Infertility and Blame

During infertility, we can often blame ourselves for everything. This episode is about what that feels like, and WHY we do that!Blame shows up when we’re desperately trying to make sense of the senseless. It can feel protective, even logical, but it slowly chips away at our sense of worth and hope. In this episode, we explore how blame sneaks into our thinking, what it does to our bodies and relationships, and how we can gently move toward compassion instead of self-criticism.Jesse and Doug dive into the topic of blame. Blame is part of a larger story about control, vulnerability, and the longing for answers. Understanding it can transform how we see ourselves and how we move through infertility. Together we explore how blame forms, why it sticks, and what it means to slowly let go of it.Help Make This Podcast Happen!We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

Infertility is always overwhelming. When you are feeling sensitive, it's almost unbearable.In this episode, Jesse is joined by our wonderful process group leader, Krista! Together, they explore what infertility is like for sensitive people. If you feel like you are a more sensitive person, this episode is for you! If you feel like you have ever been sensitive during infertility, this episode is for you!Help Make This Podcast Happen!We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

Infertility is deeply physical. It's physically really hard.On the Infertility Feelings Podcast, we often talk about the mental and emotional challenges of infertility. In this episode, we are jumping into the PHYSICAL challenge.We have the honor of speaking with Dr. Meredith Brower, MD, from Reproductive Partners Medical Group in Beverly Hills. She is an excellent guide to what someone goes through physically when they are going through fertility treatment at a clinic. In this episode, we talk about all the ways that infertility physically impacts your life and what that means for your mental, emotional, and physical health. Learn more about Dr. Brower here! reproductivepartners.com/doctors/meredith-browerHelp Make This Podcast Happen!We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

Infertility can make you feel old, at 28! Infertility messes with your own view of your age. Sometimes you get told that you have all the time in the world. That "you're young" and "you still have time." Then, in a weird twist, people will say, "You don't have forever."There are SO many emotions that come up when we talk about infertility and your age. In this episode, we are looking at all of them. We look at why Doug wanted to be a young age when he was a dad. We look at what people usually hear when it comes to their age. If you have ever felt like your age is bringing up feelings in your infertility story, this episode is for you. Help Make This Podcast Happen!We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

Infertility and God. There is a lot, where do we start?Many people believe in God. Not everyone, but many. For those who believe in God and believe that they have a relationship with God, infertility might be hurting that relationship. Infertility might be changing how you view God or putting pressure on your thoughts about God. This episode is all about that. In this episode, we talk about the ways in which thoughts on God might be changing and what infertility does to a relationship with God. This episode is not trying to convince anyone to believe in God and does not advocate for one religious perspective. If you have thoughts about God and infertility, this episode is for you. Help Make This Podcast Happen!We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

Sometimes, when we are going through infertility, it can feel like we are letting people down. This episode is about what that feels like. But first, You are NOT letting anyone down. Infertility let US ALL down. During infertility, it can feel like your reality is making other people sad or disappointed.Many say they feel like they are letting their spouse down. Many people say they are letting their parents down. (They want them to be grandparents so bad) Many people say they are letting their friends down. (They aren't the same way they used to be in the friend group)All these feelings are overwhelming! What do you do when you feel like you are letting people down? Well... you listen to this episode!Help Make This Podcast Happen!We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted. Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

When is infertility annoying? Always. Those thoughts and MANY more on today's episode of The Infertility Feelings Podcast. Yes, there are many major pains during infertility, and there are very real traumas. But we rarely talk about millions of little things that annoy us when we are struggling to get pregnant. From talking about "fertility stuff" to the nagging reality that we are STILL trying to get pregnant, infertility annoys at the deepest level. Help Make This Podcast Happen! We invite you to join the Uniquely Committed and help make this podcast happen. Learn more at uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedThis podcast is produced by Uniquely Knitted.  Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

In this episode, we explore what it feels like to be emotionally stuck during infertility. (It sucks BTW)We talk about the numbness, the overwhelm, and the longing for clarity when everything feels murky. You’ll hear real stories and reflections on why infertility can make you feel paralyzed, and what it actually means to start “moving” again—emotionally, relationally, and personally.This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt frozen in place during infertility.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

Feeling left out because you don't have kids is one of life's cruelest aches. Feeling like friends, community, and life are moving on without you hurts more than anyone could imagine. This episode is about that. In this episode, we dive into the deep ache of feeling left out during infertility and how isolating it can be when your story doesn’t match everyone else’s milestones. We unpack what it really means to “fit in” versus truly belong, and why the difference matters so much when you’re longing for connection but feel stuck on the outside. If you’ve ever wondered where you fit when your path looks different, this conversation is for you.Uniquely Knitted exists to transform the experience of infertility. Our mission is to heal the traumas of infertility, miscarriage, and loss, and to end the isolation that comes with struggling to conceive. We achieve this by providing innovative, evidence-based preventative mental health support to those fighting to grow their families.Discover more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show

What does the research say about infertility and mental health? How should we approach our mental health in light of what the research says?This episode will answer these questions!Doug and Jesse are joined by Infertility Researcher, Professor, and Therapist, Dr. Brennan Peterson, to explore the research behind the mental health impact of infertility. In this episode, we talk about how infertility is a developmental interruption, how infertility stigma increases our search for meaning in life, and how openness helps us during infertility. Dr. Brennan Peterson is a professor in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy.  He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at Chapman University for 20 years and is a licensed marriage and family therapist.  He researches the mental health implications of infertility and counseling interventions for couples experiencing fertility treatment. He has published over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, which have been cited over 4,500 times.  He has presented his work in the United States, Israel, Canada, Europe, China, Hong Kong, and Australia.  https://www.chapman.edu/our-faculty/brennan-petersonMyJourney was developed by Cardiff University Fertility Studies, in collaboration with APFertilidade - Portuguese Fertility Association and Fertility Network UK. It is research-based and user-led, with participation from health professionals and people who could not have the children they wished for.https://myjourney.pt/Uniquely Knitted is a Non-Profit Organization serving all who are emotionally affected by infertility. We are on a mission to bring healing to the traumas of infertility and end the isolation that comes with struggling to grow your family.Learn more at uniquelyknitted.orgJoin the giving club for just $5 a month today! uniquelyknitted.org/uniquely-committedSupport the show