Are you experiencing infertility? Emotional stress and anxiety related to infertility can be all-consuming. The good news is that counseling for infertility can help.
Emotional stress can vary from person to person. The stress brought on by infertility is usually not one single emotion. You may be experiencing a sea of emotions like fear, stress and anxiety to name just a few.
Having a baby may be all you can think about. It may be all you talk about. Sit down for coffee – – think about a baby. Brush your teeth – – think about a baby. Take a shower – – on and on it goes. Your mind may be left with little else after your thoughts are consumed with having a baby and the infertility struggles you may be experiencing.
Infertility Pressure
Infertility is grueling, to say the least. You may be experiencing societal pressure – – meet “the one”, get married, have a baby.
You may be experiencing judgment by friends and family for being childless. Even well-meaning friends and family can make hurtful comments like “You’ve been married 2 years. So, where’s the baby?!” They may not know you’ve been trying for months or years to conceive but that does little to dull the pain brought on by their careless words.
Let’s not forget about the pressure we put on ourselves. How many of us have mapped out or lives before we really lived them – – “I’ll have the perfect job by 25, married at 27, and 2.5 kids by the time I’m 30.” Does that sound vaguely familiar? So many of us think these things come easily. Maybe we have seen them come easily for those around us…our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers.
What happens when our plans fall flat? We inevitably ask “Why me?”. Or we blame ourselves for being inadequate (WE ARE NOT INADEQUATE). We feel like a failure (WE ARE NOT FAILURES). And with every negative thought, we lose a little more of who we were.
Living with Infertility
Fear, stress and anxiety are all typical emotions brought on by infertility. What happens when those emotions go unchecked?
Activities we once enjoyed seem like little to no consequence now. Sex is just another added item on the never-ending “to-do” list. Our emotional and sometimes physical well-being suffer. It is exhausting to explain our reproductive challenges over and over again. Family and friends may mean well, but it all just hurts.
Counseling for Infertility Stress and Anxiety Does Help
I want you to know that you are not alone. Even more importantly, you are certainly not to blame. Be kind to yourself. Find your most compassionate inner-voice.
It helps to acknowledge your feelings. Your feelings are NEVER wrong. They are yours. Acknowledge them. Feel them. Find acceptance of them.
Find the supporters in your life. Lean on the support from those you love and that love and support you in return.
The good news is that stress and anxiety related to infertility is treatable and you can feel better. Counseling for infertility (talk therapy) is effective. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner you will start to feel better and begin enjoying your life again.
My office in Washington, PA is warm and inviting. It’s a place where we can sit, grab a drink, relax and just talk.
If you have any questions or would like to get to know me a little better, please call (724) 503-6670 or email me at admin@inthenowcounseling.org. You can also reach me on Facebook and Instagram, too.