Hankering for hormonal heaven? I know the feeling.

To be perfectly honest I paid very little attention to my hormonal health prior to having kids. I was aware of minding myself during my menstrual periods and not overdoing things around that time. I was very mindful of my health during pregnancy and I’d worked with a number of women in my practice who experienced various hormonal difficulties so I was aware it was an area of interest.

 But having children opened pandora’s box for me in so many ways, hormonally, mentally, emotionally. It was such a transformative journey. Becoming a mother sent me on a quest for many things… patience, confidence, self-love, and also for better ways of taking care of myself, nutritionally, emotionally and socially. I felt as though I was getting to know myself all over again while also encountering parts of myself for the first time.

 After I had my second child, I entered new hormonal terrain. For most of my life, periods and hormonal fluctuations were a minor discomfort with manageable ebb and flow. After my son was born, that all changed. I breastfed for 13 months or so and my cycle came back somewhere during those last 3 months. It was immediately irregular, unpredictable and difficult.  I struggled with PMT, dramatic mood swings bursting into tears over the slightest thing or losing my temper with the children. My periods, when they did arrive, were longer, more painful and more exhausting.

 For a long time, I did nothing to help myself. Despite all my training and knowledge, somehow when it concerned my own welfare all of that practicality and wisdom went out the window. I had two small children to distract me from my own health needs as well as juggling work, attempting to find time for creativity and the usual household tasks. I also had a large unruly garden calling for time and attention. In my imagination, I was wandering about picking herbs and salads being a delightful earth mother. In reality I was often exhausted and overwhelmed, riding a hormonal rollercoaster that was lunging and diving on a regular basis. 

 At first, I didn’t really notice what was going on because I was so wrapped up in daily life and also, as a natural health practitioner, I suffered from the unfortunate misconception of having everything together on the health front. Why would I need support when I already knew everything I was supposed to be doing? I think a lot of us feel like this no matter what area we work in. It’s not easy to ask for help.

 I recall my mum asking one time, where are your tools? What about all your skills? Why couldn’t I just apply them to myself, she wondered. I was failing at applying them to myself because I needed help and support to get there. I knew I had the answers to my problems but my hormonal landscape was so out of whack that I couldn’t see the wood for the trees. And I thought I was supposed to sort it all out myself,

 Eventually, I sought support and over the next few years, attended a number of natural therapists; figuring out my energy levels, creating a healthier lifestyle for myself and very importantly, exploring my mindset and my patterns. I took natural remedies, nutritional supplements and worked on my diet. I nourished myself as I nourished my young children. It would be fair to say that that period of my life has been my best education.

 Of course, I’m still learning. But during those years I became fascinated by the hormonal journey, by the emotional rollercoaster we ride as women, by our strengths and difficulties. I came out of that time determined to help other women in the same situation. I did additional training and became more and more passionate about women’s health. I’m continually amazed by the debilitating symptoms women endure. How they put their own needs aside and look always to meet their children’s needs, their partners or help their extended families.

 And at the same I can completely relate to them, because I’ve been there. Very often my clients remind me of myself on different parts of my own journey, figuring things out, muddling through and sharing the bigger story. So many of our experiences are so similar, it moves me to hear other women express the same fears, concerns, anxieties, hopes and intentions that I’ve also grappled with and continue to journey with.  Hormonal and emotional health are completely intertwined and I work with women on every level to find those interconnections.

 It’s not about giving any one thing, it’s about a comprehensive, holistic approach, it’s about communication and connection. If any of these issues resonate with you, you’re very welcome to join my free webinar – Get your Hormones Back on Track in Motherhood 7-8pm on June 10th, I’d love to see you there.

“Vulnerability is not weakness, it’s our most accurate measure of courage.”  

Brené Brown

 Photo by Sasha Freemind on Unsplash