Infertility and Letting People Down

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.orgSupport 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.orgSupport 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.orgSupport 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.orgSupport 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.orgSupport the show

How are we supposed to think about our story of infertility? How are we supposed to talk to people about our story of infertility?How do you bring it up? What do you tell people? Should you just avoid people? How do you handle small talk? How do you talk about your story!?These are the questions that Doug and Jesse are bringing to Katie Quesada today. Katie is a Professional Storytelling Consultant and an expert in helping people understand their story and talk about it in an effective way. Learn more about Katie 👉 katiequesada.comFollow Katie online 👉 instagram.com/katiequesadaUniquely 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.orgSupport the show

Infertility is scary. There are so many truly terrifying things. What if things don't work out? What if we can't have kids? What if... In this episode, Jesse and Doug look at infertility and fear. What is it that we are truly afraid of during infertility? What does it cost us when we push off the fear we have during infertility?These are the questions looked at in this episode!If infertility has ever made you feel fear, then this episode is for you. 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.orgSupport the show

For many, infertility leads to isolation.But what does that mean? Is that a bad thing? Do we need to get out of isolation? How do we escape isolation without opening ourselves up to all the bad advice people have? These are the questions answered in today's podcast!Jesse and Doug look at what it feels like to be isolated during infertility and provide two clear steps to come out of isolation in a healthy way. If you feel like infertility has ever made you feel isolated, this episode is made for you!Uniquely Knitted is a non-profit organization that serves all those emotionally impacted 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.orgLearn about our Process Group at uniquelyknitted.org/group-sign-upSupport the show

In this episode, Doug and Jesse explore how infertility creates a deep sense of loss of control and emotional chaos during infertility. We talk about all sorts of ways that infertility makes us feel out of control and how losing control shows up differently for each of us. We break down the following ideas...Dynamics and Coping Mechanisms when we Feel Out of ControlWe look at how contrasting coping styles during infertility can lead to tension in our lives and our relationships.Loss of Control and the Reproductive NarrativeWe each have a reproductive narrative, a story we told ourselves about how things would go. Infertility disrupts our expectations of family-building, forcing a reimagining of our story that feels very out of control. Embracing the Loss of ControlFor many of us, grief will be part of what helps us release control and find unexpected freedom in acceptance.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 about our Process Groups uniquelyknitted.org/groupsSupport the show

Infertility can make it hard to prioritize your mental health, especially when success feels just around the corner. In this episode, Jesse and Doug explore the challenges of self-care during this journey and offer a real path forward.If you've struggled to care for yourself while pursuing your dream of growing your family, know you're not alone. This episode is here to remind you that you are worthy of care and support.Want to know more about process groups? uniquelyknitted.org/group-sign-upUniquely 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.Support the show