While every fertility treatment journey is different, one thing that is true for all of them is that they can be an emotional rollercoaster. Each person’s journey can raise all of the expected feelings like anxiety, frustration, and excitement, but can also spark some other emotions that were unanticipated.
RECOGNIZE THAT THIS WILL BE A HIGHLY EMOTIONAL TIME
No matter what feelings your fertility journey triggers for you, they will probably be strong. You can help deal with these emotions by doing things like:
- Reducing the hours you spend at work, volunteering or on other major obligations including getting help with childcare, if you already have children
- Revisiting methods you’ve used in the past to successfully ease stress — like yoga, reading, meditation, writing in a journal, binge-watching your favorite shows, or just getting extra sleep
- Ensuring you have a reliable support system of friends and family who will listen to you vent, cheer you up when you are down, and celebrate your big and small successes
But overall, just acknowledging to yourself that what you may be dealing with for the next several months is going to be — no matter what happens — a highly emotionally charged time can do wonders for helping you and your partner to get through it.
SUPPORT FROM SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS
As the fertility journey can be filled with very specific kinds of highs and lows, we have a counselor on staff who has dedicated her career to helping women and men navigate the emotions that arise during the fertility journey. She is here to help you understand that the emotions you are experiencing are normal, strategize coping techniques, talk you through any decisions that are challenging and to help with education on topics related to fertility. Our goal is to help you stay balanced and focused as you pursue your dream of parenthood.