8 tips to overcome stress during Infertility treatment

1. 8 Tips to Overcome Stress During Infertility Treatment Infertility is a rare condition wherein there are changes in the reproductive system that prevents the conception of children. It is often related to a lot of stress and anxiety as the prospect of not being able to conceive and being excluded from the joys of parenthood could be very hard to accept. Marital distress is common when it comes to infertility, and it often leads to the unreasonable perception that all the pain will melt away if there is a child, and not having one would only make things worse. Some couples strengthen your bonds while some drift apart due to infertility stress. When you confront such a situation, it is crucial to separate personal feelings and expectations which have been forced upon you by others. That is, couples going through infertility stress may end up comparing themselves to peers or relatives who have children who would fuel the feelings mentioned above of stress and anxiety. If the couple is seeking treatment, the financial aspect of the situation would stress the couple even more. Not being entirely invested in the treatment processes would make the couple feel like it is a burden. Since these treatments are costly, it might not be affordable for everyone. Therefore, it could meddle with the financial setup of the couple as they have to set aside money for treatment apart from bills, tax, and so on. Let us go through the steps to overcome Infertility Stress - 1. Clear your Questions and Fears Dealing with infertility stress is not easy, especially when you feel isolated and burdened with questions. In such a situation, it is advised to get surrounded by people who can clear all your doubts sensibly and understand your fears and concerns. Another option is to join a local group or meet other infertile couples, just so that you do not feel alone in the struggle. 2. Stay Connected to your Family and Friends A great deal can control infertility stress if people who love and support they surround the couple. Having friends and family by your side would give you comfort, and it would be easier to manage your life when you have people to help you. For example, they would be able to cook your food and clean your house a bit so that when you come back home, you would instantly feel relaxed from the pressure. 3. Communicate with your Partner Though being infertile does not always end a marriage, it can take a significant toll on the couple. Feelings such as resentment, self-doubt, inadequacy and pressure would go by the

2. minds of both partners, and if left unspoken, it can create barriers between the couple. You and your spouse may have different methods of coping with the stress, but it is necessary to talk to each other and understand their way of dealing with the problem. Reassurance and support can go a long way in the case of such couples, and they might even be able to come out of it happy and closer than ever. 4. Learn not to Suppress Both the male and female partner should understand that even though infertility stress can get overwhelming, it is not ideal for suppressing their feelings of hurt and self-doubt. It will only cause more stress and would cause the couple to isolate themselves and feel lonely. It should be noted that you should surround yourself with people who understand and vent all your feelings of anger, guilt or sorrow. By addressing and releasing your emotions, you would feel supported and optimistic about their condition. 5. Keep Yourself Occupied It is necessary that the couple does not lose their sense of individuality amidst the infertility stress. Therefore, you should carry on with your hobbies, and do things you enjoy doing the most, alone or with your spouse. Be it painting, gardening or dancing; it could take away the stress and bring some normalcy in your lives. 6. Yoga or Meditation Both partners could do yoga, maybe daily or a few times a week to reduce infertility stress. Another right way to calm down is by practising deep-breathing techniques, either alone or with your partner. One exercise involves sitting comfortably, with eyes closed and taking slow, long and deep breaths. You would be able to feel the pressure melting away and relaxation coming in. 7. Keep a Journal Keeping a journal can be comforting as you would feel free enough to write down whatever you are going through. Without much judgements or sympathy, you would be able to cope with infertility stress on your own. 8. Maintain a Healthy Diet Among all the stress, it is vital to keep your health in check and maintain your diet. If you are going through a period of stress, try to reduce the intake of salt, sugar, saturated fats and white flour. Other items to avoid would be alcohol, caffeine, black tea and hot cocoa. The primary point to keep in mind is that even though there is infertility stress, you would be able to cope with it if you are emotionally and physically close to your partner. Hence, try to be around people who make you happy and do the things that you love the most. There are alternative ways of having a child such as adoption, surrogation and many more, which you can navigate through with your partner. In case, if you wish to give one more try, you can also visit Dr. Shweta Goswami ​to cure your infertility.