How Can EMDR Therapy Help People Experiencing Infertility?
Why does infertility cause trauma?
Receiving an infertility diagnosis or having other fertility issues can leave you and your partner feeling a deep sense of loss and a lack of agency over your family planning journey. Research studies have confirmed that infertility diagnosis and treatments can have a significant impact on mental health, relationships, and day-to-day functioning.
When you decide to pursue fertility treatment to have a child, the stressors can quickly add up—the cost of treatments, pain caused by invasive medical procedures, and the feelings inadequacy or shame. Add in hormonal shifts and the sense that you have no control over the outcome, and it quickly becomes clear how infertility affects your perinatal experience, leading to emotional distress and damaging your sense of self.
How do I know if I’m experiencing reproductive trauma?
If your experience is leading to infertility trauma or reproductive trauma, you might find yourself burdened with intrusive thoughts such as:
I’m not in charge of my own body.
I’m not meant to be a parent.
I’m all alone.
I have no control.
I can’t have what I want.
I’ll never have a family.
Something is wrong with me.
I’ll never be able to get pregnant or have a healthy pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of reproductive trauma?
Left unresolved, the stress and negative self image can result in symptoms like:
Anxiety
Muscle Tension
Headaches
Irritability
Insomnia
Social Withdrawal
Hopelessness
Postpartum depression and anxiety
Self-isolation
Thankfully, getting trauma therapy is as easy as making a therapist appointment.
How Does EMDR Help People With Infertility?
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly effective and evidenced-based type of therapy that focuses on helping people heal from trauma: the anxiety, depression, and other forms of emotional distress caused by painful life experiences.
EMDR treatment can help by giving you tools and resources to reduce your emotional distress, shift from negative core beliefs, and help empower you through the your healing journey.
As a trained EMDR therapist who has gone through EMDR therapy for my own fertility and postpartum challenges, I know what it’s like to go through this—I also know that healing can happen when you get the right support. I would be honored to join you in your healing journey.
