Happiful August 2019
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Lyzi | Instagram: @being_little<br />
Using an app to track<br />
my moods, and<br />
remembering that it<br />
will pass, is helpful<br />
Blogger Lyzi Unwin shares<br />
how her menstrual cycle<br />
affects her.<br />
“Even though my cycle is pretty<br />
much like clockwork, I still find<br />
myself frustrated and confused as to<br />
why I feel so down every month.<br />
“A day or two before my period<br />
is due, I suddenly have an<br />
overwhelming, crippling bout of selfdoubt<br />
and anxiety. I am convinced<br />
that I’m awful at everything, the<br />
ugliest creature to have ever walked<br />
the earth, and that everyone hates<br />
me. Even if everything in my life is<br />
running smoothly, the thoughts are<br />
always the same.<br />
“I haven’t yet found anything<br />
to stop the thoughts, but using<br />
an app to track my moods, and<br />
remembering it will pass, is helpful.<br />
Having a quiet day, and an early<br />
night can be really beneficial, as is<br />
talking to friends who understand.”<br />
Lyzi Unwin blogs about mental<br />
health, fashion and lifestyle at<br />
beinglittle.co.uk<br />
“For those who need extra<br />
support to be able to cope with<br />
their menstrual cycle, it can be<br />
a long journey to find the right<br />
treatment – which may include<br />
any combination of hormonal<br />
treatments, antidepressants,<br />
talking therapy, and lifestyle<br />
changes such as moderated work<br />
schedules and dietary changes,”<br />
Simone says.<br />
OK, so the bad news is that our<br />
menstrual cycle can be linked<br />
to some pretty difficult mental<br />
health challenges. The good news<br />
is, with knowledge comes power.<br />
WHY YOU SHOULD START<br />
TRACKING YOUR CYCLE<br />
Cycle tracking may sound a little<br />
scientific, but it’s actually really<br />
simple. There are countless apps<br />
to help (we love Clue, Moody<br />
Month, and Flo), but you could<br />
also make notes in a journal.<br />
The key things to keep track of<br />
are the day of your cycle (the first<br />
day you bleed is day one) and how<br />
you’re feeling. Over time you’ll<br />
have a better understanding of<br />
your cycle, and how it affects you.<br />
“Menstrual cycle awareness<br />
helps people identify where their<br />
strengths and vulnerabilities lie<br />
in the cycle,” says Claire. “Each<br />
phase of the menstrual cycle<br />
may benefit from a different<br />
approach to self-care, work, or<br />
What is PMDD?<br />
relationships. Tracking helps to<br />
reveal how to live more in flow<br />
with this internal rhythm.<br />
“Many women find their mental<br />
health needs more attention on<br />
certain days of the cycle, and this<br />
awareness itself can literally save<br />
lives. I look forward to the day<br />
when our mental health systems<br />
integrate and prioritise menstrual<br />
cycle awareness.”<br />
So, what can we do when we feel<br />
our cycle impacting our mental<br />
health? Claire says it’s all about<br />
self-care.<br />
“At more vulnerable points in<br />
the cycle, the best kind of selfcare<br />
includes a combination of<br />
getting professional and personal<br />
support, taking some space, and<br />
having personal boundaries,<br />
moving slowly, drinking lots of<br />
water, and sleeping as much as<br />
possible. Knowing where our<br />
sensitivities lie in the cycle, and<br />
being tender with ourselves at<br />
these times, is excellent and<br />
transformative self-care.”<br />
Raising your awareness is your<br />
first step to gaining control, and<br />
if you think you would benefit<br />
from professional mental health<br />
support at any time, don’t be<br />
afraid to reach out.<br />
Learn more about Claire’s coaching<br />
services and menstrual awareness<br />
courses at thisislifeblood.com<br />
“Women living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can<br />
experience a huge impact on their quality of life, due to the constant<br />
cycle of deep depression that lasts for extended periods each month.<br />
Relationships and work can also be affected due to social anxiety, and the<br />
debilitating effect of severely painful periods, which can also affect selfesteem<br />
and libido.”<br />
– counsellor Simone Ayers<br />
Simone is based in Hertfordshire, but also offers online counselling sessions and supports<br />
those with PMDD. Learn more and get in touch via simoneayerscounselling.com<br />
<strong>August</strong> July <strong>2019</strong> • happiful.com • 47