If you’re having a hard time coping with infertility, you’re not alone. Infertility is not an easy disease to cope with. And most of the times comments from friends or family will make the things worse. But learning several things will help you to deal with this problem. Good coping skills are essential. Here are a few tips to help manage and lower the stress of infertility:

Acknowledge your feelings:

Holding everything inside does not help. It actually takes more mental energy to hold your feelings back than to express them. Allow yourself time to feel the sadness, anger, and frustration.

Seek support:

Whether through friends, professional counseling, groups, or online forums, finding somewhere to talk with people who understand can help you feel less alone.

Practice relaxation:

Learning how to relax and calm yourself can help when feelings get intense and during treatments. Acupuncture, yoga, and relaxation techniques are all possible ways to cope.

Talk to your partner:

Talk about your feelings together. Keep in mind, though, that men and women cope with stress in different ways. Women are more likely to express their sadness, while men tend to hold things inside. Neither way is wrong, just different.

Set limits on how long you're willing to try:

Some couples decide from the get-go that they won't go to extreme measures to have a baby. Others spend years and thousands of rupees exhausting all of their treatment options. No one can tell you when to stop trying to conceive — that's a decision you need to make with your partner and doctor — but you'll feel more in control of your life if you start thinking in advance about how far you're willing to go to get pregnant.

Learn as much as you can:

One of the most important things is learning about your condition, as well as your options. Read books on infertility in general as well as one that is more in line with your condition. Search the web, it is a great source of information that will make you better informed to your treatment options, your condition, as well as what to expect. The more you know about infertility, including alternatives like adoption or living child-free, the more in control you will feel.

Networking:

While it may seem that the last thing you want to do is talk to other people about your problems. It helps to communicate with other women who may be going through the same issues as you are.

Do not blame yourself:

While this may appear easier said than done, it is a very important issue. Self blame is not uncommon, and something that most couples facing infertility go through.

Don’t let infertility take over your life:

Make sure you fill your life and your relationship with other things. If it seems like infertility is all you talk about together, set a specified time each day for the topic, and use the rest of the day to talk about other things.

Learn to say no to baby related events:

You may feel obligated to go to your friends baby shower, or walk down the baby isle of a store. This may not be the best things for you to do at this time. You have to learn that saying no to social events is not always wrong, depending on how you feel. If you notice that you have hard feelings when going to a baby shower then do not go. If you notice going towards baby section of a store brings you to tears and bouts of sadness, stay clear of that part of the store. In order to protect yourself during this time, it is okay to avoid such instances.

Keep sex fun:

As mentioned above, sex can quickly become more like a chore, than a fun way to express love for each other. Try to keep things loving and exciting. Light candles, play fun music, or watch romantic movies, whatever makes you both feel good.

Consider professional help:

Many couples find that professional individual or couples counseling can help them cope with the emotional stress of infertility, and some fertility clinics insist that their patients seek counseling before and during treatment.

If you find yourself feeling constantly sad or anxious, not sleeping well or oversleeping, feeling completely isolated, or having thoughts of death and dying, then it is especially important that you speak to your doctor about your feelings.