Infertility is an emotional, physical, and mental struggle for many married couples. An infertility diagnosis can be a devastating blow to your sense of self-worth and identity as a man or woman. It often creates feelings of isolation, fear, frustration, and anger. This blog post will go over 6 steps you can take to improve your coping skills with infertility so that you can enjoy the rest of your life.
- Acceptance
The first thing that you must do is accept the diagnosis. This can be extremely difficult to do, especially if you are actively trying for a baby. The moment you accept what you are feeling and going through, you will be on your way to healing. Acknowledge your feelings and allow yourself to feel them
- Identify Your Triggers
When you know what triggers your emotions, it becomes easier for you to avoid them or learn how to cope with them when they do come up. You may find that parenthood is a trigger and decide not to attend family gatherings where children are present until you feel ready. And, do not feel bad about it. Your friends and family should understand that you are trying to heal and take care of yourself.
- Keeping a Journal
Writing your feelings down in a journal is very therapeutic, especially if it is something that you do not want to discuss with anyone else or say out loud. You may find yourselves often crying when reading through the pages later on, but this is okay too, as long as you choose to learn from the experience.
- Find Supportive People in Your Life
It’s important that the people around you support you during this time so you can heal together as a couple and continue moving forward towards your goal of having a baby. If there isn’t anyone who has gone through infertility struggles before, then seek out others online who have also been diagnosed with infertility and join some conversations about coping skills if necessary.
- Seeking Professional Help
If needed, seek professional help for support during these difficult times. Many options are available, including counselors who specialize in infertility issues or even joining an infertility support group where others can share stories and advice about their own experiences dealing with fertility. So much so, you can go to a reputable reproductive facility such as RCC fertility clinic and work with a specialist to review your and discuss potential options.
- Be optimistic and take care of yourself
There is a lot that life throws at us, and many times it’s hard to stay positive. But, try your best during this time to be optimistic about the future. Additionally, take care of yourself by eating healthy foods, sleeping well at night, taking necessary supplements, engaging in self-care activities like massage, meditation, yoga, etc.
Conclusion
Dealing with infertility can feel very lonely and isolating at times, but know that you are not alone. There is a community of people out there who can relate to your feelings and experiences with infertility. Reach out if need be and stay positive as much as possible.