Navigating the 24/7 World: Stress Management Tips for Managing Modern Life Stress

You woke up to seventeen notifications before your alarm even went off.

Work emails that came in overnight.

Text messages from three different group chats.

News alerts about whatever crisis is currently unfolding.

Social media updates from people whose lives look infinitely better than yours feel right now.

You haven’t even gotten out of bed yet, and you’re already overwhelmed.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. We’re living in a 24/7 world where the boundaries between work and home, day and night, connection and overwhelm have completely dissolved.

Your phone buzzes constantly. Your boss can reach you at 9 PM. Your friends expect instant responses.

The news cycle never stops. Social media creates an endless stream of comparison and performance.

And somehow, you’re supposed to just handle all of this without burning out.

The stress of modern life isn’t just about being busy. It’s about being constantly accessible, perpetually stimulated, and never truly able to disconnect.

It’s about the expectation that you should be productive, informed, connected, and optimized at all times.

This isn’t sustainable. And the stress it causes affects your mental health, your physical health, your relationships, and your ability to actually enjoy your life.

Why Modern Life Creates Unique Chronic Stress

The stress you’re experiencing isn’t just “life is a constant struggle.” It’s a specific type of stress created by the conditions of modern existence.

The Illusion of Constant Availability

Fifty years ago, when you left work, you were done for the day. Your boss couldn’t reach you. Your coworkers couldn’t email you. You were genuinely off.

Now, work follows you home through email, Slack, Teams, and text messages. The boundary between work time and personal time has eroded to the point where many people feel stressed because they’re always “on call.”

Even if your workplace doesn’t explicitly require constant availability, the cultural expectation in society is that you’ll respond quickly to messages regardless of when they’re sent.

This constant accessibility keeps your autonomic nervous system in a state of low-level activation…always monitoring, always alert, never fully relaxed. Your stress response is constantly triggered, keeping you in a fight-or-flight state.

Information Overload

Your brain is processing more information in a single day than your grandparents processed in a week.

News from around the world. Social media updates from hundreds of “friends.” Work emails and documents. Text message conversations. Podcasts and articles and videos and everything else competing for your attention.

Your brain wasn’t designed to process this volume of information. The result is cognitive overload, difficulty concentrating, and a constant sense of being behind or missing something important. This is a major stressor and health problem for Millennials and younger generations.

The Comparison Machine

Social media has created an unprecedented level of social comparison. You’re not just comparing yourself to your actual friends and neighbours…you’re comparing yourself to curated highlight reels from thousands of people across the globe.

Everyone else seems to be succeeding, traveling, looking perfect, having meaningful experiences, and living their best lives. Meanwhile, you’re sitting in sweatpants wondering why you can’t get your life together.

This constant comparison breeds inadequacy, anxiety, and depression in ways that previous generations simply didn’t experience. The negative emotions and negative effects on your health information perception can cause stress that feels relentless.

The Optimization Obsession

Modern culture is obsessed with optimization. You’re supposed to be maximizing your productivity, optimizing your sleep, biohacking your diet, life-hacking your routines, and constantly improving yourself.

Rest isn’t rest … It’s “recovery” that needs to be tracked and optimized. Hobbies aren’t just for enjoyment, they need to at least serve some productive purpose.

This pressure to constantly optimize yourself creates a baseline stress and sense of inadequacy because there’s always something more you could be doing. These are unrealistic expectations that cause stress.

The Illusion of Control Through Information

We have access to more information than ever before, which creates the illusion that we can control outcomes through knowledge and preparation.

But more information often just means more anxiety. You can research every possible thing that could go wrong, read every opinion, and follow every expert and end up more stressed and confused than when you started. Catastrophising becomes a repetitive pattern.

The paradox is that more information often leads to less clarity and more anxiety, not more control.

What Modern Stress Does to Your Body and Mind

This constant state of stimulation, accessibility, and pressure takes a real toll on both your mind and body.

Nervous System Dysregulation

When stress becomes constant, your nervous system remains trapped in a heightened state of hyperarousal. You’re always a little bit anxious, a little bit on edge, never fully relaxed. Your autonomic nervous system remains in high alert.

You might notice this as difficulty sleeping, muscle tension, digestive issues, or just a constant sense of being wound up with no way to truly unwind. The physiological and hormonal negative effects of chronic stress include elevated cortisol and inflammation.

Attention and Focus Problems

Frequent distractions and an excess of information break your focus. You struggle to focus on one thing for any length of time. You’re always slightly distracted, toggling between multiple things, never fully present anywhere.

This affects your work quality, your ability to enjoy experiences, and your sense of accomplishment. Your brain functions are compromised, and you have little energy for important tasks.

Emotional Exhaustion

Managing the constant demands, information, and stimulation is emotionally draining. By the end of the day, you have no energy left for the things or people you actually care about.

You’re too exhausted to engage with your partner, too depleted to enjoy hobbies, too burnt out to do anything except scroll mindlessly or watch TV. You lack emotional support and feel relentless fatigue mentally and emotionally.

Physical Health Impacts

Chronic stress affects your physical health through elevated cortisol, inflammation, disrupted sleep, poor eating habits, and neglect of movement or exercise. Levels of stress directly impact your wellbeing.

You might notice more frequent illnesses, weight changes, chronic pain, or just a general sense of not feeling well. Chronic stress can lead to elevated blood pressure and contribute to other significant health issues.

Stress Management Strategies for Managing Modern Stress

You can’t opt out of modern life entirely. But you can implement strategies that create boundaries, reduce overwhelm, and protect your mental health.

Reducing stress requires intentional effort and stress management techniques.

Create Technology Boundaries

This doesn’t mean going completely off-grid. It means setting specific limits on when and how you engage with technology.

Silence non-urgent alerts so your phone stops pulling your focus. Block out set windows to review email instead of replying the moment messages land. Establish a “phone curfew” where you stop using devices an hour before bed. Use “do not disturb” features during focused work time or family time.

The goal is to shift from being reactive to technology to being intentional about when and how you engage with it.

Practice Selective Ignorance

You cannot stay informed about everything happening in the world. You cannot read every article, follow every news story, or have an opinion on every issue.

Give yourself permission to be selectively ignorant. Choose a few areas you genuinely care about and stay informed there. Let the rest go.

This isn’t about being uninformed or irresponsible. It’s about recognizing that your mental bandwidth is finite and you get to choose where to allocate it. This is one of the most effective stress management techniques.

Curate Your Information Diet

Just like you’re careful about what you eat, be careful about what information you consume.

Stop following social media accounts that trigger feelings of inadequacy or anxiety. Stop reading news first thing in the morning if it sets a negative tone for your day. Limit exposure to doom-scrolling and outrage content.

Be intentional about consuming information that’s genuinely useful or enriching rather than just stimulating or anxiety-producing.

