Women’s embodied wellness and menstruation : for a full version of this blog post with foot notes and citations : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1snVGnIP5xLyOaXEfXZpLZcgRYz6CtZFfnwHGQq_RJoo/edit?usp=sharing
A deeply impactful long spanning event in a woman’s embodied experience is the menstrual cycle. As a mental health practitioner, I am placed to support women to deepen their ongoing discovery as to how to navigate their own natural cycles and physiology for physical and mental wellbeing; and acknowledging the impact of the menstrual cycle and hormones on mental health is part of this.
I believe it is a disservice to our (menstruating) clients if we are not taking this into consideration; or pointing them in the right direction to start considering this information and how it can be important for them if we don’t want to or don’t feel qualified to include its consideration in sessions. We can also do this by acknowledging our lack of information or specialization and perhaps the need to refer clients to an ayurvedic, TCM practitioner, naturopath or traditional doctor to support them with their mental and physical well being, as I would do at the level of information that I have.
The menstrual cycle and its accompanying hormonal changes impacts such a broad range of things. It is a BIG factor but is still:
- Little spoken of
- Little researched
- Little disseminated (we remain very uninformed. One example we are highly uninformed as to the high correlation of mental health issues with hormone imbalance)
- Little supported culturally or educationally : for instance in my entire formation as a therapist this HuGE and DEEPLY IMPACTFUL subject was considered or covered for a total of zero seconds. Even in ongoing specialized education, training is very slim on the ground, and far surpassed by the burgeoning fad popularity of branded psychology trends and methodologies which take female hormones as a non consequence in their approach, such as the overly popularized IFS approach.
The menstrual cycle and its accompanying hormonal changes impacts such a broad range of things from:
- depth and quality of sleep/ tendency towards wakefulness and insomnia
- sensitivity or resiliency to temperature changes and resting basal temperature
- energy levels
- calories and specific nutrients needed or how they are used
- mood stability or vulnerability to swings and sensitivity
- skin health
- our sense of smell and also smells we emit!
- Relapse or exaggeration of mental health symptoms
- and so on.
Hormones also deeply and unequivocally impact mental health being linked to schizophrenia, major depressive issues, anxiety, insomnia, etc.
A lack of information and therefore lifestyle support for our psychology and emotional wellbeing coming from ourselves as individuals and also culturally during different phases of our cycle can also exacerbate or deepen the list of possibilities. (EG if I schedule all my most taxing business appointments during pre bleed and first few days of bleed, I notice not only will I be drained to the point of tearful exhaustion, but I will also feel discombobulated, emotional, less clear and less energized for the whole duration of the remaining phases of my cycle. If I rest during this time, really deep, spacious rest, with as little scheduled as is possible, I feel bright, light, energized and relatively pain free through my cycle).
Our environment and lifestyle, cultural consciousness, and personal conscious and unconscious schemas (including shame, disgust, rejection) around Women’s bodies and natural functions, impacts how we experience our cycles also.
All must be considered for women who wish to live well and unentangled from unconscious or unhealthy practices that diminish their wellbeing, energy levels and internal cycle.
This paper is a contribution to generalized, rather than specialized information regarding the menstrual cycle. It is a place to get started, but is not an ending point – ongoing discovery can happen both experientially with playing with new or remembered knowledge, and also through specialized care from, for instance, an ayurvedic practitioner who can work in dosha balancing to support your cycle, or in a menstrual wellness coach. But this is an entrance point of basic information—for therapists to give to their clients, or for women to come to independently and take what they like, and as the saying goes, leave the rest and perhaps add to the wisdom they have already that they can weave into part of their lives.
Navigating the Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a natural, recurring process that occurs in females of reproductive age. Dr. Diane Grise, ND writes that ‘the female cycle results from the natural fluctuation of various sex hormones as the brain (pituitary gland), ovaries (releasing of the egg) and the uterus (a hollow muscular organ with the inside lining shedding during menstruation) work together to orchestrate the four unique phases each month’.
The menstrual cycle is therefore not just about bleeding but an entire cyclical process involving interacting bodily systems that occurs in women between the onset of menstruation and menopause. It involves changes in hormone level and in the function of the ovaries and the endometrium, the lining of the uterus that create four distinct phases: Menstruation, Follicular Phase, Ovulation, and Luteal Phase.
Each phase has its own unique hormonal profile and can impact energy levels, mood, sleep, athletic and cognitive performance and mental health (plus more) in particular ways. Knowing about these, and most importantly getting to know our own unique experiences of these, can help us maximize our mental and physical wellbeing and our interactive experiences with our world and community.
