Does IVF Make You Feel Crazy? Protecting Your Mental Health During Treatment

Does IVF Make You Feel Crazy?

If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “IVF is making me feel crazy,” you are not alone. Fertility treatment is one of the most emotionally demanding medical journeys someone can go through. The endless monitoring appointments, hormone injections, blood draws, waiting periods, and financial strain can make even the most grounded person feel unsteady.

But it’s not just the logistics. It’s the way infertility shakes the core of who you thought you’d be. It’s losing the ability to plan ahead because everything depends on your next cycle. It’s missing your go-to coping strategies, like running, hot yoga, or even just sitting in a hot tub, because your doctor told you to avoid them. It’s the quiet sting of isolation when your friends and family don’t really understand what you’re going through.

On top of that, the strong hormonal medications can affect mood and energy levels. Many people report symptoms of anxiety and depression during IVF: trouble sleeping, feeling hopeless or restless, crying more easily, snapping at loved ones, or feeling like their emotions are out of control. Some describe a sense of disconnection, like they don’t even recognize themselves anymore.

My Personal Experience

Even as a therapist, nothing prepared me for how IVF would turn my world upside down. I had faced my own mental health struggles earlier in life, and I thought I knew how to cope. But IVF was different. I didn’t recognize my brain. I didn’t feel like myself. The highs and lows were sharper than anything I’d experienced before. That experience is why I am so passionate about reminding others: you are not broken. What you’re feeling is a human response to an incredibly demanding process.

The Myth of “Just Surviving” IVF

A lot of people will tell you that IVF is just a chapter you have to get through, and once you reach the other side you can put your life back together. That is not true. You do not have to choose between being mentally healthy and pursuing parenthood. You can protect your emotional well-being while continuing treatment.

The Common Question: Would I Be Happier If I Quit?

When IVF feels unbearable, many people think, “Maybe I’d be happier if I quit. Maybe if I stopped all of this, I could finally feel normal again.”

It is understandable. When something is this overwhelming, the brain naturally looks for an escape hatch. But here is the problem. That question sets up a false choice. It assumes you must pick either happiness or parenthood.

What if the real question is, “Why do I have to choose at all?”

You don’t. You can pursue your family building goals while also finding new ways to take care of your mental health. You can feel more whole even in the middle of IVF, not just at the end of it.

Emotional Support During IVF

As an infertility therapist, I often hear people worry that they will have to spend half their session explaining medical terms like “retrieval” or “blastocyst.” That is why working with someone who already understands fertility treatment can be such a relief.

Therapy during infertility can help with:
• Coping with mood changes caused by hormones and medications
• Managing anxiety before retrievals, transfers, or the two-week wait
• Breaking cycles of shame and self-blame
• Replacing old coping tools with safe new strategies during treatment
• Finding support when friends and family don’t understand

You Don’t Have to Go Through This Alone

If you’ve been wondering, “does IVF make you feel crazy?” know that there is nothing wrong with you. IVF is intense, and it makes sense that your mental health feels shaken. But you do not need to choose between your happiness and your dream of having a family.

If you are ready for support, I am here to help. I offer infertility counseling in Boston, Providence, Seattle, and virtually across several states. Together we can help you feel like yourself again even while you are in the middle of treatment.

Schedule an appointment today and take the next step toward caring for your mental health while you continue your path to parenthood.