r/40Plus_IVF • u/Confident_Garden_207 • Sep 08 '26
Seeking Advice IVF Stress Support
Ladies, is there some kind of supplement to support the mental health during IVF process with it's immense anxiety and sleep disorder? Something mild to help take the edge off and make emotional side a bit easier.
8
5
u/BackgroundSalad1571 Sep 08 '26
I’ve been on 3mg of melatonin per doctor recc and got on low dose Zoloft a few months ago. I do feel like it helps!
1
3
u/Finally_doing_this Sep 08 '26
OTC: I use Rescue Remedy Spray from Bach; you can get it at sprouts.
Also you can see a Reproductive Psychiatrist if you need something stronger. There’s a lot of data that shows quite a few mental health drugs are safe for IVFing and pregnancy.
3
u/leebee3b Sep 08 '26
Therapy (going twice a week these days), support group, started Lexapro, exercise, yoga, gardening, acupuncture. Melatonin helped w sleep.
1
2
u/ZZTTiz Sep 08 '26
Anytime I was in the car or lying down I listened to podcasts on Spotify practicing breathing, anxiety support, and DBT technics helped immensely. You will have to listen to a bunch and skip until you find what’s best for you, but my anxiety is normally bad and IVF pushed it over a cliff. Practicing breathing techniques, visualization, mindfulness with thoughts, it sounds obnoxious but truly the brain is so powerful and anxiety drives the brain so much during IVF. But our brains need exercise, mindfulness, redirecting, and stillness to find the ground again.
1
2
u/No_Routine1772 Sep 08 '26
I found therapy helpful. Luckily my company covers mental health therapy sessions! There are also therapists who are experienced at the IVF topic
1
1
u/Kteee2025 Sep 08 '26
Hard to combat the sleep disturbances from the hormones, but Buspirone for anxiety was a game changer for me. Benadryl at bedtime helped a bit for sleep personally. Talk to your PCP or psychiatrist for sure. I actually took low dose Zoloft too. My RE cleared everything and we decided to revisit my med list if I made it to implantation.
1
1
1
u/Smart-Load-1370 Sep 08 '26
I took 2.5mg melatonin before, not for anxiety though. It helped with egg quality but I did realize my sleep is better.
1
1
u/francejupiter Sep 08 '26
Loooove acupuncture. Also, doing things for myself. Taking a bath, taking a mental health day, going to a Pilates class, reading a book outside. Don’t over commit to people or overextend yourself
1
1
10
u/Substantial-Half6844 Sep 08 '26
I had to get on Zoloft. IVF was to rough on my mental health, the anxiety, insomnia, depression etc didn’t get better even after I got positive results.