In this article, we will explore the phases of the menstrual cycle, the hormonal changes involved, and provide tips for starting inquiry points on how to care for oneself during each phase.
Menstruation phase / Winter
The first phase is menstruation, which occurs when the endometrial lining of the uterus sheds, leading to menstrual bleeding. This phase lasts for about 3 to 7 days and is characterized by decreasing levels of progesterone and estrogen.
The drop in these hormones (progesterone and estrogen) can affect mood, leading to irritability, anxiety, overwhelm, sadness and general heightened emotions.
Kate Merrick, a therapist, writes « This is a time of heightened intuition, quiet reflection, and stillness; a time to attend to our inner emotional and spiritual world and to withdraw from the world outside, as much as our action packed modern life allows ».
Pay attention to your body’s needs during this phase, as both emotional vulnerability as well as fatigue, cramping and other physical symptoms can be factors. It’s essential to prioritize self-care during this phase by getting enough rest, restricting energy expenditure (unnecessary or unfulfilling social encounters for instance, not that they are ever a great idea, but very much to be avoided in this phase!) , eating nutrient-dense foods, and engaging in self-compassion practices.
During this phase our bodies can be prone to cold; so it is advised also to soothe your system with warmth: warm foods, drinks, clothes, infrared saunas, etc and to avoid too much cold exposure. Eating easy to digest, warm, soft, nutrient dense foods that are both physically and emotionally nurturing and supportive to nervous system stability (i.e. don’t let yourself get too hungry or strung out) is also key.
Many women can find gentle exercise can help alleviate cramps. Because of the slump in energy during menstruation, low-intensity aerobic exercises, such as swimming, yoga, strength training and light cardio – including walking and cycling – can be easier on the body. They’re non-weight bearing activities and not very endurance heavy.
Follicular phase / Spring
The second phase, the follicular phase, starts after menstruation and lasts until ovulation. During this phase, the hormone Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) stimulates the growth of several ovarian follicles, each containing a potential egg.
As the follicles mature, estrogen levels gradually increase, which can improve mood, enhance energy levels, and boost libido.
As the dominant follicle takes over, estrogen production further increases, leading to a rise in serotonin, the neurotransmitter associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. The heightened estrogen levels during the follicular phase can make you feel more energetic, confident and optimistic.
Basic research suggests that there is an innate link between estrogen and increased brain function as well as creativity. This is a time to seize the opportunity to embrace collective actions, creative projects, learning new skills, scheduling important tasks or meetings, or work on projects that require analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
Even so, it is important to be aware of the potential hormonal fluctuations and mood swings that can occur during this phase. To stay balanced, maintain a healthy diet, engage in regular exercise, and practice stress-relieving techniques such as meditation, embodied movement, dance or yoga, or deep breathing exercises.
Ovulation Phase / Summer
The third phase, ovulation, occurs when the mature egg is released from the ruptured ovarian follicle (from either the left or right ovary). This phase typically lasts for a single day and is characterized by an increased presence of luteinizing hormone (LH), which causes the surge in estrogen and progesterone levels.
These elevated hormones can lead to heightened mood, improved mental clarity, and an increased desire for sex. Others also pick up on our hormonal changes (that apparently make our scent, eyes, lips, even limbs softer and more inviting!) Ovulation can be a great time to feel confident in oneself, and with a partner, or simply bask in the joy of enhancing your social interactions and connections.
To balance the increased energy levels and sexual arousal that accompany ovulation, stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet, and enjoy engaging in physical activity.
Whilst this is generally a time when women can feel energized and optimistic, open to social connection etc; ovulation and the change in hormone level can sometimes cause mood fluctuations or even mini depressive moments. So again, get familiar with your own cycle and your own triggers and energy and mood fluctuations so that you can both anticipate and care for yourself well in the moment.
Luteal phase / Autumn
The final phase, the luteal phase, starts right after ovulation and lasts for about 10 to 14 days until the next menstruation. During this phase, the corpus luteum, (a temporary mass of cells left behind by the disintegrating follicle), releases progesterone and estrogen to prepare the uterus for the possible implantation of a fertilized egg.
The rise of progesterone levels can trigger feelings of fatigue, irritability, and sadness/depression. It is crucial to prioritize self-care during this phase to manage these symptoms and support overall emotional and mental well-being.
