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Tracy: What are some of the psychosocial issues which you see the majority of your clients needing to address and cope with?
Coach: The biggest psychosocial issue is how to fit into a society in which you feel like a misfit.
As one of my clients put it, "Everywhere I look there are babies." It seems as if the whole world has babies easily. When this isn't happening in one of my client's lives, then there is grief, disappointment and increased sensitivity with which to deal.
Most of the psychosocial issues fall under the above. That feeling of being left out of the loop occurs when your brothers and sisters have babies, when pregnancies are announced at family gatherings, etc. It occurs when you watch your mother ooh and aah over someone else's baby. It happens when you go to the mall and every woman you pass is pushing a stroller. It happens when you find out that your friends are making friends with other mothers during play groups.
A second psychosocial issue which is a sub-category of the first is the issue of grieving so young. Most of the couples and women with whom I work haven't felt much disappointment in their lives - at least not to this extent.
Facing deep and heart-wrenching grief at the age of life in which most families are being born and not lost is another out of synch place of couples struggling with infertility.
A third sub-issue psychosocially is the isolation issue. Many women in particular while undergoing infertility begin to isolate themselves more and more, leaving holes in their support systems. It's difficult to find people in your life who understand and this includes family members who are not always informed or willing to become informed.
Sometimes when a woman can find support through RESOLVE, hospital support groups or teleclasses like the ones we offer on FertilityCoach, the hole is somewhat filled. But I am always astounded at the loss of support relationships which goes with infertility."
© Tracy Morris
