What Infertility Feels Like

If you’re reading this and walking through infertility, first—let me gently say: you’re not alone. Whether you’ve just started trying or you’ve been on this journey for years, infertility can feel like a wave that keeps crashing when you’re just trying to catch your breath. Seeking infertility mental health counseling can make a significant difference in navigating these challenging emotions.

The truth is, infertility doesn’t just affect your body – it can take a major toll on your mind, your emotions, and your spirit. And as a therapist offering counseling in Lake Mary, I see firsthand how important it is to talk about the mental health effects of infertility with compassion, care, and clarity.

Emotional Health vs Mental Health

When you’re facing infertility, your emotional health and mental health can be impacted in different ways. Emotionally, you may be grieving the loss of what you thought this season of life would look like. You might feel sadness, frustration, or even guilt. Mentally, your thoughts may become overwhelmed with what-ifs, appointments, and the heaviness of the unknown. These experiences are deeply real—and they deserve space to be seen and supported.

It’s not about “staying positive.” It’s about being honest with how you’re feeling and giving yourself permission to seek help and healing.

Coming to Terms With Infertility

Coming to terms with infertility isn’t a one-and-done moment. It’s a process. A tender, often painful process of learning how to hold hope and grief at the same time. And that’s okay.

Maybe you’re struggling with decisions about IVF, feeling isolated from friends who are pregnant, or wondering if your body has failed you (it hasn’t, friend). These thoughts are common, and counseling can be a safe place to process them without judgment.

You don’t have to carry this alone.

Infertility Support Group Online

If you’re searching for an infertility support group online, know that virtual communities can be a powerful way to connect with others who “get it.” Sometimes just hearing someone else say, “Me too,” can breathe a little life back into your weary heart.

You can find message boards, Zoom meet-ups, or even social media spaces where people share their stories. And if you ever feel like it’s too much to take in, it’s okay to take breaks and come back when you’re ready.

Infertility Support Groups

Joining infertility support groups can help reduce the feeling of isolation. These groups offer emotional validation, tools for coping, and the comforting reminder that there is strength in community. Whether you’re walking through IUI, IVF, miscarriage, or unexplained infertility, you deserve a circle that sees and supports you.

Infertility Support Group Near Me

If you’ve ever typed “infertility support group near me” into Google while crying on the couch, you are not alone. There are local and virtual options available, and I’d be happy to help you connect to one that feels like a good fit for you.

Support doesn’t always mean having the answers—it means having someone to sit with you in the waiting.

Infertility Support Forums

Infertility support forums can be another gentle space to process your feelings in real-time. Whether it’s venting after a hard doctor’s visit or celebrating a small victory, these forums can be lifelines when you need connection and encouragement.

Just remember—your story is uniquely yours. It’s okay to take what you need and leave the rest.

Infertility Support Website

A trusted infertility support website can be a great tool to educate yourself and find hope-filled resources. Whether you’re looking for articles, blogs, or ways to advocate for your mental health, these platforms can be incredibly helpful.

Still, nothing replaces the power of one-on-one support, and that’s where counseling can offer deeper healing and growth.

Christian Infertility Support

For those who come from a faith background, Christian infertility support can provide comfort rooted in God’s love and grace. It’s a reminder that your pain matters to Him and that even in seasons of waiting and sorrow, He has not abandoned you.

If you’re navigating infertility through the lens of your faith, I offer space in counseling to wrestle, question, pray, and process with spiritual sensitivity.

Ready for Support?

Infertility doesn’t define you—but it does impact you. And if you’re feeling exhausted, confused, or overwhelmed, I would be honored to walk alongside you. My name is Christina Milazzo, and I specialize in helping women and couples navigate infertility and other life transitions with care and compassion.

Whether you’re local and looking for counseling in Lake Mary, or you’d prefer to meet virtually, I offer both in-person and online sessions to meet you exactly where you are.

Let’s take the next step together.

Call or text: 386-243-7356
Email: christinamilazzocounseling@gmail.com
Website: christinamilazzocounseling.com

You are not alone, and I’m here to help.