« Conventional Western and Integrative Medicine recognizes that when a woman’s progesterone does not rise as expected during the luteal phase, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are often profound, resulting in a significant change in mood, pain, sleep, heavy menstruation, and decreased energy levels. When there is a prolonged imbalance of the ratio of estrogen to progesterone, we refer to this as estrogen dominance. This can result in tissue changes including endometriosis or uterine fibroids ».
Engage in activities that feed your soul, such as spending time in nature, engaging in creative pursuits, or social connections with those that enable you to feel supported and nurtured. In addition, practice stress-reducing techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga or gentle creative pursuits such as writing, painting, etc to connect with yourself when you have the time.
Stay warm! : « Based on the principles of TCM, avoiding frequent cold-water immersion during the luteal phase (prior to menstruation) and during menstruation will support the warming of the uterus required for proper blood flow and reduce painful menstruation ».
Your cycle: supported through understanding and self care
So, now you have been introduced to each phase again and hints at possibilities of how to take care of yourself in each part of the cycle, we will take a look at a few common pointers.
Plan in advance
Get to know yourself and your cycle so you can plan in advance : food, activities, who and where and how you spend your time. Planning may seem anal, but actually packing a warm coat for winter isn’t anal; it’s common sense that helps you enjoy and have fun in the cold. Planning for each phase of your cycle helps you to receive what each phase has to offer, and build your energy and wellbeing and hormonal balance progressively and cumulatively over each month.
Part of self care and self compassion can be planning in advance; and creating plans that are congruent with your physical and emotional state. For instance, when you are grieving, you wouldn’t plan certain social activities because of heightened needs and vulnerabilities. In the same way, plan what nurtures, soothes and energizes you during each phase of your cycle.
You can think about it like this: the menstrual cycle is a unique and essential bodily rhythm that affects every aspect of your life. In order to truly thrive, it’s essential to understand the different phases and their accompanying hormonal changes. By doing so, you can make conscious decisions to support your physical, emotional, and mental well-being throughout each phase:
Developing a Harmonious Relationship with Your Body means Embracing the cyclical nature of your menstrual cycle and recognizing the various phases as opportunities for growth, self-care, and understanding. By becoming more attuned to your body and its needs during each phase, you can better anticipate and manage any potential challenges and feelings of discomfort.
Mood and Mental Health During Menstruation
Recognize that changes in mood and mental health during menstruation arenot uncommon. Many texts say they « normal » (perhaps not so, yet normalized because this is an under researched area of core importance, and we are living with normalized mental health issues stemming from inaccurate information and care around our menstrual cycles). Either way, unfortunately Women’s experience of emotional symptoms during their cycle is very common, but I hope this will change, with increased research and application of research in our individual and collective lives.
Each cycle can vary from woman to woman, and from cycle to cycle . It’s essential to be patient with oneself and practice self-compassion, and to stay connected at all costs! to your own bodymind and its experience so that you can navigate well. Don(t shoot the ‘second arrow’ when you are feeling low, overwhelmed, confused, raging! Welcome your experience with as much kindness as you can muster and know this too shall pass. If your mood is very impacted then do consult a professional who can support you through traditional or conventional medicine path to balance your hormones and subsequently extend greater resiliency and balance emotionally.
Track Your Cycle, including moods, energy levels, sleep, etc:
Maintain a menstrual cycle journal to document your symptoms, energy levels, and mood changes. Use this data to create personalized strategies for each phase of the cycle, such as adjusting your exercise routine or modifying your diet to better align with your body’s needs.There are apps now that will make this process so easy for you, and hold your hand each step of the way, also accumulating information about your mood, energy levels etc at each phase to feedback to you. Easy peasie!
Practice Embodied Mindfulness:
Engaging in embodiment practices will help you stay grounded and connected to your body throughout the menstrual cycle. Chuck out the idea of practices, diets, etc that are good and bad for others because all that is important is what is good for you. Embrace what works for you. Don’t impose yoga on yourself because it is a should or seems spiritual, if it doesn’t bring you into your body. Find something else, like whistling barefoot on your lawn.
Hormone fluctuations can change our stress level, emotions, and even I believe our nervous system states, exasperating or exaggerating embodiment or dissociation. It is important that we learn how to stay embodied, and set this as a priority in our lives, knowing that success in our work, relationships, health, etc grows from this strong, open and loving foundation of own presence.
Learn about how to live in harmony with your inner seasons and your outer world.
