This is a very personal post for me, and one that has been weighing on my heart for a very long time. I didn’t know I was going to write though till I was on Molly Hayward site Cora.Life
See since the age of 16 I was on both birth control pills and an antiseizure medication that containted an antidepressant. I was regular in every sense of the word. Even down to my emotional health. Then I met this guy who wanted to marry me and have babies. Guess what, I gladly said good bye to those pills… In a f*cking heartbeat. So I got pregnant and got pregnant again! My kids are less than 24 months apart so yes it did seems like I was knocked up for 2 straight years. But then, when my body started getting back to what was ‘normal’ BOY was I in for a surprise! The emotional roller coaster that came along with no BC pill was horrible. I had no idea how any one could stand to be in the same room with me, Shit I couldn’t stand to be in the same room with me. I spoke with doctors, did internet research and learned I have whats called PMDD (Google It!) this post is about something else. So after I got this diagnosis, and refused medications because of other health issues. I found Cora.Life.com Molly. They have a kick ass blog with lots of great content on health, and nutrition. That’s where I got my start on learning how to take care of myself through these days. What foods to eat, how to get the vitamin B I need as well as yoga moves to get me moving and grooving. Some days I feel better than others but in the end taking care of Wanda is what matters most.
I have my own business and do A LOT of networking. There was absolutely no way PMS or PMDD could get in my way. But it did and does. For 12 days a month yes that’s damn near half the month I almost shut down. I am not nice, I don’t want to do anything but lay in bed and cry. It physically hurts some days. The depression is real. I needed to do SOMETHING. I did seek professional help because this is not just your regular take an Advil PMS. I have a family and business and job duties to perform. I can’t and wont just accept this. I am all about being strong but as strong as I am about fighting this it still knocks the shit out of me and takes over. I had to make my emotional health as well as physical health my top priority. Here are a few tips that helped me, hopefully they will help you too.
- Take the sleep medications. Nothing else was working. There were days where I was up till 3am only to awaken at 6am. I’d go to the gym, drink that sleepy tea, relax in a warm shower but these hormones just took over and I needed to sleep. As an epileptic I can’t NOT sleep. I need it to function. I can say my family or business needs a more rested Wanda but Wanda needs a more rested Wanda!
- I stopped working in my bedroom. (Almost!) I used to work in bed every night now I work 2 or 3 nights depending on what my day was like, and as of the writing of this post, its summer and the kids are home more that may change when schools resumes.
- I have changed my eating and drinking habits. I am more mindful of what goes in. I so love a good cup of coffee and while I may not FEEL the effects I have to be honest and say that caffeine still does affect the body in a certain way when it come to sleep patterns. So I don’t drink it after 7pm. I drink water and tea that’s it.
- Create and KEEP as close to possible, some type of regular work schedule. I blog and have created drafts that I can schedule ahead of time, if you’re a photog like me create actions and presets that will help in your workflow process.
- Get out of your head. PMS and PMDD are very VERY real but the more you get out even on your own the more you will feel better. Chances are you wont have a break down in the Starbucks line and if you do call me!