Build in Real Downtime

Downtime doesn’t mean scrolling social media or watching Netflix while simultaneously checking your phone.

Real downtime is time when you’re genuinely not consuming information or being productive. Reading a physical book. Taking a walk without your phone. Sitting and doing nothing. Engaging in a hobby just for enjoyment. Getting enough sleep and rest is critical.

Real rest helps your body and mind recover and stay balanced. Moving your body, even lightly, during your free time also helps ease stress.

Set Realistic Expectations

You cannot do everything. You cannot be excellent at all aspects of your life simultaneously. You cannot optimize every area of your existence.

Give yourself permission to be mediocre in some areas. Choose a few things that genuinely matter to you and let the rest be “good enough.”

This means accepting that your house might be messy, you might not respond to messages immediately, you might not follow every best practice, and that’s okay.

Cultivate Presence

One of the biggest casualties of modern life is the ability to be fully present in a single moment or activity.

Practice doing one thing at a time without multitasking. When spending time with someone, give them your full attention instead of dividing it with your phone. When you’re eating, just eat rather than scrolling through your phone.

This isn’t about achieving some zen state of perfect mindfulness. It’s about regularly choosing to focus on one thing rather than fragmenting your attention across multiple inputs.

This helps you perceive your experiences more fully.

Create Protective Routines

Establish routines that protect your mental health from the chaos of modern life.

This might include morning routines that don’t involve immediately checking your phone, evening routines that help you transition from work mode to home mode, or weekend rhythms that provide genuine rest rather than just different forms of productivity.

Routines create structure and predictability that help counter the constant stimulation and chaos.

What You Can’t Control (And Need to Accept)

Part of managing stress is accepting what you genuinely can’t control.

You can’t control the 24/7 news cycle. You can’t control that other people are always accessible via technology. You can’t control that modern workplaces often expect constant availability. You can’t control that social media exists and creates comparison.

What you can control is how you engage with these realities. You can set boundaries, make choices about your time and attention, and decide what you will and won’t participate in. Understanding what stressful situations you can influence helps with stress management.

When You Need Professional Support

If modern stress has evolved into clinical anxiety or depression, if you’re experiencing burnout that’s affecting your ability to function, if you’re using substances to cope with stress, or if you’re completely overwhelmed and don’t know where to start with making changes, professional support can help.

Therapy can provide tools for managing anxiety, setting boundaries, addressing perfectionism, and building resilience in the face of modern pressures. A history of trauma or repeated experiences of losing a job may require specialized stress management techniques and emotional support.

The Bottom Line

You’re not weak for finding modern life stressful. The conditions of contemporary existence (constant connectivity, information overload, perpetual comparison, and optimization pressure )create genuine psychological strain.

Managing this stress doesn’t require becoming some kind of mindfulness guru or completely disconnecting from modern life. It requires implementing practical boundaries, being intentional about where you focus your attention and energy, and giving yourself permission to not do or be everything.

Your mental health matters more than being constantly available, perfectly informed, or endlessly productive. Creating space for rest, presence, and genuine downtime isn’t self-indulgent—it’s essential for functioning in a world that never stops demanding your attention.

Support at Get Reconnected

At Get Reconnected, we help people navigate the stress and anxiety of modern life using evidence-based approaches that address both practical stress management and underlying anxiety or burnout.

We use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and other trauma-informed approaches to help you build resilience and create a life that feels manageable rather than overwhelming.

Reach Out for Support

If you’re struggling with the stress of modern life and need support in creating boundaries, managing anxiety, or recovering from burnout, professional help can make a significant difference.

At Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services, Delia Petrescu provides specialized care for individuals dealing with stress, anxiety, and burnout in our 24/7 world.

Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how therapy can help you navigate modern pressures.

Related Resources

• Is It Burnout or Exhaustion?
• Perfectionism and Burnout Connection
• The Neurobiology of Burnout: How Chronic Stress Physically Changes the Brain
• Burnout vs. Depression
• The Reality of Burnout: What’s it Really Like to be Burnt Out

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it realistic to set boundaries with technology when my job requires constant connectivity?

Many people believe their job requires more availability than it actually does. Start by testing small boundaries, like not responding to emails after 8 PM and see what actually happens. Often, the expectation is cultural rather than explicitly required.

How do I stop feeling guilty about not staying informed about everything?

Remind yourself that staying constantly informed doesn’t actually help the situations you’re reading about and actively harms your mental health. You can care about issues without consuming constant news about them.

Won’t disconnecting from social media make me more isolated?

Social media can make it seem like you’re connected, but it often leaves you feeling more alone. Real connection comes from deeper relationships with fewer people, not surface-level engagement with hundreds.

How long does it take to feel less stressed after implementing these changes?

Some strategies provide immediate relief (like turning off notifications). Others take weeks to show effects. The key is consistency rather than perfection.

source https://getreconnected.ca/blog/modern-life-stress/

10 Facts About Infertility and Depression You Need To Know

Understanding the Clinical Reality of Infertility and Depression While Struggling to Conceive

You’ve probably heard people say that infertility is stressful.

That it’s disappointing.

That it’s emotionally challenging.

That it requires resilience and patience.

What they don’t tell you is that infertility can lead to depression. Not just sadness or grief, but the kind of depression that makes it hard to function, that strips away your ability to feel anything, that makes you wonder if life is worth living.

If you’re experiencing depression during fertility struggles, you might be wondering if what you’re going through is normal, if it’s your fault, or if you’re handling things worse than other people.

Here are ten facts about fertility depression that you need to know. Facts that might validate your infertility experience, help you understand what’s happening, and point you toward the support you need.

A woman looks over the water reflecting emotional challenges linked to infertility depression. 

Fact 1: Fertility Depression Is Clinically Significant

Fertility depression isn’t just “being sad about not getting pregnant.”

Research shows that many people experiencing infertility have rates of anxiety and depression comparable to people with cancer, heart disease, or HIV. Studies consistently find that there is a higher prevalence of depression among couples with infertility

This is real, diagnosable depression, not just a bad mood or temporary disappointment. It involves persistent symptoms of depression like loss of interest in activities, changes in sleep and appetite, difficulty concentrating, feelings of worthlessness, and in severe cases, thoughts of self-harm.

The depression and infertility connection that develops during fertility struggles is as legitimate and serious as depression that develops in response to any other major life crisis or chronic illness.

Why This Matters

If you’re experiencing fertility depression, you’re not overreacting or handling things poorly. You’re having a predictable psychological response to a genuinely traumatic and chronic stressor.

Understanding that this is clinical depression, not just sadness, means you can seek appropriate treatment rather than trying to just “stay positive” or “think differently” about your situation.

Fact 2: Infertility Depression Often Goes Undiagnosed and Untreated

A sad woman looks out the window reflecting isolation felt during infertility depression. 