This requires study! (as our normalized modern life has strayed so far away from what we have adapted to live in!) and experimentation and time. enjoy the journey : )
Eat and drink right for you!!!!!
This could be a while book, but you know 🙂 You know 🙂 Hydrate, nourish. Eat foods at the right ties, in the right quantities for your body. Consult a specialist if you need to. Take supplements if you can, for instance iron or nettle tea building up to menstruation, camomile to calm cramps. Food is medicine, preventative medicine. Treat yourself as well as your life and budget allow and reframe healthy living as the treat, rather than acid creating sugar treats and fast food.
Embrace period positivity.
It is part of your life, part of the body you were given, part of a shared collective experience. Destigmatize, deshame it. Learn yourself well through taking in and digesting new information and attitudes towards the menstrual cycle. Learn yourself well in your relationship to your menstrual cycle and body. If people around you shame the female body and its processes, you get to walk away rather than swallow this misinformation and violence. Embrace body positivity (which includes period positivity) for yourself so that you can support young women in our culture, growing up in a culture which does not support their most basic emotional and physiological needs of women. You be the change: for you and others.
Identify Hormonal Imbalances (with the help of a practitioner if necessary)
While hormonal fluctuations are a normal part of the menstrual cycle, significant disruptions in energy levels, mood, or mental health could indicate an underlying hormonal imbalance. Familiarize yourself with the following signs:
– Persistent Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms: If you experience severe or persistent symptoms such as severe cramps, bloating, mood swings, or headaches several days before your period, it may be indicative of hormonal imbalances or other medical conditions. Consult with your healthcare professional to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
– Irregular menstrual cycles or absent menstruation: Changes in the frequency or duration of your menstrual cycle can be an indication of hormonal imbalances caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), stress, or other factors. Regular doctor visits and discussion of your menstrual patterns can help identify any underlying issues.
– Acne flare ups or over excessive hair growth: Issues such as PCOS or hormone-related conditions may cause changes in the balance of sex hormones, leading to acne outbreaks or excessive facial Hormonal fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle can significantly impact a woman’s energy levels.
Don’t let things stagnate
For our cycle to be comfortable, things need to be in flow in our body and mind. Keep practices as such that you experience your emotions but they don’t build up or create blocks. Keep communication open, honest and kind in relationships so that things stay balanced and in a flow of reciprocity and harmony. Keep your body moving gently, without over or under expending it physically and energetically so you stay in a state of harmonious flow. Don’t under or overeat, and eat in accord with what your body needs, at times that it can receive and digest the food, to keep your digestive system in flow. Moving, eating , sleeping well and self massage help keep lymph circulating, as do use of heat and cold (at appropriate points in your cycle). Keep the breath moving, and if you tend towards shallow breathing, practice breathing techniques that help the flow of prana and oxygen into and around your body, and the flow of waste out. These are just a few examples of how to stay in flow. Writing, painting, singing or dancing out our feelings, staying in connection with our environment, the seasons, the daily rhythm of night and day and the seasons around us, keeps us connected and supported by a greater organizing force and flow of the world that we are part of.
Embrace your choices
If periods are too traumatizing and overwhelming for you physically or psychologically, it doesn’t matter the reason, know that you have choices and every woman gets to decide what is globally healthy and right for her. There are interventions now, as for instance those provided by Seasonale (https://ressourcessante.salutbonjour.ca/drug/getdrug/seasonale) that you can discuss with your health provider. Is Menstruation Obsolete? argues that regular monthly bleeding is not the “natural” state of women, and that it actually places them at risk of several medical conditions of varying severity. The authors maintain that while menstruation may be culturally significant, it is not medically meaningful. Moreover, they propose that suppressing menstruation has remarkable health advantages.
Because of cultural changes, shorter durations of breastfeeding, and birth control, the reproductive patterns of modern women no longer resemble that of their Stone age ancestors. Women have moved from the age of incessant reproduction to the age of incessant menstruation. Consequently, they often suffer from clinical disorders related to menstruation: anemia, endometriosis, and PMS, just to name a few. The authors encourage readers to recognize what has gone previously unnoticed that this monthly discomfort is simply not obligatory. They present compelling evidence that the suppression of menstruation is a viable option for women today, and that it can be easily attained through the use of birth control pills. In fact, they reveal that contraceptive manufacturers, knowing that many women equate menstruation with femininity and that without monthly bleeding would fear that they were pregnant, engineered pill dosage regimens to ensure the continuation of their cycles. Indeed, throughout history societies have assigned menstruation powerful meaning, and Is Menstruation Obsolete? presents a fascinating history of how menstruation inspired doctors to try therapeutic bleeding for a variety of ailments, and how this therapy remained dominant in Western medicine until the early 20th century.
