Looking after your mental health during a pandemic

Lockdown. Coronavirus. Isolation. There’s a lot going on right now. You can’t be blamed for feeling confused, lost or isolated…especially if you are going through fertility treatment.

The pandemic has turned our lives upside down but that doesn’t mean you need to give up hope of becoming a mum or dad or that you are on your own.

To help you through this time we have compiled a list of 7 helpful tools to help you and your mental well-being during this time.

1. Be kind to yourself

Don’t just think it, do it. Do something to be kind to yourself or others, then remind yourself of these kind gestures. When others take the time to be kind to you, then be sure to remind yourself of how grateful it made you feel. Did you know that both acting kind and being able to recall kindness are known to improve a low or anxious mood.

2. Identify a calm yet focussed activity

Classes may be cancelled but exercise videos such as yoga or meditation are readily available, and they can help you to calm your feelings and focus on a way forward. Here at TFP, we offer FREE online fertility weekly yoga classes for that very reason. Join us every Thursday 17.45-18.45 (GMT) where Julie Bolitho, a Kripalu yoga instructor, teaches mindfulness, stretching and deep relaxation.

3. Focus on your breathing

Paying close attention to your breathing can help to ease the panic. Try breathing in for 3 seconds, holding your breath for 4 seconds and then breathing out for 5 seconds. A few sets of these when you feel panic set in should help you to regain a sense of calm and consistency.

4. Fear setting

Fear is normal, particularly during a time of such turmoil. You may have a lot weighing on your mind, from your treatment to your job, the well-being of loved ones and money. Take these fears and clarify them, the likelihood of your fears being realised, if your fears are rational, what the best and the worst-case scenarios would be and what is in and out of your control. These thought processes can help you evaluate fears and help you to manage them.

5. Support one another

You are both in this together, and if you feel you need support, then it’s likely your loved one does too. Being gentle, taking the time to listen and being there will help you both to look after each other. If you are both climbing the walls, then try to get out and take a long walk or do something you haven’t done in a long time, like a board game.

6. Deal with negative thoughts

It might be easier to try and forget about negative thoughts and feelings, but you could try writing them down, then throwing the paper and that negative thought away.

7. Visualisation

Visualising positive outcomes during negative times can help you to remember what is important to you and what you are working towards. Daydreaming is not just for children!

Get in touch with your local clinic, to start your fertility journey!