Every day, women across the globe grapple with the heartbreaking reality of infertility. In fact, an estimated 6.1 million women in America experience infertility, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infertility refers to the inability to conceive or take a baby to term after one year of trying (or 6 months for women 35 or older). 

While it’s a relatively common issue many women face, the topic of infertility is rarely spoken about. Why? For one, infertility is incredibly difficult to cope with and can have an immense impact on women’s mental health. 

Research published by the North Carolina Medical Journal shares the following:

“The most common mental health concerns reported by fertility patients are symptoms of anxiety and depression. The more physically and emotionally demanding and intrusive patients’ medical treatments become, the higher the reported symptoms of anxiety and depression. Each passing monthly cycle brings a roller coaster ride of emotions such as anger, betrayal, guilt, sadness, and even hope. With each friend who announces her pregnancy and with every pregnant woman she passes in the grocery store, the patient’s anxiety and stress can become overwhelming.” 

Conversations around infertility often focus on the physical aspects of conceiving. In this post, however, we’ll discuss how infertility can affect mental health and ways in which women’s health psychiatrists can help you deal with the emotional turmoil that arises. 

What Causes Infertility?

In a majority of cases, infertility is a product of ovulation-related problems. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a hormonal disorder and one of the most common conditions that can negatively affect ovulation. 

Caused by an imbalance of reproductive hormones, Polycystic ovarian syndrome refers to the production of an abnormal amount of androgens, causing the ovaries to fail to regularly release or develop eggs. Other conditions that can cause infertility include:

• Uterine fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
• Block fallopian tubes
• Uterus deformities or abnormalities

Age is another primary reason approximately one-third of women over the age of 35 experience fertility issues. Poor nutrition, alcohol and tobacco use and weight-related problems are other factors that can lead to increased infertility risk. 

How Infertility Impacts Women’s Mental Health

Infertility and not being able to have children can be very traumatic for both women and men. Many women envision and plan to create a family of their own, and infertility can completely throw their life into disarray. 

In a similar vein, societal pressure is a very real and very powerful reality – and the inability to conceive can produce strong feelings of guilt. Infertility can cause a level of sorrow that, in many ways, is as distressing as the grief experienced after the loss of a loved one. 

According to NCBI, “Despite the prevalence of infertility, the majority of infertile women do not share their story with family or friends, thus increasing their psychological vulnerability. The inability to reproduce naturally can cause feelings of shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. These negative feelings may lead to varying degrees of depression, anxiety, distress, and a poor quality of life.”

It can truly be an emotional roller coaster for women and their partners. Each month, they experience the pressure of trying to conceive and must anxiously wait weeks before they are able to find out if they’re pregnant. Those who discover the painful reality that they’re not pregnant must repeat the cycle over and over again – circling through periods of feeling hopeful, followed by anxiety and depression with each negative test result. 

Women’s health psychiatrists help cope with all the areas of someone’s life that can be affected by Infertility. From sexual dysfunction and financial worries to relationship challenges and spiritual issues. 

How Women’s Health Psychiatrists Can Help

Coping with infertility is extremely difficult, but it’s not a battle you have to face alone. Talking to a women’s health psychiatrist and surrounding yourself with a strong support system is pivotal for protecting your mental well-being. 

The licensed, experienced professionals at Hudson Psychiatric Associates can help you overcome the negative and hurdles surrounding infertility while ensuring you find hope for the future. To learn more about our services, contact us today.

For over a year now, individuals across the globe have experienced trauma, isolation, fear and loneliness as a result of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly everyone – in some form or another – has some connection to the coronavirus – from contracting the virus to social distancing to losing a loved one. 

While the CDC’s new recommendation stating that fully-vaccinated individuals no longer need to wear masks (in the majority of situations) is certainly a step towards normalcy, many people are still grappling with anxiety, depression and a whirlwind of emotions as a result of the pandemic. 

Between the lack of in-person interactions over the past year, coupled with feelings of isolation, reconnecting with friends and loved ones is more important than ever for maintaining a healthy psychological state in our post-pandemic world. 

Getting Reacquainted with “Normalcy”

For the first time in ages, people are reintegrating themselves into society and connecting with those around them. However, resuming a “normal” life has proved to be a source of anxiety and depression for many individuals. Why? What we once considered an everyday routine has been vastly altered by shelter-in-place protocols and social distancing for such an extended period of time that simply jumping back into old patterns seems overwhelming. 

Our daily regimens are hitting the reset button, and as we cope with how to function, it’s important to remember that we are all struggling with similar battles and no one has to face this new reality alone. 

Cynthia Mulder of The Menninger Clinic shared, “People may experience a type of shock if they try to return to their old schedule. By resetting what we value, we find a new appreciation for what we no longer need and what helps us cope.”

The most crucial aspect of finding ways to help us cope in such a difficult time is via social connectivity and reconnecting with those we care about. 

Social Interaction is Vital for Mental Wellness

During the pandemic, social distancing protocols completely transformed the way we work, travel and even interact with our families. What’s more, these measures have disrupted the way we connect and interact with others. 

