoga reduce stress and promote relaxation, massage therapy techniques.
It's important to remember that stress can hurt your eyesight, so taking steps to manage stress and prioritize your eye health can be beneficial in managing macular degeneration.thank you for sharing your tips for managing stress related to macular degeneration. Stress affects our health including vision. I found this website when I was searching for information on dry macular degeneration. It was so helpful to find useful information with a community that understands. Warm regards, Sharon Moore patient leader 
Thank you so much for sharing these tips! Have you found that any of these especially have helped you? Would love to hear your personal experience. All the best, Abby (Team Member).
