Waiting to find out if you are pregnant after scans, medication and invasive procedures can feel emotionally overwhelming. It can be a truly distressing and difficult time. Perhaps you have intrusive thoughts or constant worries. Maybe you are constantly checking symptoms and reaching for your phone for that late night google. You may be finding it difficult to sleep and be experiencing emotional ups and downs.
It can be a challenging time for relationships adding extra tension as each partner may be handling this challenging time differently, communication between each other somehow getting lost in a time where it is most needed.
It can be excruciating for life to be carrying on as normal and we can feel detached from our day to day lives.
There may be the want to be hopeful but fear around getting hopes up and in addition to all of this it may feel like family, friends and colleagues just don’t understand or perhaps they do not even know what you are going through expecting you to be your usual self whilst you are going through one of the hardest experiences of your life.
IVF often creates a cycle of hope, anticipation, and fear of loss. During the waiting period, there is very little to do, which can leave anxiety with nowhere to go.
For many people, the emotional impact of fertility treatment is underestimated.
Fertility counselling offers a space where you do not have to manage these feelings alone.
Rather than trying to “fix” your emotions, therapy can help you understand and process the emotional strain of fertility treatment with support and compassion. You do not have to do this alone.
Counselling can support you to:
You do not need to wait until you are at breaking point-put yourself first during this difficult time. Treat yourself gently, kindly and with compassion. Perhaps counselling is one way you can offer yourself this.