What if I let myself flow with the wind?

What if I let it move me?

What if I planted my feet and knew that I would not blow away?

What if I let myself fully feel its power?

Maybe the sense that I constantly need to resist this power is actually what troubles me…

It's officially Premenstrual Disorders Awareness Month!

This month is typically seen as a time for those of us with lived experience of PMDD to try and raise awareness amongst those without lived experience.

But when you live with PMDD, awareness can be so much more than just learning the list of symptoms, diagnosis stats, and demographics. 

Awareness is a pathway to healing.

To me, week 1 of luteal feels markedly different to week 2.

The first week for me is typically more anxious and angsty. The fire of ovulation still rages but now it has a bite and spice to it.  

The second week of luteal feels more depressive to me, like a flood quenches the fire and I am left treading water…

At ovulation, our energy, expression, and estrogen PEAK! The peak itself is usually pretty enjoyable. But what goes up, must come down.

This is what I call the Post-Ovulation Descent

The Post-Ovulation Descent is when estrogen levels start to decrease after ovulation. We may feel a decrease in our energy and our outward expression as well.

But through cycle awareness, we can learn to consciously step down from the peak of ovulation, rather than falling off and crashing. Here’s how…

The Follicular Phase is the inner spring of our menstrual cycles — around days 5–12.
Estrogen, energy, and expression are on the rise.
We might feel fresh, renewed, easy-going, and energized.

This phase only lasts a little while, but through cycle awareness, we can harness this powerful positive energy to support PMDD — and help make our luteal phases a little more steady!

Was there ever a point in your life when you stopped dancing? 

When I was a little girl, I loved to dance. You probably did too.

Along the path of growing up, I stopped dancing. I remember other kids laughing at me. I wasn't good, so I guess I shouldn't dance…

I hope you never stopped dancing. But if you're like me and stopped at some point, it's high time for a reclamation.

There's a BIG misconception that managing PMDD only really matters during the luteal phase when we are experiencing PMDD... but in my experience, that is simply NOT true.

Managing PMDD takes a WHOLE CYCLE approach, and it starts with our periods!

Here's my recommendations for caring for yourself on your period to support PMDD:

It's the age old question with a complex answer. So let's get into it! 

Exploring threads of connection through research, mythology, linguistics, and spiritual tradition.

There are four distinct phases of the menstrual cycle–related to the cyclical physiologic changes we experience–each with its own energy, strengths, and challenges.

Menstrual. Follicular. Ovulatory. Luteal.

They might just rewire your subconscious mind and make you fall in love with your menstrual cycle.

At least they did for me…

“So you really have NO symptoms before your period!?” The homeopathist asks with incredulity. She stops her tip-tip-tapping on the laptop for a moment to look up at me.

It’s hard for me to answer that question. I get squirmy. Because the answer is no, but it’s also much more than that.

“So you don’t have low mood, or get tired, cry a lot, cramps, nothing…?”

I’m not quite sure what to say. Because yes, my mood does change with my cycle. Yes, I do feel more tired at certain times of the month and need to give myself more rest. Yes, I do cry many many beautiful tears, drops of catharsis and connection, expression and empathy. And yes, sometimes there are cramps… And yet, to me, these are not symptoms. Not at all.