UPDATED 03/15/2025
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Yes, we’re talking about period pain. When I originally wrote this post, no one was talking about it. Why?! It’s something all women live with, but it still seems to be taboo. I’m not sure why, but we’re talking about it. Today.
I started my period when I was in 4th grade. I was one of the only girls to have it and I was just nine years old. The feeling of embarrassment was front and center and it was torture. My mom, who is a nurse, gave me all the science mumbo jumbo hoping it would help ease my mind. It didn’t. I was becoming a woman at an early age and wouldn’t be able to do some of the things I wanted to. No swimming when my friends wanted to go and no soccer because the period pain was too much. I couldn’t even use a tampon because I was too young. And my so-called friends knew I had it and teased me. I learned early on that girls truly can be downright mean.
Back then, it was common to give young girls birth control as a way to cope with our periods. Because the cramps were so bad, it was what my doctor recommended. As an adult, looking back, I have a strong suspicion that that was not the right way to go. Yes, it helped the period pain somewhat, but it made other things change. My hormones changed significantly, my feelings and emotions became stronger, and my sex drive ranged from high priority to non-existent. Despite my mood changes and weight gain, my doctor kept me on birth control until I was in my 20s. That’s when I decided to stop taking it.
When I stopped “the pill” my period pain was more noticeable. On Day 1, it was severe, almost to the point of being a non-functioning adult. Day 2 would be mild and almost gone by Day 3. Advil and a heating pad became my two best friends. Some of my actual, real-life friends didn’t have any period pain and I cannot tell you how jealous I was. It’s also funny how we didn’t tell each other when we had our periods, just kind of knew.
Behind closed doors, we had quiet conversations. Our discussions were about our periods were always done in whispers. Keeping these conversations a secret were important. Society didn’t accept conversations like this out in public. Even my mom thought having conversations out in public would make people look at me negatively. As an adult, I have no freaking clue why. It’s a natural thing that happens and all women should feel free to discuss it if they want.
Today, my periods are regular, about every 30-35 days my friend Paco comes to town. The worst period pain is in the morning of Day 1, followed my lots of trips to the bathroom. My mood swings happen before Paco actually visits and I think my husband can tell when it’s coming because of how many tears I shed. In about five days, it’s miraculously gone. My experience is very different now as an adult and I attribute that to the changes I’ve made.
Exercise became important for me. The more regularly I exercised, or just moved my body, the less I felt the pain. It wasn’t about how strenuous the workout was or how many calories I burned. It’s about how many days a week I moved my body. Recommendation: Aim for 4 or 5 days a week. It helps more than just your period symptoms.
Proper nutrition became a lifeline. The food that I ate had to be good, quality food and if it didn’t, my body would pay. I would feel sicker, more puffy and when my period came I would really feel it. Recommendation: Shoot for the 80/20 rule. Have 80% of your food be quality, clean foods that will nourish your body. Allow the other 20% to be whatever you want.
Use natural pain relievers like a heating pad or CBD. I take the Harmoni Gummies from Soul CBD to help with the mood swings and lessen the pain. You can use my link and save $20 off your first order of $50+. Recommendation: Get a great heating pad or test out CBD gummies to see if they help.
And your mindset needs to matter. I never thought having my period was a blessing, rather thought of it as a curse. As I aged, I realized it was neither. My thoughts changed from my period being a curse to way of life, something that was just a normal occurrence. When I started to think that way, it became something I just dealt with each month. Recommendation: Change your mindset, change your ways. As you start to think about your period differently, you will feel like it controls you less and is less of a burden.
Thankfully, I had many resources at my fingertips that have helped me make changes along the way. One of the best resources was conversation with other women. I’d like to continue the conversation with you and remove the uncomfortableness that surrounds having a period. If you’re brave enough, comment below and share your experience! I’d love to hear about it.
