Are you trying to conceive and struggling with infertility? It can be a very lonely journey that not many talk about. And while people often have good intentions, talking about it with those who have never been in your shoes can at times feel less than supportive or helpful. If you are feeling alone in your journey to have a baby, we see you, and you’re not alone.
While everyone’s journey to growing their family is unique, the longing and pain that comes with months or years of waiting and trying are felt in us all. It can be exhausting to track cycles, wait in anticipation for your period to come, and then when it finally does, wait to start trying again. The emotional toll it takes on us is so intense, more so than our partner’s. We get excited, only to have that excitement struggle to stay alive month after month. And what initially brought so much excitement and promise to our lives now begins to feel painful and never-ending.
So, what do we do when we are feeling alone in this battle? How do we continue to move forward despite the constant reminders, questions from family and friends, and growing sadness inside of us? If you are feeling alone in your journey to get pregnant, here are some ways to support yourself during this time.
- Find people who get what you’re going through and lean on them. This could be friends or family who have previously struggled, or are still struggling, with fertility and becoming pregnant. Talk to them about how you’re feeling and what you need. If you do not have family or friends to lean on, consider joining a support group for connection, like those offered through Resolve, The National Infertility Association. View support groups here: https://resolve.org/get-help/find-a-support-group/
- Set boundaries with family and friends regarding how much you desire to talk about your fertility journey, whether that looks like asking them to check in with you more frequently about this or to stop asking as many questions. Only you know what you need when it comes to family and friendships.
- Stop looking at social media posts that trigger you into feeling lonely in your fertility journey. If you are following individuals who are posting photos or information that makes you feel sad or upset, perhaps unfollow those people and instead follow ones that make you feel uplifted. There are many supportive individuals and professionals on social media actively talking about infertility.
- Start having more fun. The road to pregnancy and growing a family can be long and lonely, and to keep going, we must take time to still do things that bring us joy and allow us to have fun. Do more things that make you smile and allow your creative energy to flow, give you peace, and cause you to laugh.
- Reach out for support from a therapist or counselor who’s trained in fertility, pregnancy, and loss. If you are feeling you could benefit from talking to someone who understands how lonely this road can feel, give us a call today. We see you, we feel with you, and we are here for you.
No matter how it may feel in the moment, or how lonely the road to a positive pregnancy test can become, you are not alone