Despite the high rates of depression among people with fertility struggles, most never receive mental health treatment for it.

Many people don’t recognize their symptoms as depression because they attribute everything to the psychological stress of trying to conceive.

Others feel like they should be able to handle it on their own or worry that seeking help means they’re weak.

Some avoid mental health care because they’re concerned about taking antidepressants while trying to get pregnant, even though many medications are considered safe during pregnancy and the preconception period.

And many healthcare providers don’t screen for depression or anxiety during fertility treatment, missing the opportunity to identify and address it.

Why This Matters

Depression doesn’t just make you feel terrible but it can actually affect relationship quality and your ability to make clear decisions about treatment.

Getting appropriate mental health care isn’t a luxury or a sign of weakness. It’s a crucial part of navigating fertility struggles in a way that doesn’t destroy your mental health.

Fact 3: Depression Can Actually Affect Fertility

The relationship between depression and fertility is bidirectional: infertility may cause depression, but depression can also impact fertility.

Depression affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which regulates stress hormones. Chronic elevation of cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt reproductive hormones, affect ovulation, and potentially impact implantation.

Depression also often involves changes in sleep, appetite, and self-care, all of which can indirectly affect fertility. And the behavioural effects of depression: withdrawing from medical care, struggling to follow treatment protocols, or giving up on treatment, can impact outcomes.

Research has found that women with depression have lower pregnancy rates during fertility treatment compared to those without depression, even when controlling for other factors.

Why This Matters

This isn’t about blaming yourself if you’re depressed. But it does mean that addressing your mental health isn’t separate from addressing your fertility but it’s part of supporting your overall reproductive health.

Treating depression isn’t just about feeling better emotionally. It’s also about giving yourself the best possible chance at the outcome you want.

Fact 4: The “Two-Week Wait” Is Psychologically Devastating

A couple looks at a pregnancy test symbolizing uncertainty during infertility struggles. 

If you’ve been through it, you know. The two-week wait between ovulation or embryo transfer and when you can take a pregnancy test is its own special hell.

During these two weeks, you’re simultaneously desperately hoping that you’re pregnant while trying to protect yourself from the crushing disappointment if you’re not. You’re hyperaware of every physical sensation, analyzing every symptom or lack of symptoms.

You exist in a state of limbo where you can’t plan anything, can’t fully hope, and can’t fully grieve because you don’t know the outcome yet.

Research shows that anxiety and depression symptoms spike during the two-week wait, and for women experiencing infertility, this is the most psychologically difficult part of undergoing infertility treatment.

Why This Matters

If you’re struggling with infertility intensely during the two-week wait, you’re not being dramatic or impatient; the relationship between stress and infertility can make this time even harder. This period is genuinely psychologically taxing in ways that people who haven’t experienced it don’t understand.

Recognizing how difficult this specific period is can help you be more compassionate with yourself and seek extra support during these windows.

Fact 5: Repeated Failed Cycles Create Learned Helplessness

Learned helplessness is a psychological phenomenon where repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative events leads to the belief that you have no power to change your circumstances.

When you try to conceive month after month and it doesn’t work, or when you go through multiple IVF cycles that fail despite doing everything “right,” your brain learns that your efforts don’t matter. You start believing that nothing you do will make a difference.

This learned helplessness is a core feature of depression. It’s why people experiencing fertility depression often describe feeling trapped, hopeless, and unable to see a path forward.

The more cycles you go through without success, the more entrenched this learned helplessness becomes, contributing to the psychological impact of infertility.

Why This Matters

The hopelessness you’re feeling isn’t a character flaw or a failure of positive thinking. It’s a predictable psychological response to repeated uncontrollable disappointment.

Understanding this pattern can help you recognize that you’re not “giving up” or being pessimistic … your brain is responding normally to abnormal circumstances.

Fact 6: Fertility Depression Is Different for Partners

A distressed woman sits apart from her partner reflecting emotional strain linked to infertility. 

If you’re going through infertility with a partner, you’re likely noticing that you experience depression differently.

Research shows that women undergoing infertility treatment typically experience higher rates of depression during fertility struggles than their male partners, though men’s depression is often underrecognized and undertreated.

Partners often grieve on different timelines, cope with different strategies, and have different triggers for depressive episodes.

One might feel devastated after a failed cycle while the other is already looking ahead to the next attempt.

When infertility is due to male factor issues, men often experience significant depression related to feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

When it’s due to female factor issues, women may experience depression compounded by feeling responsible for “failing” their partner.

Why This Matters

If your partner seems less depressed than you or is handling things differently, it doesn’t mean they care less or that you’re overreacting.

Depression manifests differently based on individual psychology and the specific circumstances of your fertility journey.

Understanding these differences can reduce conflict and help you support each other more effectively.

Fact 7: Pregnancy After Infertility Doesn’t Automatically Cure Depression

There’s a common misconception that once you finally get pregnant, the depression will lift immediately.

For some people, this is true. But for many others, depression continues into pregnancy. Sometimes because of anxiety about pregnancy loss, sometimes because the depression has become entrenched, and sometimes because of the complex emotions that come with finally achieving something after years of struggle.

Research shows that people who conceived after infertility treatment have higher rates of antenatal depression and anxiety compared to those who conceived without difficulty.

And for those who ultimately don’t have a biological child (whether through choice, circumstance, or pursuing alternative paths like adoption) learning to navigate life with this loss while managing depression is an ongoing process.

Why This Matters

If you’re depressed during fertility struggles and hoping that pregnancy will fix everything, it’s important to address the depression now rather than waiting for a pregnancy to  happen.

And if you do get pregnant and the depression continues, that doesn’t mean something is wrong with you or that you’re not grateful enough. It means depression needs continued treatment to address the impact of infertility.

The burden of infertility doesn’t instantly disappear with a positive pregnancy test. 

Fact 8: Secondary Infertility Creates Its Own Unique Depression

If you’re experiencing fertility struggles while trying for a second child, your depression may be compounded by feeling like you shouldn’t complain because you “already have a child.”

Secondary infertility (the difficulty conceiving after previously having a biological child) affects millions of people and carries its own specific psychological challenges.

You may feel guilty for wanting another child when you already have one.

You may feel isolated because other parents don’t understand your grief. You may worry about the age gap between your children or feel like you’re failing your existing child by not providing siblings.

The prevalence of depression symptoms if you are experiencing secondary infertility is significant, yet this population often receives less support and validation.

Why This Matters

Your depression about secondary infertility is just as valid as depression about primary infertility. Having one child doesn’t mean you can’t grieve the inability to have another or that your suffering matters less. 

Recognizing the unique challenges of secondary infertility can help you find specialized support rather than minimizing your experience.

Fact 9: The Financial Stress of Fertility Treatment Compounds Depression

A stressed couple reviews bills during infertility related financial strain.