Is Menstruation Obsolete? potentially offers women a fresh view of menstruation, providing them with the information they need to make choices about their health.
Questions/ starting explorations for each cycle as you start to familiarize yourself with the changing needs of your body:
Here are examples of questions that you can explore to get a little more familiar with each phase of your cycle, but again, they are just examples pointing you towards finding your own way.
- How is my sleep? How can I support my sleep?
- How is my appetite? Do I eat too much or too little ?
- What do I crave food/ drink wise? What actually nourishes and energies me during this phase?
- How is my mood? What supports positivity, clarity, connection, compassion and balance in this phase?
- How do I feel about my body, nervous system and energy? Heavy, light, blocked, open, flowing, cold/hot, etc? What exaggerates or lessens this? how do i want to feel, what do i need to support this?
- How are my energy levels? what energizes me at this phase in my cycle (e.g. intense exercise might energizes you at one point, but not another; or socializing might nourish you during parts of your cycle, but tend towards depleting you at other parts).
- How much rest/sleep/ exercise /alone time/socializing do i tend to need to stay sane and well?
- What emotions do I tend to have around this time? How do I act from this place? What would I like to experience? How can I prepare for that?
- What self care practices really vibe with me at this point in my cycle ? What do I need? What feels out of reach that I can let go of for this phase ? (eg if you really struggle with dissociation, numbness and emotional overwhelm and ptsd symptoms during pre bleed, meditation might not be the lost helpful resource, rather warm clothes, yummy scents, time with loved ones, gentle exercises, self massage, music that uplifts you, weight training, etc might help you stay present and in your body better than meditation). (also when we should be ourselves with self care, we miss the point. t is therefore good to acknowledge that our resistance or incapacity to self care in certain ways might be because we have a personally or cultural imposed idea of what is good, right, healthy for us, but it just isn’t, or it brings up too much for us if we care for ourselves in this way. so honor yourself, the intelligence of your resistance, and listen to what you truly need, relationally, tenderly, daringly. )
- What am I sensorily, sensually and visually drawn to or need in this phase? What kind of environment do I need to be in? do i like or need a lot or a little stimulation at that time?
- How do I feel about my body? and sexuality ? How does my uterus and vagina look/ feel? Dry? Lubricated? Irritated? at this phase of my cycle? Again, how can I extend wisdom and care to support and enhance my experience of wellbeing and balance?
Examples of Self care questions:
- How can i open myself to what i am experiencing in the here and now
- How can I love and accept this as part of my experience?
- what do i feel and need in this moment
- can i honor my needs as valuable and equal to those around me and lovingly take care of myself by ‘putting on my oxygen mask first’
Resources
I am going to supply a very non-exhaustive and potentially contradictory list of resources here, just to give an example of some of the information (and different forms of it, different opinions and ideas and approaches) that are there, as a possible starting point for you to find an approach that resonates with you. Remember women have been under-represented in academic research and science and so this area is still developing. There are not huge amounts of studies charting hormonal changes, and how these impact us, but hopefully this will continue to change, as it is doing.
Online blogs and academic research/papers (just a few examples):
HER CENTER: Exploring the link between reproductive hormones and mental illness in women: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/her-centre/education/publications
Infradian Rhythm: Your Guide to a Perfect Cycle:https://www.floliving.com/blog/infradian-rhythm
Example of ayurvedic approaches to menstrual cycle health:
Benefits of cold plunging for women : https://www.optimyze.me/blog/considerations-for-hot-and-cold-exposure-in-women
Examining impact of light on hormones : Morning exposure to bright light in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle stimulates the secretion of hypophyseal reproductive hormones, promotes ovary follicle growth, and increases ovulation rates in women with slightly lengthened menstrual cycles. This might be a promising method to overcome infertility : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1851732/
Sleep in women: a narrative review of hormonal influences, sex differences and health implications: Monica L. Andersen, Helena Hachul; Isabela Antunes Ishikura, Sergio Tufik: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sleep/articles/10.3389/frsle.2023.1271827/full#:~:text=High%20 levels%20of%20the%20 progesterone,et%20al.,%202018).
