Struggling Mentally

[Anonymous]

I've dealt with depression for years and I'm sure the roller coaster ride that is infertility treatment has not helped. I'm supposed to start a retrieval cycle next week, but I'm feeling pretty down and I'm not sure if I should go forward. I hate to waste the time and I have almost met my out of pocket requirement for insurance so it will be almost free if I complete the cycle this year. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

go for it if it'll help with the peace of mind. hugs to you.

[Anonymous]

Yes, big hugs. Try to stay positive. If you can afford massage or acupuncture, you should. Also, make sure your Vitamin D levels remain high. Sit out in the sun every day for 15 min.

[Anonymous]

If you are feeling very overwhelmed at the moment, I would consider delaying for a month and using the month to really focus on your mental health with therapy/meds/whatever works for you. I also struggle with depression and for me active treatments really exacerbated it - in addition to the stress of the process, for a lot of people (including me) the hormonal swings can also really trigger/exacerbate depression. I have taken a few 1-2 month breaks at various points in my IVF journey when my mental health wasn't up to active treatment (I am in fact currently in one), and it has definitely helped me.

[Anonymous]

OP, make sure your Vitamin D levels are normal. Sometimes a lack of vit D can really wreak havoc on you. Try to at least sit in the sun/outside for a few minutes every day.