Fertility treatment is expensive. Depending on where you live and what insurance you have, a single IVF cycle can cost $15,000-$30,000 or more. Many people need multiple cycles.

This financial stress isn’t separate from fertility depression, it’s intertwined with it.

The burden of spending tens of thousands of dollars with no guarantee of success, going into debt for treatment, depleting savings, or making major financial sacrifices adds another layer of stress and hopelessness to an already difficult situation.

Financial stress is a well-established risk of depression in general, and when combined with the emotional toll of infertility, it significantly increases the likelihood and severity of depressive symptoms. Understanding what’s associated with infertility from a financial perspective is crucial.

Why This Matters

If financial stress is making your depression worse, you’re not being materialistic or failing to focus on what matters. Financial concerns are legitimate stressors that affect mental health.

Addressing financial aspects (setting limits, exploring financing options, or making decisions about how much you can spend) can sometimes reduce the sense of being trapped that feeds depression.

Fact 10: Recovery Is Possible Even If Circumstances Don’t Change

Hands raised toward sunlight symbolizing hope and resilience during infertility depression. 

Here’s something important that often gets missed: you can recover from fertility depression even if your fertility situation doesn’t resolve.

Many people assume they can’t feel better until they either get pregnant or reach acceptance of a child-free life. But depression treatment can help you function better and experience less suffering even while you’re still actively trying to conceive and still grieving what you don’t have.

Recovery doesn’t mean you stop wanting a baby or that you’re “over” your infertility. It means the depression becomes less debilitating. You can engage with life even while carrying grief. You can have moments of joy or meaning even while dealing with ongoing disappointment.

Trauma-informed therapy, appropriate medication when needed, and strategies for managing the specific challenges of fertility depression can significantly improve your quality of life regardless of whether your fertility situation changes.

Why This Matters

You don’t have to wait until you’re pregnant or until you’ve reached some mythical place of acceptance to feel better.

Your mental health matters now, in this moment, even while you’re still in the middle of fertility struggles. You deserve support and treatment that helps you function and reduces your suffering while you’re still fighting for what you want.

What To Do With These Facts

If these facts resonate with your experience, here are concrete steps you can take:

Recognize Your Depression as Legitimate

Stop minimizing what you’re experiencing. If you’re meeting criteria for clinical depression, take it seriously and seek appropriate treatment.

Find Specialized Support

Look for a therapist who specializes in reproductive trauma and fertility-related depression. Generic depression treatment often doesn’t address the unique aspects of this experience.

Consider All Treatment Options

This might include therapy (trauma-informed approaches like EMDR, ART, or IFS), medication if appropriate and safe for your situation, or support groups with others experiencing fertility struggles.

Address Practical Stressors

Look at the practical aspects that might be making depression worse (financial stress, lack of boundaries around fertility activities, prolonged uncertainty about your path forward) and see where you can create some structure or limits.

Don’t Wait for Circumstances to Change

Start addressing your depression now rather than waiting until you get pregnant or reach some resolution. Your mental health matters regardless of your fertility status.

When Professional Help Is Essential

A woman meets with a therapist expressing worry often linked to infertility depression. 

If you’re experiencing any of these, please reach out for professional support immediately:

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide, inability to function at work or in daily life, complete isolation from all relationships, substance use to cope with depression, or depression that’s worsening despite your efforts to manage it.

Fertility depression can become severe enough to require intensive treatment. Seeking help isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s recognizing that you’re dealing with a serious mental health condition that deserves professional care.

The Bottom Line

Fertility depression is real, common, clinically significant, and treatable.

If you’re experiencing it, you’re not weak, dramatic, or handling things poorly. You’re having a normal response to abnormal and traumatic circumstances.

You deserve support that acknowledges both the reality of your fertility struggles and the depression that’s developed. You deserve treatment that helps you function and suffer less while you’re still in the middle of this difficult journey.

Your mental health matters now, not just after you have a baby, not just after you reach acceptance, but right now, in this moment.

Specialized Care at Get Reconnected

At Get Reconnected, we provide specialized treatment for fertility-related depression using trauma-informed approaches that address both the situational reality of infertility and the clinical depression that develops.

We use Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and evidence-based approaches specifically adapted for reproductive trauma and depression.

Reach Out for Support

If you recognize yourself in these facts about fertility depression and need professional support, help is available.

At Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services, Delia Petrescu provides specialized care for individuals dealing with depression related to infertility and reproductive loss.

She understands the unique nature of fertility depression and provides treatment that addresses your mental health while honoring your continued desire for parenthood.

Book a free 15-minute consultation to explore how specialized therapy can support you.

Related Resources

• Is Infertility a Trauma?
• Fertility Anxiety: Coping Strategies
• Coping with Infertility During the Holidays
• The 9 Stages of Infertility Grief
• Finding Hope Through The Infertility Journey

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if what I’m experiencing is clinical depression or just normal sadness about infertility?

Clinical depression involves persistent symptoms (most of the day, nearly every day for weeks) that affect your functioning, inability to work, complete withdrawal, loss of interest in everything, significant sleep or appetite changes. Normal sadness comes in waves and doesn’t completely impair your ability to function.

Will treating my depression affect my fertility?

Untreated depression can actually negatively impact fertility through hormonal effects, stress, and behavioral factors. Many antidepressants are considered safe during the preconception period and pregnancy. Your doctor can help you weigh the risks and benefits.

Can I be depressed and still keep trying to have a baby?

Yes. Treating depression doesn’t mean giving up on having a baby. You can address your mental health while continuing to pursue pregnancy. In fact, addressing depression often helps people navigate fertility treatment more effectively.

Is it normal to feel depressed even if I haven’t been trying that long?

Depression during fertility struggles isn’t only about duration. Some people develop depression quickly, especially if they’ve experienced pregnancy loss or have other risk factors. The severity of your distress matters more than how long you’ve been trying.

source https://getreconnected.ca/blog/10-facts-infertility-depression-you-need-to-know/

Preventing Burnout: Delia Petrescu’s Top Tips for Entrepreneurs on the Michael Peres Podcast

Burnout is a growing challenge for entrepreneurs and professionals alike. In this episode of the Michael Peres Podcast, host Michael Peres sits down with Toronto-based psychotherapist Delia Petrescu, founder of Get Reconnected Psychotherapy, to explore the causes, symptoms, and solutions for burnout.

Delia shares her expert insights, practical strategies, and personal experiences to help business owners recognize the warning signs and take proactive steps toward a healthier, more sustainable work-life balance. Whether you’re struggling with stress or looking to prevent burnout before it starts, this conversation offers valuable advice you can put into action today. Watch the video and read the transcript below.

A Conversation with Delia Petrescu – Michael Peres

Michael: Delia, welcome to the podcast.