Feeling Left Out

“I went to brunch with a few friends today. They were all chatting about their babies, what milestones they’ve hit, funny things they do, and plans for the next baby. I smiled and nodded, trying to keep the conversation light, but inside, I felt so distant, so separate from it all. It’s like I was there, but I didn’t really belong. The weight of my silence felt so heavy.”

It’s natural to feel distant and separate when everyone around you is discussing experiences that feel so far removed from your own. It’s hard to navigate those moments, especially when you’re trying to maintain a lighthearted facade. Remember, it’s okay to feel this way; you’re not alone in experiencing these emotions. Acknowledging your discomfort is the first step toward processing it and finding the support you need.

Impact of Infertility on Relationships

“Sometimes, I wonder if they know how hard it is for me to hear those stories. I want to be happy for them, but it’s so difficult when I feel like I’m stuck in a waiting room of life, watching everyone else move on. I keep telling myself that it’s okay to feel this way, but then I feel guilty for not being able to just celebrate with them.”

Feeling jealous in this situation is totally normal. It’s essential to give yourself permission to feel those emotions without judging yourself. You’re not a bad person for experiencing jealousy; it’s part of being human. Recognizing and acknowledging these feelings can actually help you process them and move forward.

It’s okay to feel both happiness and jealousy at the same time. Both can coexist. Acknowledging both sides is healthy. Remember, your jealousy often stems from a deeper emotion that’s lingering under the surface. So, instead of pushing it away, take a curious and compassionate approach to understand what your heart is really feeling.

The Isolation of Infertility

“It’s isolating, this journey. I often think about reaching out to someone, to let them know how I’m feeling, but I hesitate. What if they don’t understand? What if they say something that makes me feel even worse? So, I keep it to myself, burying my feelings deeper. I wish I could just share my struggle, but I fear that my pain will overshadow their joy, and I don’t want to be a burden.”

Feeling isolated during infertility is such a common experience. It can be incredibly tough when you’re surrounded by friends who seem to be in a completely different place in their lives. It often feels like you’re all alone in your struggles, even when you’re right there with them.

But here’s the thing: reaching out for support is where healing can begin to take place. Connecting with others who truly understand what you’re going through can really help ease those feelings of loneliness. Whether it’s finding a support group or just chatting with someone who gets it. You need that connection and understanding.

Finding Support

One of the greatest lies we can believe when we are going through painful circumstances is that we are alone. We may feel lonely, but that doesn’t mean that we are in fact alone. Pain has a way of making us feel separate and different. But I encourage you to do your best to refrain from retreating or isolating in your pain. There are people who care and want to support you. One of my favorite support groups for infertility is Resolve, Allpaths, and Moms in the Making- which is local to Orlando, Florida and is Christian/faith-based. Both have in person and online support groups that could really help you feel connected and supported during your ttc journey.

Find a Support Group | RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association

Support Groups – AllPaths Family Building

Groups – Moms in the Making (Local to Orlando and faith based)

The Loneliness of Infertility

“I miss the feeling of connection. I miss the days when I could talk openly about my hopes and dreams without the cloud of infertility looming overhead. It’s so easy to feel alone in this, even when I’m surrounded by people who care. It’s like I’m in a glass box, watching life happen outside while I remain trapped inside, unable to break through.”

Many women feel that friends and family cannot truly understand their pain, leading to a reluctance to share their experiences. And thanks to social media, comparison and jealousy can amplify feelings of loneliness, as women compare their journey to those who seem to conceive effortlessly.

It’s true, infertility is probably one of the loneliest places to be in. That’s why I cannot stress enough the importance of doing a quick google search for a local support group or even joining a Facebook page where you can meet other women going through similar experiences. This is where social media can actually be used for good!

• Infertility Mental Health Counseling: The Mental Health Effects
• Infertility Ruined My Marriage. Healing Together.
• Miscarriage and Pregnancy Loss Trauma Counseling
• You Just Got the Infertility Diagnosis: Now What?
• Navigating the Adoption Journey: The Importance of Counseling for Couples After Infertility

Let’s Connect!

Looking for counseling services? I offer 1-1 in person or online, I would love to help you and encourage you on your journey! Please email me here and let’s chat.