Navigating infertility's emotional journey, featuring Jill Smith of Jill Smith and Associates Counseling
Infertility is an emotional rollercoaster that can leave those experiencing it feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and uncertain about the future.
To help navigate these complex emotions, we sat down with Jill Smith, CEO of Jill Smith and Associates Counseling and a compassionate and experienced therapist, to offer valuable insights on managing the mental and emotional toll that often accompanies this journey.
Q. What are common emotional reactions to infertility, and how can people manage them?
A. Feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, longing, emptiness, and anger abound with infertility. Couple relationships can also suffer because often our partner is the only one who knows the extent of the trying and failing, the huge medical costs, and decision points that are endured. So, we take things out on each other and bring our angriest self behind closed doors.
Q. Are there specific coping strategies or therapies that are effective for managing infertility-related stress?
A. Because our partners know the entire story of our infertility journey this can also be a huge plus to coping. You can learn to turn to each other to share the rollercoaster of emotions that can come from seeing a pregnant stranger at the store. Couples therapy can be a huge gift to give yourselves during this time.
Q. What role does self-care play in managing mental health during infertility treatment?
A. Self-care is the art of tuning into our deepest selves to take care of us, not relying on others to do this for us. Self-care is always available when we need it, it lives within. So, in the super stressful time of an infertility journey, stopping to ask ourselves what we need, what would help is critical.
Do we need to cry and feel the pain or lay in bed and be still? Do we need to pamper? To talk? To go to social media and find anonymous connections? Do we need to skip that co-worker baby shower or that trip to the store to buy the baby gift for a friend? My favorite: Do we need to go to our therapist and lay it all out there, without any judgement?
Q. What are some ways to maintain hope and motivation throughout the infertility journey?
A. Our community is paying more and more attention to women's reproductive health and Rosé Resilience is one fabulous example. In the recent past, women have felt alone, ostracized and ashamed around their fertility issues.
You are so not alone. Women of all walks of life are experiencing problems with fertility, endometriosis, cysts, and other challenges that affect our reproductive organs, rights, and possibilities. Talking and sharing with others can literally be life changing.
At Jill Smith and Associates Counseling, we are starting a group solely for women and their partners with infertility issues. Call us (803-814-5559) to inquire and get on our info list.