Tips For Coping With Fertility Struggles This Christmas

Christmas can be a particularly challenging time when you're struggling to conceive. It can seem like everyone around you is having the perfect Christmas while you might find the festivities daunting.

So, to help you have a happy and healthy Christmas, we've put together some tips to help you manage the stress of fertility problems over Christmas:

Remember Your Life Before Fertility Issues

It's easy to become consumed by your fertility problems but it's important to remember who you were and what you enjoyed before this experience so you can try to recapture some of that. If you're in a relationship, try to plan an activity that you haven't had a chance for in a while, e.g. something you used to do at the beginning of your relationship. This can help remind you of what you love about each other and hopefully put your fertility issues aside, even if just for a few hours. If you're not in a relationship, arrange to meet or even have a phone call with a friend - a good chinwag with a close friend can be one of the best (and cheapest) therapies available.

Learn To Say "No"

There may be certain social occasions that you find difficult over the Christmas period. If this is the case, you should try to avoid being pressurised into attending these events. If you don't feel confident enough to outright refuse the invitation you could suggest an alternative that might be easier for you, e.g. meeting your friend for a coffee rather than visiting them and their family at home. If there is an event that you simply can't avoid, try to confide your anxieties to a trusted friend who'll be there too, it can help having someone there who can support you and steer the conversation away from any difficult topics.

Accept That You May Find Christmas Difficult

It's not unusual for fertility patients to struggle with stress and anxiety at Christmas so it's good to be prepared for this by planning some relaxing activities. There are various activities that have been proven to help with stress, but it's important to choose something that you enjoy.

You may find one of the below helpful:

• Baking and cooking
• Meditation
• Reading
• Drawing
• Going for a walk with a friend

Prepare For Difficult Questions

Meeting old friends and family at Christmas increases the likelihood that you might be asked about your plans to start a family. It's a good idea to anticipate this and prepare an answer that you feel comfortable with in order to avoid getting flustered if you are asked an awkward question.

If you are struggling during your fertility journey, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us so we can help guide you.