A taboo topic
Many of us weren’t taught the ins and outs of our period. Our education began and ended with “here’s a pad for the bleeding, pain killers for the cramps, and feel free to indulge in a little chocolate”. Our society has deemed the topic so taboo that we often have to pretend that our bodies are the same as men. We act like everything’s fine, even though we often feel like we’re dying inside.
We see these problems affecting us in almost every area of life. Our energy, mental well-being, and fiscal health all take a toll when we hide the fact that we are beautifully different from the other half of the population. Female bodies work on a different schedule, with different needs. When we cut off and silence this part of ourselves, we also miss out on the chance to use the gifts that this phase has to offer ourselves and society.
In contrast, when we embrace the menstrual phase and work within it, we gain all of the benefits that come with it. Rest, time to reflect, and plan for the following month, and insights into our health. Not only do we benefit, but so do the people around us as we show up better at home and in our community.
At 18 years old, I began my journey into learning about my body. I had such bad period cramps that I couldn’t keep Tylenol down long enough for it to ease the pain. My mental and physical health were affecting each other in a seemingly endless downward spiral. Thankfully, I came across a TedTalk given by Alisa Vitti, author of Woman Code and In the Flo. She offered me a lifeline and made me realize, it didn’t have to be this way! And so began the almost obsessive study of the female body that has lasted almost 6 years.
We're not alone
All around me, I hear similar stories. So many of us feel like we can’t keep up, or we are not living out our true potential. Some of us, for at least a few days every month, feel like we’re dying.
Why?
There isn’t a straightforward answer to this question. Everything is connected. Sadly, there’s a lack of education that we receive as we come into womanhood. As well as, the expectation that “I can do everything that a man can, and I can do it in heels”. There’s also science excluding women from studies because our cycles are too complicated for them to handle. The cards are stacked against our growth and understanding of our cycles and hormones.
Change is coming!
Thankfully, we’re beginning to see a change. Society is starting to finally pay attention to what has been staring us in the face all along. More research than ever before is focusing on the changes in our histology from week to week. Software companies are developing apps like FittrWoman (designed to help women optimize our fitness training to get the best results) are beginning to make their appearance.
Picture this
What differences would we see in the world if we recognized and worked with our differences? What if every young woman was empowered with a full education of her inner workings and how to optimize every day of her life? What if men were not only warned that you were basically a different version of yourself from week to week, but taught what to expect, and how to support the women they love. What if you had the freedom to take it a little easier when you were on your period rather than suffer through or use a sick day because the company understood that rest would make you superwoman when you get back to work? Can you imagine?
This future may be a long way off (if it ever comes), but we are seeing some changes already. You don’t have to wait for the world to change to see a significant difference in your own life. Simple steps, such as scheduling areas of your life that you can control at the best time for your body, eating the right foods at the right time, and continuing to grow your understanding of the way that your body works, can have a major impact.
If you want to keep learning, check out this post which will get you familiar with the four phases of your cycle, and the main hormones that drive it.
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