Skip to main content

Riding the Hormone Rollercoaster: How to Be Kind to Yourself When You Don't Feel Like Yourself


One minute you feel fine, the next you’re welling up with tears over a car commercial or snapping with a flash of irritation that seems to come from nowhere.

If this sounds familiar, please hear this: You are not going crazy. You are not "too sensitive." You are a passenger on the hormone rollercoaster that is fertility treatment, and you are in very good company.

The physical and emotional side effects of the medications are real, they are powerful, and they can be incredibly tough. This isn't a sign that you're not handling things well; it's a sign that your body is responding to potent hormones designed to do a very big job. Our hope is to give you some tools for your heart and, most importantly, radical permission to be extra gentle with yourself as you ride these waves.

Caring for Yourself Through the Fog

When you're in the thick of it, it can feel like a dense fog has rolled in, making it hard to see yourself clearly. Here’s how you can find your way through.

1. Name the Emotional Waves to Tame Them

The first step is to recognize that these intense emotions are not a character flaw—they are a chemical response. The hormones used in fertility treatments are powerful, and they can absolutely impact your mood. When you can separate the feeling from your identity, it loses some of its power.

You might be experiencing:

  • Heightened anxiety or feelings of panic that seem to surge out of the blue.
  • Sudden waves of sadness or feeling weepy over small things.
  • Increased irritability or a "short fuse" with the people you love most.
  • A general feeling of emotional fragility, like you're just one stressed-out moment away from shattering.

When a wave hits, try to observe it and name it. "Ah, there's the hormone-fueled anger," or "Hello, progesterone sadness." Giving the feeling a name reminds you: It's not you—it's the medication's effect.

2. Soothe the Physical Toll

The bloating, fatigue, headaches, and soreness are not "just" physical. They are emotionally draining. It’s hard to feel hopeful and resilient when your body is aching and uncomfortable. Here are some simple strategies our community has found helpful for practicing physical kindness:

  • Prioritize rest without guilt. A nap is not lazy; it is a productive part of your treatment protocol.
  • Embrace the heating pad. It's your best friend for soothing injection site soreness and abdominal bloating.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Staying on top of your water intake can make a surprising difference with headaches and overall well-being.
  • Live in comfy clothes. Your body is doing incredible, difficult work. Let it be comfortable. This is the time for leggings, sweatpants, and forgiving waistbands.

3. Find the Words to Ask for Help

The people who love you want to support you, but they can't read your mind—especially when your needs might be changing by the hour. Feeling empowered to be direct and clear about what you need is an act of self-care.

It can sound as simple as:

  • "I'm feeling really emotional from the meds today. I just need a quiet night in."
  • "The bloating is making me really uncomfortable. Could you possibly handle dinner tonight?"
  • "I don't need a solution, I just need a hug and to be told I'm doing a great job."

You Don't Have to Explain It Here

At GrowingMyFamily, we know this fog intimately. We know what it's like to feel unlike yourself and to worry if you'll ever feel "normal" again. We understand that explaining these side effects to well-meaning friends or family can be exhausting in itself.

Here, you don’t have to explain. You can just say, "it's the meds," and be met with a nod of complete understanding. We honor the incredible resilience it takes to show up for your life—for work, for your partner, for yourself—while your body and mind are navigating so much.

This is a temporary season. The fog will lift. Until it does, be gentle with yourself. Wrap yourself in comfort, speak kindly to the person in the mirror, and know that you are doing an incredible job. We are right here with you.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Woven Threads: How Parenthood Through Biology and Adoption Shaped Our Hearts for Donor Embryos

The paths to building a family are as varied and intricate as the families themselves. Each journey, with its unique twists and turns, shapes us, teaches us, and expands our hearts in ways we might never have anticipated. My own path to the family I cherish today has been woven with distinct, yet beautifully interconnected threads: first, the experience of biological motherhood, then the profound journey of adopting our three children, welcoming another biological child and later, the path of welcoming our two younger sons through the use of donated embryos. It's this rich tapestry of experiences, particularly the deep lessons learned as an adoptive mom, that I believe uniquely prepared my heart and mind for embracing motherhood again through donor embryos. It wasn't about one path being "better" or "easier," but about how each experience informed the next, deepening our understanding of what family truly means. If you're navigating your own complex path...
Post a Comment
Read more

When Fear Gives Way to Family

Hey there friend! Let's talk about how much things can change. If someone had told me nearly fifteen years ago, when our family was just beginning its adoption journey, what our life would look like today, I would have probably laughed. Or cried. Or both. The person I was back then… I almost cringe thinking about her. She thought she knew everything about how to be a good adoptive parent. The truth is, I had no idea. It feels vulnerable to admit that, but maybe you understand. Maybe you’ve had moments on your own journey where you look back at a past version of yourself with a strange mix of embarrassment and compassion. The things I was so sure of then have been quietly, gently replaced over the years. They've been replaced by a deeper understanding—an understanding that came from listening, really listening, to other adoptive parents, and most importantly, to adult adoptees themselves. Their wisdom has been my greatest teacher, showing me what our kids truly need, the importa...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Day Our Family Expanded at a Tim Hortons

Some moments in life are so pivotal, so charged with emotion and anticipation, that they etch themselves into your memory with vivid clarity. For us, one such moment unfolded on a Thursday afternoon in May. The setting was unassuming: a corner table at a Tim Hortons. But what happened there wasn't just a meeting; it was the beginning of a new chapter, the day our family story expanded in the most beautiful and unexpected way. It was the day we first met our younger sons' genetic parents. Our journey to this Tim Hortons table had been, like so many of yours, one filled with hope, longing, and the unique path of donor conception. We had chosen to build our family using donor embryos—a decision we made with careful thought and immense gratitude. We knew, intellectually, that this meeting was important, a step towards the open and honest family we envisioned. But nothing quite prepared us for the emotions of that afternoon. There was a nervousness, of course. What would they be lik...
Post a Comment
Read more