Delia: Thank you. Thank you for having me today. It’s pleasure.

Michael: Yeah, I’m excited to dive right in. Delia Petrescu is a Toronto-based psychotherapist, psychometrist, and the founder of Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services. Her practice focuses on helping clients manage trauma symptoms, mood, anxiety, and burnout.

She has created an eight week Burnout Reset program. She also offers services for the treatment of life, transition, infertility and relationships. Delia has over a decade of experience working as a psychometrist in various clinical settings, conducting neuropsychological and neurodegenerative assessments.

First and foremost. Delia, how did you get started with all this? That’s awesome.

Delia: I finished a, I have a bachelor in, psychology. And basically I, was always interested in numbers. statistics was, I guess one of my forte. So being a psychologist was the way to go. And it was really interesting work because I was doing basically assessments with people that had traumatic brain injuries, either through car accidents or workplace injuries.

And being in the assessment got me interested in doing the treatment aspect of it as well. So I got into the trauma.

Michael: And you also work with, like helping entrepreneurs with burnouts? is that right?

Delia: Yes. So basically how it started is that when I was doing, when I was working as a psychometrist, I was taking a lot of, assessments here and there, and sometimes I would commute for five hours at a time.

And that was my first experience with burnout. And it got me a little bit more interested about what happens in our brain when we’re getting burned out and what exactly drives the burnout. And the more I learned about it, the more I learned about how I can help myself. I made me realize that I wanna help others as well.

Michael: So just a weird question here, but you’re talking here, people go into accidents and they get blunt force trauma, right? And you’re dealing with people who get burnouts. Is there like a correlation here? So an underlying, is it your just happened to be how it played out?

Delia: No, it just happened to be how it played out. It is just that the way I was doing my work, it led me to burnout, But I think absolutely 99% of people that we know, everybody burns out at one point in their life. So it got just curious about what is the psychology behind it?

And is the burnout affecting our brain in such a way that, it keeps that cycle going.

Michael: Yeah. first and foremost, can you define to me, ’cause I actually talk about burnout all the time. On the show, strangely, I’ve never spoken about burnout. I’m someone who almost has a weirdly bittersweet relationship with burnout.

But everyone on this podcast who I interview, just mentions that word. So I wanna know what’s your definition, first and foremost of what burnout is?

Delia: So burnout is basically, like when I think about burnout, I always like to differentiate between exhaustion and burnout, right? Because a lot of the times, when we’re just tired, we usually throw the word burnout as it goes, right?

So burnout is just chronic stress. So when we’re stressed on, on a daily, like it’s human, it’s natural, it’s something that everybody goes through it. When we don’t, when we don’t close that loop. So it’s basically when we go home And we’re still thinking about work or you’re still checking the email, you’re still going on, like the Slack notifications, right?

You’re prolonging that stress response. So that’s when it’s chronic, when it’s happens over time.

Michael: But here’s the thing that’s almost, that could almost be a byproduct of a person’s lifestyle because when you have a nine to five, people have these clear cut times where they, and they also have very discreet responsibility.

So if you work for a corporate job and you’re in charge of accounting, like you don’t care about sales, you don’t worry about the company loss of sale or close of sale or whatnot, you’re focused on just doing your job good. And so it’s very like narrow and specific, but when you enter the realm of entrepreneurship, it’s a little different because accounting is your responsibility. Sales is your responsibility. The design, marketing, is all your responsibility. And also to compete in this landscape where you’re just a new company dealing with other well-established companies, you have to work all the time. Nine to five is almost a non-existent pipe dream for an entrepreneur.

So I, I wonder, again, like someone works till midnight. I work till midnight all the time. I work till three, four in the morning all the time. How do I dissociate now what would be just me doing what I love doing? Or maybe I have a deeper addiction or maybe that stress is something that’s deeper and that can be considered burnout.

Delia: For sure. And as you’re talking about this, so there, there is a fine line between that, right? I usually tell my clients when I’m in sessions that burnout, just like with any difficult, any, difficult thing in our lives, is always trying to teach you something, right? So with burnout is always trying to teach you to show you like your body’s trying to tell you something about it, right?

So for a lot of people, burnout can come from people pleasing or perfectionism, right? When, you sit on the same project and it takes you a little bit longer than usual or you’re just ruminating after. But as you were talking about that passion for entrepreneurship, it reminds me of there was a Harvard study that was done.

I can’t recall the real, I think it was like 2013, and they were talking about how there are, there’s a difference between a passion and especially when it comes to burnout. So is the harmonious passion and then the obsessive passion. And that’s what differentiates whether someone is gonna lead to burnout or not.

So when you’re hor harmoniously passionate when you just. Care about the business, but when you’re obsessively passionate is that, it doesn’t matter. You’re staying till 2:00 AM even if your like energy level is depleted. A hundred percent.

Michael: Oh, that’s such a good conversation because it’s I guess one is, one is good and one is detrimental. And the worst part is like when you’re doing the one that’s detrimental, but you enjoy it. You know what I’m saying? When you have a problem but you still haven’t even recognized it or you’re okay with the problem and It’s almost a natural progress of trying to do better, because when you’re an entrepreneur and you’re like, the idea, the primitive idea of more is better seems to resonate, right? So if I can work, if I work 12 hours a day, and I get x done. If I work, 15 hours a day, I’ll get X plus some more done, right?

And it’s always more is better. But then. I think the line is when your success in your business comes at the expense of success in other aspects of your life, when the success of your business comes at the success of the relationship of your spouse or your family, or your friends or your parents, or, and the way to look at entrepreneurship is it’s like there’s no point of being super successful in business if you know your quality of life is diminished or if you’re overweight or if you’re not taking care of yourself, or if you’re not happy, you don’t have good self-esteem.

I tend to see that line as it’s okay to be passionate about your business. It’s okay to wanna work all the time, but I think that line for me is when it comes at the expense at other aspects of your life. Okay. And yeah, because like one of those things where yeah, maybe this stress is just a natural part of work.

It’s not necessarily considered burnout or unhealthy territory. And this leads on to just such an important question: you’re having a long day. You’re tired, but you have some more work left to do. And the question is, when is it a smart decision to say, Hey, it’s time to push through and bru force my way through these remaining tasks, or I’m already exhausted.

Perhaps I can kinda recoup, take the night off and start fresh tomorrow and possibly get this task done that I’m trying to do now in a quarter of the amount of time with a refreshed mind.

Delia: Yeah, and the word that he used, refresh mind, that’s like key right there. The thing is, I’ll tell you something about I usually, how I usually deal in therapy sessions with clients is I always refer back to the energy levels.

