Anxiety in assisted reproduction treatments: Can we avoid it?
Since the return to the new normal, we find many patients with higher levels of nervousness and anxiety in the clinic. The international medical situation, the possible stoppages in treatment experienced at the beginning of the year, or the doubts of returning or not, to try now, haunts the minds of many patients. Therefore, we wanted to ask Diana Guerra, psychologist at IVI Barcelona, on the relationship between anxiety and assisted reproduction treatments, especially among patients who have resumed a treatment paralyzed by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has probably greatly changed the way you live your lives, and it is normal, as it has brought uncertainty, disturbed daily routines, economic pressures, and social isolation.
During this time, you may have felt stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, and loneliness. We know that this situation can make mental health disorders worse, including anxiety and depression.
Having stopped our lives and in particular, infertility treatments, has been very shocking for many of you, you have called us with concern and we have tried to help you with healthy advice
Perhaps you worry about getting sick, how long the pandemic will last, and what the future will bring us. Overinformation, rumors, and misinformation can leave you feeling out of control and unclear on what to do.
For all those people who have restarted their work in the workplace and have also restarted the treatments, we have a few things to say:
- Going out “into the world” again can be shocking and scary.
- Restarting our routines can be uncomfortable and cause anxiety.
- The social and medical relationship have changed due to the use of masks, and the distance we have to take to avoid contagion.
Recommendations for anxiety
If you have felt identified, we give you a series of recommendations:
-Learn strategies to self-care and seek care you need to help you deal with this situation. Relaxation, meditation, contemplation and physical exercise are excellent measures for this, as well as a good diet and a compensatory sleep.
-Self-care measures are good for your physical and mental health, and can help you take control of your life. Take care of your body and mind and connect with others for the benefit of your mental health.
–Get ready with time for departure, think about the scenarios you are going to find and decide what things you need to be sure.
–If you go to an infertility center, make sure they take all the necessary measures to protect you and protect themselves.. At IVI we do so, for us the priority has always been the safety of patients and professionals, as we tell you in this post on post COVID-19 measures
–Focus on your goal, for example, I’m going to see my doctor, I’m going to get pregnant and don’t let other negative thoughts enter your mindAnticipating events only generates anxiety. Focus our attention on what we are doing at the moment, not beyond the day to day, is what can help us the most.
–Let the things flow improves our need to control events, when we are not in control, we have to think that it is best to let them flow.
We must become aware of generating our own resources and promoting self-care and caring for others, and if necessary, seek help from a professional. It is useless to wait for mental health problems like anxiety or depression to go away on their own, it can lead to symptoms getting worse. If you are worried, or if you notice your mental health symptoms worsening, ask for help when you need it and be honest about how you feel.
By Diana Guerra
Psychologist IVI Barcelona
