It can be hard – we get it. Trying to conceive can have an impact on your mental health and yet it’s often left out of conversations. If you’re experiencing fertility problems, you may find it affects many aspects of your life, making it difficult to escape from.
It’s quite common for people to feel shame, guilt or low self-esteem, but we shouldn’t have to feel this way. We know this is hard and we don’t want to tell you, “Just relax, it’ll happen once you stop trying.” There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to looking after your mental health. It’s very individual and you may want to explore a few different options to find out what works best for you. Here are some tips you may want to consider:
- Identify things that trigger you and try to avoid them if you can
That could include politely declining invitations to children’s birthday parties and establishing boundaries with that helpful aunt and her unsolicited advice. - Meditation
Guided meditations can help focus your attention and breathing, which can help with relieving anxiety. - Journaling
Journaling or writing down your thoughts and feelings to better understand them can help lessen their impact on you. - Acupuncture
Acupuncture can be a great stress management tool, plus you get an hour in a cosy room with someone who is often fertility support trained. - Yoga
Yoga can promote the same benefits as meditation, with the added perk of stretching and strengthening your muscles. - Open up
Talking it out can help fight any overwhelm you may be feeling. Whether you confide in a friend or family member, a fertility counsellor, a fertility coach or an online support group, sharing the load can be helpful.