What’s your battery energy level? So I use the analogy, like same thing when you’re on your phone, if you’re planning to watch a YouTube video, that it’s one hour long and you’re a 2% battery, guess what, you’re not gonna be able to finish watching it. So it’s like the same thing with us.

it’s good to be, honest and ask yourself, okay, what is my battery level right now? Can I still go on and still do this one hour left that I have it’s midnight or 2:00 AM or whatever time it is, or, what’s my energy level, right? do I need, if I’m at a five or 10% battery, chances are I definitely need to recharge somehow.

And the thing is, with recharging is not necessarily about, like sleeping or, watching a movie. It’s whatever you feel that it recharges you. So for a lot of people, it could be just, having a half an hour or just one hour of no notifications, right? Going for a walk or just listening to some music that hypes you up, right?

So it’s like having that little bit of energy up boost.

Michael: I see. So lemme ask you a question. Does Delia ever burnout, and I know you mentioned you did and how did you come around to dealing with it? Yes. what specific masters did you take?

Delia: Yeah, so it, it was all about a lot of reflections and a lot of, awareness that I had to deal with.

But it was, it’s basically same thing that I tell clients is always finding out like, what is the pattern? What gets you there and what are the triggers? When do you realize that, Hey, you know what, I think I’m on the brink of burnout or I’m heading there. So for me, a lot of times when I am taking, if I’m taking more clients than I should or if I’m, like working on blogs or like creating content.

And a lot of the times I work more than 16 hours a day. And some days it’s okay, I don’t burn out. But when I realized that I’m having those thoughts that, you know what, you should just lay down on the couch and binge watch that Netflix series or, crave a lot of chocolate, a lot of sweets.

That’s when I know, hey, you know what? My body’s trying to tell me something.

It’s about to slow down.

Michael: Yeah, more isn’t always better. and that’s something that I struggle with too. But I guess, so I guess what you’re saying is it’s the best way to deal with burnout is to not deal with it at all, is to preempt it, is to learn on the, get those initial markers to read what your body’s telling you and course correct before you head down that downhill spiral.

Delia: So that’s the prevention part of it. But when it, if you’re already into the brink of burnout, a lot of the times we wanna have that quick fix. And when you’re already in the brink of burnout, it’s good to have that reflection and to really think about it:;’ what led me to the burnout, right?

And there’s so many different factors and so many different layers. like we have the always on culture, right? that it’s on. And now nowadays, you have, social media and then you see other entrepreneurs or other business. Is that, they’re posting nonstop, so it gives you that sense that you’re either falling behind.

So it’s whatever, what does it drive? what the, what is the burnout trying to tell you that, are you trying to push yourself to the limits? Are you trying to preserve something? What is it that you’re trying to do?

Michael: Interesting. So going back to my initial question that I thought might’ve been a stupid question where I asked, is there relationship between people getting into car accidents and people dealing with burnout?

And infertility, I’m wondering, as a professional, like yourself, I’m trying to get into your mindset here. I. Is there a common denominator between these various disciplines? Because I find it to be finding it interesting that you help entrepreneurs with burnout and you’re dealing with people with physical blunt force trauma and car accidents.

Have you ever looked at it a little more abstractly and saying, Hey, I see why I’m drawn to this specific industry or industries and some sort of commonality between them.

Delia: Yeah, and I’m glad you asked that, it’s actually a really good question. I think it comes down to the fact it’s, however, all of these aspects, they affect your nervous system, right?

Because same with burnout, because it’s chronic stress, it’s how your nervous system is reacting to it, right? So that’s why we have some people that, like they can work for one year straight and they kept going two hours sleep and not have any vacations and they don’t burn out.

So it’s basically how is their nervous system reacting to the environment, what they’re putting themselves through. And it’s same thing with trauma, right? It’s, basically it’s not the event itself. But it’s how you’re reacting to the, to it and how your nervous system is responding to.

Same thing with infertility, right? Some can say that infertility is a traumatic, interesting response. It’s a trauma, but yeah, it’s how your body responds to it.

Michael: That’s cool because from the outside it seems so almost like confusing, like how you focus on such different stuff. But I, from how you’re framing it Yeah, it’s all perception and I guess once you look at it in that abstract lens, you’re almost solving very different problems with a similar mindset. So what would be the number one tip you’d give to entrepreneurs to, if they knew nothing about this process and if they weren’t on your eight week retreat for healing with burnout, like one quick piece of advice, what would you give to them? Just how to dealing or to prevent burnout.

Delia: So the one quick piece would be, to watch out for that, the energy levels, right? Like the, what are the battery levels? So it’s basic, if, you’re waking up in the morning, a lot of the times we, wake up and we think that our energy is infinite.

Like you wake up and you’re feeling, you know what? I’m just gonna accomplish. You put a lot of things on your to the list, but a lot of the times, even after a good night’s sleep, you might wake up with a 60% battery level, right? And if you’re planning to do something that you would do at a hundred percent, if you’re at 60%, good luck. That’s not gonna happen. and another thing, I would say is to just listen to your body. So your body’s constantly giving you signals, but most of us we’re disconnected and we miss them until we’re actually completely shut down like paying attention, like I said, personally for me, it’s creeping in when, like when I just wanna sit on the couch, binge watch Netflix, and redefining what rest actually means for you.

So what does rest, because rest doesn’t mean necessarily the same thing for everybody. So when it comes to burnout, there’s so many different nuances and so many different layers that it gets to that, but I wanted to just leave with one last thing. There was a research done right after the pandemic, the COVID-19, I think it was about 2021 or 2022, where they found that in order to prevent burnout, you need to have at least two hours of free time on a daily basis. And that free time can mean anything from, like watching Netflix or going for a walk.

Michael: Very interesting.

Delia: Yeah, so it’s basically, if you have less than two hours, that would lead you to the burnout.

And interestingly, if you have more than five hours of free time, that’s actually the opposite, that will lead you into, like not having a directional purpose.

Michael: That’s beautiful. I actually never thought of that. So two hours a day of doing nothing can sometimes help everything else be so much more productive.

Delia: Of you time. Like me time. Yeah. So it could be doing nothing or

Michael: Yeah. Lia how can people get in touch with you?

Delia: So they can get in touch with me at get reconnected ca, the website, also on Instagram, all, the social medias @getreconnected.ca, and LinkedIn, all of them.

Michael: Great. Thank you for your time and wisdom.

Delia: Thank you. Thank you for having me.

source https://getreconnected.ca/blog/michael-peres-podcast-entrepreneur-burnout-delia-petrescu/

Why We Obsessively Google Symptoms: The Psychology Behind Health Anxiety

If you’ve ever found yourself at 1:47 a.m., phone glowing in the dark, Googling symptoms like “tingling in left hand heart attack”, you’re not alone. You probably already knew it wasn’t a great idea, maybe you even promised yourself you’d stop googling your symptoms, but somehow, here you are. Again.

