There’s a kind of loneliness that’s hard to explain. The loneliness of waiting. Waiting for a test result. Waiting for your cycle to start. Waiting for the next appointment. Waiting for the life you’ve dreamed of to finally begin.
Infertility can make you feel like you are living in a different world than those around you. Baby showers, pregnancy announcements, casual conversations about children, and for me personally working in Labor and Delivery as a nurse, they all highlight the invisible wall between you and the people we love. And sometimes, it feels like no one truly understands.
But here’s the truth: you are not as alone as you feel.
Why Infertility Feels So Isolating
Infertility isn’t often spoken about openly. Many carry it quietly, tucked away in late night tears or whispered conversations with their partner. I am one of those people, where I am just not ready to openly discuss my struggles with those around me. That silence amplifies the ache, making it seem like we are the only ones struggling.
The truth: 1 in 8 couples experience infertility. Yet when you are the one in the middle of it, statistics don’t feel comforting…connection does.
Where Connection Can Be Found
- Online Communities: Spaces like Instagram‘s #TTCcommunity or infertility forums can feel like lifelines. Reading someone else’s words that echo your own can feel healing.
- Support Groups: Many clinics and organizations host groups where you can talk openly without fear of judgement.
- Trusted Friendships: Sometimes connection means telling just one safe person in your life what you’re going through. Vulnerability can create surprising closeness.
- Within Yourself: Journaling, prayer, or quiet reflection can become forms of connection too – reminding you that your voice and feelings matter.
Choosing Not to Carry It Alone
You don’t have to tell everyone your story, and you definitely don’t owe anyone any details. But choosing not to carry the weight alone, in even the smallest way, can make the waiting more bearable.
Connection doesn’t always erase the loneliness, but it can soften it. And it reminds you that while this season feels isolating, you are not forgotten.
“We are never so lost that our angels cannot find us.” – Stefanie Powers