Trying to Conceive and Mental Health — How to Cope With the Wait
Trying to conceive (TTC) is often painted as a time of hope and excitement. But for many people, especially when it doesn’t happen quickly or predictably, TTC becomes a source of deep emotional pain. If you’re in the middle of this journey, you may be silently grappling with anxiety, grief, resentment, or even shame. You’re not alone — and what you’re feeling is valid.
The Emotional Toll of TTC
When you’re trying to get pregnant and each month brings a negative test, it’s easy to start questioning everything. The emotional toll might show up as:
Obsessively tracking symptoms and cycles
Feeling triggered by pregnancy announcements or baby showers
Guilt for feeling jealous or angry
A sense of failure or disconnection from your body
Strain in your relationship or intimacy
TTC is not just a medical journey — it’s an emotional one, too.
Why This Journey is So Hard (and So Invisible)
One of the hardest parts of infertility or delayed conception is the isolation. Unlike other losses or challenges, it’s rarely acknowledged or discussed openly. You may feel like you must keep your emotions “in check” or that you’re not allowed to grieve something that hasn’t happened.
But grief doesn’t need permission. And neither does hope, fear, anger, or sadness.
Ways to Cope While You Wait
Create boundaries. It’s okay to step back from triggering conversations or social media accounts.
Ground yourself in routines that help you feel supported and nourished, regardless of cycle outcomes.
Practice emotional expression. Journaling, movement, and therapy can help you process what you're feeling.
Connect with others. Whether through a support group or 1:1 therapy, finding people who understand can reduce the weight of isolation.
Therapy Can Help
As a reproductive mental health therapist, I work with many clients navigating the mental and emotional layers of TTC. Whether you’re just starting or have been on this path for a while, you don’t have to go through it alone.
This is a tender, uncertain time — but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one.