As naturally social creatures, we crave human interaction. Isolation and loneliness only serve to hurt our mental well-being. According to Psychology Today, “A meta-analytic review, which analyzed results of roughly 150 studies, underlines the relationship between loneliness on our health. It found a lack of social integration was more strongly associated with increased risk of death than were factors such as obesity or alcohol consumption.”

But while social interaction is important for our wellbeing, many people are finding the prospect of reentering the world both scary and anxiety-inducing. The good news? Feeling nervous, afraid or even guilty about reestablishing connections with friends and family is a perfectly normal reaction. 

Reconnecting in our post-pandemic world is important – but that doesn’t mean you have to dive head-first into it. Make choices that are comfortable for you and don’t shy away from seeking the guidance of a mental health professional to help you take those first steps. 

Some questions to start asking yourself include:

• What type of self-care routine will I follow to take care of myself? Whether that’s exercising, cuddling up for an hour a day with a good book, meditating or another practice that’ll help you establish mental wellbeing. 
• How do I plan on balancing my time at home with social time?
• How should I schedule my calendar and social interaction time to keep my anxiety from bubbling over?

While we haven’t reached the end of COVID-19 just yet, with restrictions lifting it’s imperative to make an effort to reconnect with others. Staying socially and emotionally connected is an important part of maintaining a healthy mental state after such unprecedented times. 

Looking for help coping with anxiety, depression, fear or feelings of isolation? At Hudson Psychiatric Associates, we have the tools and resources needed to help you reconnect with yourself and others as the world slowly begins returning to normal. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.

The pandemic has taken a toll – both physically and psychologically – on countless individuals across the country. There’s one group of people, however, who have faced enormous mental health impacts: expecting mothers.

Pregnancy is a beautiful gift, but it can be quite overwhelming and stressful at times. Now imagine having to give birth to a little bundle of joy in the height of one of the most unprecedented global crises in human history?

On top of unemployment, there have been long periods of quarantine, isolation, and the unfortunate loss of many lives. Women who have given birth during the pandemic or are currently pregnant are highly susceptible to developing anxiety and depression.

How Postpartum and COVID-19 Are Interconnected

For nearly an entire year, hospitals and healthcare facilities did now allow patients to have visitors or bring guests along to their appointments. Medical establishments implemented this policy to mitigate the spread of the highly-contagious COVID-19.

In the past, expecting mothers were accustomed to being surrounded by loved ones – both while attending sonograms and regular check-ups, as well as during labor. A significant other or parent would be there to hold her hand in support every step of the way.

As COVID-19 began running rampant, mothers were required to enter the hospital alone, with only medical staff for assistance as they went into labor. In addition to the lack of emotional support during the actual birth, there was no one by her side in the subsequent moments to celebrate the precious angel just brought into this world. Additionally, previously arranged help from family members in the postpartum period fell through due to quarantine, lockdown measures, and concerns of safety. Hired childcare help became nearly impossible to arrange. Because of this, we’re seeing a major impact on women’s mental health.

What Is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?

Postpartum depression was around long before the pandemic – a result of hormonal changes paired with long, sleepless nights taking care of a newborn. Combine a lack of sleep with the anxiety and worry that accompanies life as a new mother – i.e. concern over their health and well-being, and if you’re making decisions in the best interests of the baby – and it’s easy to imagine why postpartum depression has affected so many new moms. 

That sense of helplessness has only grown, as women have to digest the realities of the world around them. People are falling ill and dying daily, there’s economic and financial instability and no one knows for certain if or when “normal life” will return. It’s a lot to handle for anyone – especially those taking care of an infant.

Nationally, one out of eight women will experience postpartum depression.. Since the onset of the pandemic, that number has increased to one in every five women. Mothers normally worry about their newborn’s health – wanting to protect them from sickness and harm. But in a world where the uncertainty and challenges of COVID-19 exist, that fear is multiplied ten-fold.

Approximately 36% of new moms are now experiencing depression, an increase from the 20% reported prior to the pandemic’s arrival. 

Less Family Time

Many mothers rely on help from loved ones in the beginning stages of their infant’s life. Or, at the very least, they get to share in the joy and excitement with family, friends, and loved ones. Over the last year, social distancing protocols have barred a lot of new mothers from seeing those they care about and accepting help from family – an important part of addressing their own self-care and well-being.

Oluwatosin Goje, M.D., an OB/GYN at the Cleveland Clinic stated, “People have been separated from their loved ones for a long period of time — and delivery is a family-centered thing.”

What To Do If You’re Experiencing Anxiety or Depression in the prenatal or postpartum period- New Jersey Psychiatrists

If you’re experiencing the signs of anxiety or depression around pregnancy, ask your psychiatric practitioner about medications or strategies you can use in order to combat this common occurrence. It’s difficult experiencing symptoms during or after pregnancy, but you do not need to go through this alone. For more information on how Hudson Psychiatric Associates, LLC  can help you, contact us today.