You're likely confused and feeling overwhelmed with questions relating to the struggles of infertility, however, you're not alone—we are here to help.  Below please find a number of the Frequently Asked Questions that many individuals and couples face related to infertility:

Can our marriage survive infertility?

Yes, many marriages survive infertility and in fact, thrive.  When you and your partner resolve to come together in a compassionate way in order to address issues that each of you are facing, you're establishing a blueprint for many other challenges that you can may face during your marriage.

Sometimes marriage—like life—doesn't go as we'd hoped.  Coming together during a crisis is a major accomplish for any couple and an important lesson as to what we're capable of. While this journey may be painful and challenging now, facing it together with compassion and loving kindness, both for yourselves as individuals and your marriage, will provide you with a strong foundation and confidence that you can weather storms that may arise, together.  And in fact, grow closer and stronger, no matter what you may face.

How does stress relate to my infertility?

Hearing someone tell you to just relax and "it'll happen" can be annoying.  Of course, it's difficult to relax when you want a baby—something that is so seemingly easy for everyone else.  There are physical ways to de-stress of course, but also emotional ones such as practicing relaxation and mindfulness.  

Dr. Domar, Executive Director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health Studies shared a study showing that clients who opted for therapy when facing infertility were twice as like to become pregnant than those who had not. You are taking an important first step.

How can we reduce our stress?

It's important that you're asking this question. Many of us assume that stress is simply a part of life now, but the fact that you're interested in becoming more mindful regarding the stress you're under, shows motivation to change—an important first step.  Together, we'll create strategies and to help you both cope and self-sooth during this particularly stressful time including:

• Working together to address—and reframe—the negative or distorted thinking that tends to take hold.  Counseling, as mentioned above, is extremely effective in facing the emotional and psychological struggles of infertility; we're looking forward to being of help to you in this area
• Sharing your emotional struggles with your partner in order to remain connected; count on each other for strength as you discover ways to integrate relaxation and mindfulness into both your lives
• Engaging in moderate exercise such as walking on a regular basis to remain in healthy physical shape
• Eating properly and being particularly mindful as to whether you may be eating more processed, sugary foods in an effort to comfort yourself or self-sooth

What options do we face as a couple following our diagnosis of infertility?

Giving you and your partner time and space in exploring your options is important as is being cognizant of your expectations.  We are here for your emotional and psychological needs and you may also be working closely with other professionals such as fertility specialists. 

Managing your expectations and exploring options is a significant step for every individual and couple and is an individual journey of discovering what is best for you and your marriage.  We can help you explore your feelings around options such as:

• Adoption
• Fertility treatments
• Artificial insemination
• In Vitro Fertilization

We're so pleased that you are here and anxious to take this important first step.  We are sensitive to the emotional pain that you and your partner are experiencing and can help.

The benefits of therapy are transformational when facing such an emotional roller coaster. The unfamiliar stressors surrounding infertility can affect even the strongest relationships—and negatively affect the chance of becoming pregnant as stress plays such a critical role in conception.

Together we can explore and help you navigate a number of issues that you may be struggling with.  We offer a supportive, gentle environment for you and your partner to share your most intimate feelings and help you cope with stress and anxiety relating to:

• Stressors in your relationship given the feelings of lack of control and uncertainty
• A lack of self-compassion that can result as you both face challenging emotions that often accompany infertility such as sadness, guilt and shame
• Grief surrounding miscarriage for you both as a couple as well as individually
• An abundance of advice from others, including in-laws
• Unique situations that your culture may present
• Unfamiliar and difficult, sometimes painful, medical procedures
• Emotions surrounding the costs of medical procedures and their financial toll
• The extra burden of time commitments for various doctor’s appointments and medical procedures

HOW TO GET STARTED

Please give us a call today at (217) 345-4642 or contact us via the form below so that see how we can best be of help.  We look forward to hearing from you.