Googling symptoms when you’re feeling anxious feels like it should help. You’re looking for reassurance, for that one article or comment that says, “You’re fine, it’s nothing.” And sometimes you do find it… only to feel the panic creep back in hours, or even minutes later.

As a therapist, I’ve had countless conversations about this exact cycle, and I’ve been there myself. This isn’t just curiosity; it’s a way of trying to manage fear. In this post, we’ll explore why we keep Googling, how it fuels health anxiety, and what you can do instead when you feel that urge to search.

A person in a colorful striped sweater sitting on a couch, blowing their nose while searching symptoms on a laptop, illustrating the link between anxiety and googling health concerns.

What Makes Us Google Symptoms in the First Place?

At its core, Googling symptoms is about control. When you feel something strange in your body, like a lump in your throat, a skipped heartbeat, a weird rash, your brain immediately goes: “We need answers.”

And where’s the quickest place to get answers these days? Your phone.

• Desire for certainty: Health anxiety thrives on the idea that if we can just know what’s going on, we can prevent the worst
• Immediate reassurance: We hope a quick search will calm us down, save us a trip to the doctor, and let us get back to our day.
• The illusion of being informed: Searching for information makes us feel proactive, even though we’re often just collecting more reasons to panic.

Real-life spiral example:

One Reddit user said they Googled “jaw tightness” and left convinced they had a heart attack, even though they’d just been chewing gum for hours.

Another searched “gum pain” and spiraled into thinking they had cancer. That’s the thing: Google gives you possibilities, not probabilities…

The Psychology Behind the Spiral…

Intrusive Thoughts and the “What If” Cycle

Health anxiety often starts with a small, intrusive thought: “What if this headache is a brain tumor?” That thought feels urgent, like you need to rule it out right now. Clicking “search” becomes a compulsion, a way to momentarily soothe that spike of fear.

But the relief is short-lived. Why? Because your brain starts filtering for the scariest possibilities. Even if you read a hundred benign explanations, you’ll latch onto the one that matches your worst fear. This is the hallmark of what’s sometimes called hypochondria or hypochondriasis, a pattern of excessive worrying about health conditions.

Doom scrolling and Nervous System Activation

Late-night Googling is particularly brutal. Your body’s already tired, your logical brain is winding down, and your anxiety is in the driver’s seat. Every alarming symptom description fires up your nervous system, keeping you stuck in fight-or-flight mode long after you close your laptop.

You’re not calming your anxiety, you’re training your brain to see the world (and your body) as dangerous. This behavioural pattern can cause unnecessary stress and even lead to unnecessary trips to ER.

What Reddit & Research Reveal About the Real Impact of Googling Symptoms

When you read real stories from people with health anxiety, it’s striking how much they overlap with research findings. Here are some hidden truths we don’t always talk about:

1. Trigger Symptoms → Spirals

Minor sensations (jaw pain, sore gums, tingling) often spark searches. Hours later, people regret even looking.
Research shows people with health anxiety are more likely to interpret harmless bodily sensations as catastrophic.

2. False Reassurance → Escalation

People search for comfort but end up spiralling further when reassurance doesn’t stick. They’re seeking reassurance but finding themselves trapped in a vicious cycle.
This is the “relief-then-escalation” pattern: reassurance is fleeting, but compulsive checking fuels further anxiety.

3. The Regret Loop

Many say: “I wish I could undo that search.” But the next time a symptom appears; they go right back.
This compulsive pattern is a hallmark of cyberchondria

where the vast amount of information available online can overwhelm rather than help.

4. Body Hypervigilance

After reading about certain conditions, people suddenly notice those exact symptoms like the ones they just read about.
Suggestibility is real: some studies found people report stronger sensations after exposure to health information.

5. Specific Irrational Fears

Rabies, ALS, MS, and cancer show up again and again in people’s stories, despite being rare. The hypochondriac tendency is to focus on worst-case scenarios rather than common explanations.

6. Coping Hacks People Try

Timers, writing symptoms down for a doctor, using forums for support. Some even use humour (“indigestion = cancer, obviously”) to normalize their spiral.

Why Googling Makes Anxiety Worse

Health Anxiety + Online Searching = A Real Connection

A systematic review of 16 studies (nearly 5,000 people) also found a solid connection between health anxiety and frequent online research, reinforcing that the more anxious someone is, the more likely they are to scour the Internet for health answers. Some estimates suggest people spend a year in unnecessary medical tests and treatments due to health anxiety and self-diagnosis.

Googling your symptoms when you’re anxious isn’t just unhelpful, it can actually make your anxiety worse because:

• There is temporary relief, long-term harm: the reassurance lasts minutes, maybe hours, before the doubt returns
• Algorithms reward fear: Google shows “clickable” search results first, which often means rare, worst-case scenarios
• Confirmation bias: You’ll unconsciously seek out results that match your fear
• Missed context: Google can’t diagnose you, it doesn’t know your stress level, recent workouts, or whether you’ve had three coffees today

A worried woman wrapped in a beige blanket looking at her phone, showing concern about her health and illustrating the experience of health anxiety.

What We See in Therapy

In sessions, I’ve had clients bring me screenshots of terrifying medical articles, lists of every sensation they’ve felt that week, or confessions like: “I know it’s irrational, but I can’t stop.”

The most common patterns related to health concerns?

• Sleepless nights spent searching for answers.
• Rotating diagnoses… today it’s MS, tomorrow it’s cancer, next week it’s ALS.
• Doubt in doctors – Google starts to feel more believable than a trustworthy health professional or physician.
• Fear of wasting a doctor’s time – so they rely on searches instead of booking an appointment.

The truth is, this isn’t just “overthinking.”

It’s a mix of compulsions, avoidance, and reassurance-seeking, all of which keep anxiety going.

How to Stop the Search Spiral

1. Break the Ritual

•   Delay the search: Give yourself 15 minutes before Googling. More often than not the urge passes.
•   Use a timer: Set a strict limit if you do search and stick to it.
•   Write symptoms down: Save them for a doctor’s appointment instead of searching immediately.
•   Create a “search red flag” list: List topics or phrases you know will spiral you, and commit to avoiding them.

2. Soothe the Nervous System, Not Just the Thought

Anxiety isn’t only in your head, it’s in your body.

•   Grounding exercises: Notice five things you can see, hear, feel, smell, and taste.
•   Breathwork: taking a few deep breaths or trying some of these breathing exercises
•   Gentle movement: Stretch, take a short walk, or do slow breathing to release tension.
•   Talk to someone safe: Share your fear with a trusted friend, not your search bar.

3. Get Real Reassurance

•   See your GP or therapist instead of relying on anonymous forums.
•   Use symptom checkers cautiously, and only ones recommended by a healthcare provider.
•   Explore therapy for health anxiety, like CBT, which helps you tolerate uncertainty without compulsions.

