Question #6

6.Discuss how you found your way into the ALI (Adoption, Miscarriage, Infertility) community, and what being part of it has meant to you – good and bad.

Shannon: I found my way into the community when I felt really alone and almost depressed about the situation. I had no one that I could talk to that would understand. I searched for several blogs and found dailystrength.org. As much as I hate for others to go through this, it was nice to know I wasn't alone.

Mrs Red:
I found my way into the network around the time we tried our first rounds of clomid. Nothing makes u feel like a worse wife than not being able to get pregnant like so many women can. I felt like a failure to my hubby and needed some support. My SIL was having similar problems but she wouldn't talk to me about it. I asked her one time if she ever felt sad or depressed and she laughed at me and said she was superwoman. So I turned to the Internet and learned that I was not alone. And you know what? You aren't alone either! I found so many stories of women who give me hope and help me realize I'm not a failure, there is still hope for me and there are women everywhere who are willing to lend a caring ear or shoulder. :-)

Ashley:
Well, I found my way to ALI community six months after we started TTC. I was devistated, embarrassed, emotional and didn't know where to turn. We hadn't told anyone that we were going through this journey so it was a lot of weight on our shoulders. I also felt like no one who I told would understand what we were (are) going through. I was having an aweful day and went online and just looked at a couple online support group websites, I just chose one that I liked the best. I've been very happy with the online support group. Its my escape place...I can write down all my feelings without feeling guilty, get opinions and feed back about others situations, and give help to others going through the same situation. I can come and go as I please which is nice too. The only part that isn't so great is when your the only one not pregnant from your support group - it's a little sad but very hopeful too! Of course your happy for your "cysters" that have worked so hard to get where you want to be it just still sucks that your not where they are yet. I think its a great way vent, get feed back and spill your feelings. I don't know if I would be able to get through all of this without it.