Do I say I Love My Period or I Love My Periods?
Immediate thought when writing this. You see a lot of young women like myself hardly know a lot of vital information when it comes to our menstrual cycles (Not saying that grammar is that vital...but you get the point).
It’s that time of the month again. I feel weird letting you in on my cycle but it’s bound to change so am I really letting you in on that much?
I love my period.
I try to understand why I feel this because I know it sounds strange. For a lot of women getting their period is the absolute worse thing ever. We only get like one week of calm.
I concluded that there are four reasons why I love my period.
I have a bad habit of being anxious. So when I get my period it's like verification to my brain that my body is working.
When I was in middle school I used to be so scared I was pregnant. The most I had come close to a boy was getting side hugs from my guy friends. I would go into a serious panic thinking my period would come late. I thought I was going to be the next Virgin Mary and there would be a docuseries on my life.
2. I bleed out of my body and it doesn't hurt???
Menstrual cycles are absolutely fascinating. Going through my cycle each time makes me so appreciative of my strength and the strength of others who have menstrual cycles. When I first got my period I remember being so scared to wipe. I thought it would hurt so bad. I thought would bleed out, found dead in a puddle of my blood the next morning. I didn't sleep at all because of the anxiety and discomfort of the entire roll of toilet paper I stuffed down my pants. After some years, I am now a pro (insert emoji with shades and a smiley face).
SIKE.
Nowhere near being a pro. I just found out about the hormone progesterone that helps regulate menstruation. Do you know how I found that out? AN ALLERGIC REACTION FROM A WOMEN'S MULTIVITAMIN GAVE ME HIVES ALL DOWN.
The two weeks following my period are so challenging. I get angry, sad, horny, anxious, fatigued, nauseous, hungry, I break out, my breasts get tender, inflammation of joints, bloating, cramps, and of the infamous period poops.
Insight into my last 72 hours:
I cried to an elementary school choir rehearsal from TikTok
Thought half my leg was half paralyzed because of soreness
Stopped myself from throwing up three times
Almost blew $80 on food delivery because I was so hungry despite me eating a full meal
Thought I had breast cancer because my breasts became so enlarged and tender
I had experienced all that and was ready to call it a night until I felt it. A sigh of relief left my body. So there was a reason I did all that and I'm not this ugly monster I thought I was.
I love my period.
3. It keeps me on my toes.
When my symptoms are really aggressive, I take it as a sign that my health isn't as good as I need it to be. My cycle should be consistent and when it's not, I try to point out any outliers as to why my body is experiencing what it is. I learn new things about what I can handle from the food I eat and even the discussions I want to partake in.
4. Allows me to recenter
There is no rush. Absolutely no rush. Going to the bathroom every couple of hours and having to pee badly has taught me to slow down and recenter. I was at my university the other day with a checklist of things I needed to get done. Once I went to one location I was told I had to walk across campus to handle something else. I was ready to go to my next location, but I had to go to the bathroom. I debated not going because I felt rushed even though I had nowhere to be that day. I made the right choice and decided to go because I ensured myself everything would get done and I rather not bleed through my pants in that process. The imaginary stop clock disappeared.
It's time to take control of your period and stop letting it run your life. A great first step in doing that is accepting your body in whatever state it's in during your period and loving it. Ways to start building that into your routine is by saying positive affirmations. Find what makes you comfortable from what pad size you're going to wear to what temperature you like your heating pad.
My period is my main dawg. Crazy BFF that's going to be with me til' the end of time... or until I get menopause. Despite the symptoms I face, I love my period. I have a reminder every 28 days of how capable I am of pretty much anything. I can play sports, go to work, and do just about everything while my body is regulating. I am unstoppable and if you get your menstrual cycle know that YOU are too!
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