#75: Hormones + Grace: Let’s get real

How can you give yourself grace during that “time of the month”? We can’t get around it: having a period is something we live with so let’s bring it into the light and talk about how you can be kind to you when your hormones — and emotions — feel all over the place.

In this episode, we’ll:

Commiserate about what’s going on during that week– all the things we feel
And walk through nine ways to give your life, mind, and body a break during the time of the month.

Before we get started, please know I am not a medical professional on any level. Scroll to the bottom for information on RebekahFedrowitz’s podcast, You Are Well: Health podcast, for episodes on hormones and PMS.

Your period affects you in two ways:

Emotionally
Physically

So how can we give ourselves grace during this time? What’s a try-hard girl to do when the week hits and she’s exhausted, overwhelmed, and wants to unleash her venom on others?

I’ve outlined two major buckets on how you can extend yourself grace:

Work around your period, and
Face it

Because here are two facts you know to be true:

Your energy is lower and this is the time you feel least like yourself.
And you also value being kind and compassionate to yourself

So let’s talk about how to work around and face your period.

I’m not talking about avoiding or ignoring it, but working around the limitations you may feel during this week. Working around your period is akin to going down a water park slide — you let the slide take you where it takes you.

Three ways you honor your body and lean into grace by working around your period:

Figure out what drains you and let those things go.
Assess the activities as they relate to how much energy they take.
Finally, go with the ebb and flow of the hormones in your system.

Six ways to face your period

When I talk about “facing it,” I mean that you take the bull by the horns, look it in the face, and say, “This is how we’re going to handle this, okay?!?!”

Treat yourself like you would a friend.
Take your thoughts captive.
Despite what you feel or say or do, you are responsible for your actions.
Keep your family in the loop with what’s going on.
Seek medical care.
Buy + wear comfy pants.

Key Quotes

You can give yourself grace, not by shutting down and neglecting your responsibilities, but by working around your limitations and with your capacity this week AND by facing the reality of what amazing work your body knows to do all on its own.
God wants you to live as the human you are, not dehumanize yourself by powering through as if you’re a machine without feelings or physical pain.
Our God cares about our bodies, our mental health, and rest. He never asks you to power through during your period. He’s actually looking for ways to give you a break from your normal rhythms and responsibilities.
There is no downside to apologizing.
I’m guessing you would never shame a friend, so please don’t shame yourself.