7 Signs You Have Infertility Related Depression
Don't let infertility hijack your life.
5 July 2017
Editor
Do you feel like your entire life is focused on infertility? Is getting pregnant all you ever think of, to the point where you cannot focus on your daily life anymore?
If your answer to the above questions is yes, you may be suffering from infertility related depression and anxiety. Here are 7 other ways to know that infertility has hijacked your life and it's time to get help.
1. You think about infertility all the time.
Obviously, you are going to think of infertility when you are doing your infertility treatments.
Do you struggle to talk about anything other than infertility? Do you find yourself thinking of infertility even when you are at a party or with friends? Yeah, that might be a problem.
2. Your relationship is suffering.
Infertility not only puts a tremendous financial pressure on a couple but an emotional one too.
Arguing because of infertility, fearing that a partner will leave you because of your infertility and not having fun together as a couple are all signs that infertility is affecting your relationship.
3. You feel socially isolated.
You consciously try to stay alone and avoid Facebook (let's face it, it's the land of engaged and pregnant women), but even when you are with people you feel incredibly alone.
4. You are racked with shame and guilt.
You constantly feel guilty about not freezing your eggs, not trying earlier, not finding a partner sooner etc. You may feel guilty, but you shouldn't. Guilt is best reserved for those who knowingly did something wrong and you are not on that list.
5. You don't feel like doing anything.
Activities you once enjoyed do nothing for you. Hobbies, outings, activities seem like chores.
6. Your sleeping and eating habits go for a toss.
You either sleep 15 hours a day or not at all, you either binge eat or go days without eating; all of these habits point to a larger problem that needs to be addressed.
7. You feel worthless.
You see yourself as broken, defective and worry about people loving you less/ your partner leaving you because you are infertile.
It does not have to be this way.
Infertility can be emotionally, mentally and physically taxing, but it does not have to be the end of the world.
If you are feeling bogged down because of the stress that infertility is causing, see a qualified therapist who can help you work through your issues.