A woman standing outdoors with eyes closed, breathing calmly against a tree, symbolizing recovery and mindfulness after overcoming health anxiety.

FAQs

How do I stop Googling symptoms of anxiety?

Delay the search, write symptoms down, and bring them to a doctor instead. Getting peace of mind from a health professional is far more effective than webbed searches.

Can anxiety make you feel symptoms that aren’t real?

Yes, it can heighten normal sensations or even create physical symptoms.

How do I know if symptoms are real or anxiety?

If symptoms are persistent or worsening, get checked by a doctor. But remember, anxiety can make harmless sensations feel threatening.

Why do I Google every symptom?

Usually to manage fear, but it’s a short-term fix that reinforces anxiety in the long run.

Final Thoughts: What You’re Really Looking For

Here’s the thing, you’re not Googling for information. You’re Googling for safety. You’re searching for proof that you’re okay. But safety doesn’t come from a search engine; it comes from learning to sit with uncertainty and trust your body (and your healthcare team).

If you’re feeling stuck in this loop, you don’t have to untangle it alone. This is exactly the kind of work I help my clients with in therapy – understanding the fear, breaking the compulsions, and building resilience.

If you’re ready to take that step, you can book a virtual session with me here. Together, we’ll help you put your phone down, breathe easier, and start feeling like yourself again!

source https://getreconnected.ca/blog/googling-symptoms-anxiety/

September-October 2025 Get Reconnected Newsletter

We have some exciting news to share in this edition of our newsletter. It’s a special one, a bit more promotional than usual, but it’s packed with something meaningful and valuable for you. Here they are:

Delia Petrescu, RP, Speaking at the Canadian Fertility Show – October 18 2025

We’re proud to share that Delia Petrescu, RP, founder of Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services, will be a featured speaker at the Canadian Fertility Show on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.

You can also visit Get Reconnected at Booth #1, where we’ll be handing out swag bags filled with thoughtful items and resources to support your fertility and mental health journey.

Delia will deliver her talk, The Infertility Maze: Understanding the Trauma Behind It, exploring the emotional reality of infertility and how trauma-informed therapy can help individuals and couples heal through the process.

In addition to her presentation, Delia will also take part in the Meet the Experts session, where attendees can connect with her directly, ask questions, and learn more about mental health support during fertility treatment.

Read the full press release here.

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Podcast Feature: Trauma Therapy and Healing After Loss

Delia was recently a guest on Fertility Village Live, a weekly show dedicated to honest conversations about infertility, loss, and healing.

In this episode, she talks about the emotional complexity of infertility, pregnancy loss, and stillbirth, and how therapy helps process grief that often goes unseen. Delia also explains how trauma lives in the body, what emotional flashbacks look like, and why grief after infertility is so layered and cyclical.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3W1aCq8jjU

Read the transcript here: website URL

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Running for Fertility Awareness

The day after her presentation at the Canadian Fertility Show, Delia and the Get Reconnected team will take part in the FM6K charity run on Sunday, October 19, 2025. The event supports fertility awareness and community programs for individuals and couples navigating infertility.

The team has already exceeded their fundraising goal and continues to raise awareness for the emotional and physical challenges tied to infertility and reproductive health. Their participation reflects their commitment to both advocacy and action, bringing visibility to the emotional impact behind every fertility journey.

Support their run or make a donation here: https://raceroster.com/events/2025/102202/2025-fm6k/pledge/participant/39115601

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Published in Wellness on Time Magazine

Delia’s article in Wellness on Time Magazine dives into Revenge Bedtime Procrastination — staying up even when you’re exhausted to reclaim “me time.”

She breaks down what sparks it, why it’s so common now, and steps you can take to change it.
Grab a copy on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Wellness-Time-Magazine-Sleep-Well/dp/1764339606

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Featured Article: How Digital Habits Affect Mental Health

We recently came across a thoughtful piece from A/X Publisher Digital about how constant phone use affects focus, emotions, and relationships.

Read it here:
https://www.axpublisherdigital.com/mobile-phone-are-now-causing-severe-behavioral-changes

It’s a quick, useful reminder that taking breaks from screens helps our minds rest and reconnect with what matters.

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Podcast Feature: The Science of Burnout with Delia Petrescu

Delia recently joined host Michael Peres on his podcast to discuss the science behind burnout and how chronic stress rewires the brain. She shares practical ways to reset the nervous system and regain balance.

In this episode, Delia talks about:

• The difference between exhaustion and burnout
• Why entrepreneurs are prone to chronic stress
• Her eight-week Burnout Reset Program
• Simple ways to regulate the nervous system

Listen here: https://podcast.michaelperes.com/a-conversation-with-delia-petrescu

source https://getreconnected.ca/blog/september-october-2025-get-reconnected-newsletter/

Delia Petrescu, MA, RP, Speaking at the Canadian Fertility Show 2025 in Toronto

Toronto, ON — October 14, 2025 — Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services is proud to announce that Delia Petrescu, MA, RP, will be a featured speaker at the Canadian Fertility Show on October 18, 2025, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.

Delia will present her talk titled “The Infertility Maze: Understanding the Trauma Behind It”, offering compassionate insight into the emotional toll of infertility and the unique ways therapy can support individuals and couples through this journey. 

Drawing from both her professional expertise and personal experience, Delia will explore how unresolved grief, identity challenges, and repeated treatment stress can affect mental health and relationships and how trauma-informed therapy can help foster resilience and healing.

As a Registered Psychotherapist and founder of Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services, Delia specializes in fertility counseling, perinatal mental health, trauma, and relationship therapy. Her practice provides virtual psychotherapy across Ontario, focusing on helping clients reconnect with their capacity to cope and heal.

The Canadian Fertility Show brings together leading professionals in reproductive medicine, mental health, and fertility care to educate and support individuals and couples navigating infertility, IVF, and family-building options.

She will also be at the Meet the Experts session the evening before the conference, and participating in the 6K charity run on Sunday, where she has already exceeded her fundraising goal.

Event Details

Event: Canadian Fertility Show 2025
Date: October 18, 2025
Location: Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto
Topic: “The Infertility Maze: Understanding the Trauma Behind It”
Speaker: Delia Petrescu, RP, Founder, Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services

https://www.canadianfertilityshow.ca/speakers/delia-petrescu/ 

About Get Reconnected Psychotherapy Services

Get Reconnected is a Toronto-based psychotherapy practice offering virtual counseling across Ontario. Founded by Delia Petrescu, MA, RP. The practice provides therapy for phobias, ADHD, people pleasing, infertility, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges, emphasizing a relaxed, client-centered approach rooted in compassion and expertise.

Media Contact
info@getreconnected.ca
www.getreconnected.ca

source https://getreconnected.ca/blog/delia-petrescu-speaking-canadian-fertility-show-2025-toronto/