Infertility Mental Health! It’s Mental Health Awareness Month!
I was distraught when I found out that our baby no longer had a heartbeat. I mean, being hysterical was an understatement. I was induced and had to go through giving birth to my daughter, who wasn’t alive. That was traumatic.
I was concerned about Postpartum Depression which is an illness that can still affect you even if your pregnancy does not go full term. You are filled with hormones. I cried for hours, for weeks.
Before leaving the hospital, I was given a couple of resources that included a local support group by a non-profit organization. To be honest, I was skeptical about joining at first, but I’m so glad that I did. If anyone understood what I was going through, it was those ladies!
I still felt like I needed individual therapy to work on myself on a deeper level. I contacted the Employee Assistance Program with my employer, completed an evaluation, and was given a referral to see a therapist virtually.
I wasn’t a fan of my first therapist, so I decided to move forward with finding a 2nd therapist. Those of you who are concerned that you might not like your counselor or therapist. Trust me, it happens. Do not hesitate to seek another therapist. You will find your match because I did.
Below are some mental health resources for grieving parents, those suffering from infertility, and those pursuing IVF.
Therapyden– This is a quick and easy website to find local therapists and counselors in your area. There is a long list of therapists. There is a small summary of the therapist and their contact information.
Pace.group– For $89 a month, Pace brings together small groups of 7 people to work on their mental and emotional health.
Resolve The National Infertility Association-Here are Infertility support groups. You can filter by your state; you can even filter to a specific country out of the United States.
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741 if you need to text someone ASAP, this is helpful for those who may not want to speak over the phone.
Suicide Prevention Hotline (They also have separate phone numbers for those who are Deaf/HoH)
1-800-273-8255
I also suggest contacting your IVF clinic or OBGYN office for more local resources. Please feel free to contact me if you need any other resources. I will continue to create more posts with more resources in the future.
It is crucial that you find the help that you need. You’re not alone.
