For as far as I can remember, menstruating days meant locking myself up in my room, curling up in bed with severe cramps, crying my heart out and craving a lot of sugar. I even remember instances of fainting right in the middle of our school and university campus (no, not embarrassing at all).
Even though I knew that the pain was linked to my period, I always thought it was just normal. This is how it should be. You get your period and you go through a lot of pain. No?
Somewhere in my 20s I discovered an amazing pain killer and that pill had literally become my drug. I would even start taking the pill a few days before my period, just to ensure I numb my body completely before feeling any pain.
It is not until now, at the age of 31, that I actually started asking more questions. Is this normal? Will I have to take these pills every single month for the next 20 or so years? Why is it so painful anyway? And what is my body trying to tell me?
While doing my research on menstruation, I came across Alexandra Pope’s book “wild genie” in which I got a deeper understanding on the importance of connecting deeply with our period. I highly recommend you check out her books if you are interested in gaining a deeper connection with your period, or even your partner’s.
By gaining deep awareness we can go beyond the pain and understand a lot about our body and spirit.
Our body is a channel, and when pain rises, it is here to tell us a story...something we need to watch out for...For me, the message was to slow down, and so I did - i slowed down a lot. For the next 3 months that followed, I dropped the pills, and I gained awareness.
I started to live my life in synchronicity with my period. Which means, I respect that there was a time in the month, in which I need to slow down and rest. There is a time for high energy and flourishing, and a time for going within and retreating.
My period was here to give me that chance for relaxing, an invitation to respect my own physical needs and just rest. And so I accepted that invitation and it made all the difference.
From consciousness rises a deeper connection to our own self and we start healing.
Since then, I welcome my period with much less pain and I await the chance to go deep within and surrender to my body’s will.
Menstruation is a time for letting go of what does not serve us, allowing that release to happen naturally as we witness, trust and respect its presence.
So allow yourself to release, feel the pain and go within, ride the wave and trust the journey - do not medicate your pain, it’s calling for your attention.