The Unspoken Cycle

**Quick disclaimer before I go on: I am in no way an expert on any of the topics that I’ll discuss in my blogs. I’m simply expressing my thoughts and sharing the things that I know about the experiences I’ve had and so many others I know have had too. I will provide resources at the end of each blog for you to explore for more information and education, and you can always check them out on my Resources page.**

As far back as I can remember I’ve associated my emotional ups and downs with “my hormones”, but didn’t even realize what that really meant! I don’t know about you, but my dramatics just seem to make more sense when I have something to blame them on lol

Seriously though, is it me or is it my hormones?

In order to answer this question, we as females have to understand a lot more about the pesky and oh so delicate hormones that run through our bodies. I’m not going to dig into our cycles in this post, that’s a whole other discussion needing to be had. But here, I’m going to give a few tidbits of information on the two main female hormones and how they impact our day to day lives.

Say hello to Estrogen and Progesterone, our two friendly, and sometimes not so friendly, female hormones. I’m almost embarrased to say that I knew of them, but didn’t do my due diligence in trying to understand them until I began wanting to know more about my body through my fertility journey later in life. Now I feel like I can write a 20-page informative essay on them. Just kidding!…maybe 😉

Anyhow, back to E & P. Estrogen is probably the hormone you’ve heard about the most. In short, Estrogen is responsible for A LOT of occurences in our bodies! From puberty and adolescent development, to cycle regulation to reproductive health, Estrogen is a major influence on what and how we’re feeling. As the levels of Estrogen fluctuate throughout the month according to what stage of the cycle we’re in, it plays a direct part in the effects and production of Seratonin and Endorphins…you know, the infamous “feel good” chemicals that are produced in the brain. In fact, women with higher than usual Estrogen levels may also be more susceptible to anxiety and depression. As Estrogen rises and falls throughout the monthly cycle, depression can settle in on the downward side. This typically impacts women who are more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. Women who are further into menopause, or are in their postmenopausal stage may be even more sensitive to Estrogen influence because of the various medications taken that have hormonal influence. Have you ever said to yourself, “I’m moody because I’m PMS’ing”? Well, the truth is, when Estrogen levels rise during your cycle, it defintely does impact our mood swings! So you’re defintely not wrong.

Moving on to Progesterone…this is the “happier” hormone as I like to call it lol! It is a slightly less-known female hormone, but one that’s equally as impactful on us! Progesterone typically supports our good moods! You know, the UPS, not the downs. This hormone is such a great influence on our moods and can actually act as a natural anti-depressant. At certain times in our cycles, typically a week or so after ovulation, our Progesterone levels rise and this rise can also cause us to feel sleepier than usual. Progesterone also helps ease some PMS symptoms and influences our cycle regularity each month. Too much Progesterone can disrupt the ovulation process and delay periods. So, while it’s the “better” of the two hormones, it can also impact the flow of our cycles in ways that aren’t so great.

All in all, Estrogen and Progesterone have to work well together so that our bodies, and moods, have a smoother flow together. They both play vital roles in how our bodies and minds function…or don’t function. Now that I’m much more aware of how they influence my cycle, I can better understand where some of my moodiness, or just overall mood fluctuations come from. And understanding that cycle also affords me the opportunity to be proactive in preparing for the future. So if I know that mood swings hit me HARD a week before my period, I can choose to prepare my body and mind ahead of time. Diet, exercise, vitamins, meditation, stretching, healthy sleep habits…all of these things can influence how we feel and help to combat pesky hormonal fluctuations. Now, I’m not talking super severe mood fluctuations. In the event that you have very high high’s and very low low’s, and/or find it difficult to engage in simple daily functions like getting out of bed, eating or brushing your hair/teeth, it’s always best to consult a professional who can assess you to see if there’s a greater need of care for you to help you cope.

So that, my friends, is a little Holy Hormones 101! Of course, there is SO much more information to learn, but this is a great start right??

And to answer my own question…and probably many of yours! It is most definitely NOT you, it’s totally the hormones! Saying that still just makes me feel better 🙂

I highly encourage everyone reading this to explore a bit more on your search to a better understanding of how your body works, inside and out!

You know, FIND YOUR FEMALE WITHIN!

References:

“The Relationship Between Estrogens and Depression”, article by Nancy Schimelpfening 9/17/2020

“Why Progesterone is Both Good and Bad for Mood”, article by Laura Briden 8/14/2020

Helpful Reads:

The Hormone Cure, by Dr. Sara Gottfried

Woman Code, by Alisa Vitti