How Women’s Hormones Can Affect Their Sleep – And Tips for Improving It!:: https://vpfw.com/blog/how-womens-hormones-can-affect-their-sleep-and-tips-for-improving-it/
Role of Ovarian Hormones in the Modulation of Sleep in Females Across the Adult Lifespan
Alana M C Brown and Nicole J Gervais: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7450669/
Dietary energy intake across the menstrual cycle: a narrative review
Michaela M Rogan and Katherine E Black: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10251302/
To what extent do sexual hormones influence bipolar disorder?: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9480242/
ADHD and hormones: https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-and-hormonal-changes-in-women // https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/hormones-adhd-connection // https://www.additudemag.com/low-estrogen-adhd-hormones-theory/
The menstrual month: how to exercise effectively at every stage of your cycle: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/feb/02/the-menstrual-month-how-to-exercise-effectively-at-every-stage-of-your-cycle
Books (just a few examples)
Fix Your Period: Six Weeks to Banish Bloating, Conquer Cramps, Manage Moodiness, and Ignite Lasting Hormone Balance by Nicole Jardim
Do You Have a Tipped Uterus?: 69 Things Your Gynecologist Wishes You Knew by Melissa Wolf (Author)
The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power and the Facts by Dr Mary Claire Haver
Period Repair Manual: Natural Treatment for Better Hormones and Better Periods by Lara Briden ND
Sacred Woman: A Guide to Healing the Feminine Body, Mind, and Spirit by Queen Afua (Author)
What’s In Your Womb? by Ma’at Maakheru et al.
Is Menstruation Obsolete? by Elsimar M. Coutinho (Author), Sheldon J. Segal (Author)
In the FLO: Unlock Your Hormonal Advantage and Revolutionize Your Life //and Womancode: Perfect Your Cycle, Amplify Your Fertility, Supercharge Your Sex Drive and Become a Power Source , both by Alisa Vitti (Auteur)
Doing Harm: The Truth About How Bad Medicine and Lazy Science Leave Women Dismissed, Misdiagnosed, and Sick by Maya Dusenbery
Capitalizing on the Curse: The Business of Menstruation by Elizabeth Arveda Kissling
Period tracker + Apps (just a few examples)
Clue : https://helloclue.com
MyFlo App: https://www.floliving.com/app
App review (including pricing comparison): https://www.runnersworld.com/uk/health/a44015414/period-tracker-apps/
Centers and Organisations (just a few examples)
African Coalition for menstrual health management: https://acmhm.org
Lady Garden: (also provides information around cancer prevention) https://www.ladygardenfoundation.com/resources
Flo : (3.1 billion women are suffering from chronic hormone issues. FLO Living is here to change that.): https://www.floliving.com
HER Centre Australia is dedicated to understanding and treating mental illnesses experienced by women. Our focus is creating interventions and treatments that are tailored to the unique aspects of mental illness through a woman’s lifespan: https://www.monash.edu/medicine/her-centre/home
Period Positive : https://periodpositive.com
Ending note
It’s imperative that as therapists we don’t collude with the culture of shame or disinterest /misinformation or ignorance by perpetuating the silence around the menstrual cycle in the services we offer.
In my training in psychotherapy in a somatic (as in body based approach) course; the menstrual cycle never came up once as a study point. Prior to that, I was given no education, at school nor in society, as to how to care for myself throughout this cycle, or the huge and far ranging impacts of this cycle when out of balance.
Infact, the education that many women received (at the time I was growing up anyway), overt or covertly, is that periods and anything period related are a subject to remain shamed and silenced, unexplored in the shadows of our awareness, not inconveniencing or disgusting anyone else. A whole part of our life, self, being and month, was cloaked with cultural shame and disgust.
And more importantly, the menstrual cycle and its impacts on physical and mental health is woefully under researched and under-represented. Research links a huge range of mental health issues such as ADHD, BPD, BP, Anxiety, Depression, Suicidality to hormonal fluctuations and imbalances. Yet this research is so slim on the ground, and so under instrumentalized in our approach to mental health that every time I even consider it I am literally astonished.
The shame and powerlessness girls and women so often experience in relation to their cycle – is cultural not individual. The lack of information around caring for their body and minds as the body does its thing – menstruation and then the menopause – has a significant impact on how women experience themselves inter and intra personally: as a human being in its own right, in their relationships, in the workforce, as athletes and in the home.
This is a call for researchers, mental health practitioners and educators to take seriously this incredibly core and absent factor in Women’s wellness, so that it’s presence, and happy, well women, become a normalized presence within our culture.