Your mind, body, and flow… wit h G race Author, vlogger, and trainee counsellor, our columnist Grace Victory delves into taboo topics, and shares her raw, personal insight each month
I
n 2016, I decided it was time to come off my contraceptive pill. I started taking it when I was 19, without being fully informed of the side-effects these hormones could have on my health. So by the time I was 26, I had this sudden realisation that I had no idea what I was putting into my body. Being the inquisitive woman I am, I began some research and stumbled upon hundreds of articles that spoke about the link between the pill and reproductive or menstrual issues, which really resonated with me. My periods had become few and far between, and I often sensed a huge disconnection from my body on a spiritual level. I felt I was silencing my physical form from doing its thing. So I came off it, hoping my problems with menstrual health would end, but in reality, they were just beginning. A few months after coming off the pill, I started to bleed non-stop. The bleeding would sometimes be extremely heavy, and other times extremely light. After getting the all clear from my GP, and numerous tests for things like PCOS and endometriosis, I sat with myself for a few days. I could hear my intuition telling me
that this was my womb healing, and now was the chance for me to connect to my cycle. So that’s exactly what I started to do. I read books, I meditated, I attended womb-healing circles, and I began to journal my cycle daily. I would write how I felt emotionally and physically, the colour and feel of my discharge, as well as any other symptoms and feelings I thought were relative. After a year or so, and with much patience and inner belief, my body started to respond. My periods became more regular and consistent, and slowly but surely my flow became ‘normal’ for me. I recognised stress would make my period late, and one month my bleed would last six days and another it would last three to four days. Without journaling, I wouldn’t have known any of this. And then I noticed something in my journal entries that completely shocked me. There were times every month where I felt hopeless, sad and actually quite depressed. I would cry and cry, and sometimes I didn’t even know why. It felt like a thick grey cloud was following me, that made me change into a completely different person. I would become more needy, passive aggressive and snappy. There have also been
What’s right for you...
I recognise that coming off the pill is something that other people may not have the option of, or want to do. However for me, it was a decision I made after thorough research. It’s important to do what works best for you, and make sure you’re fully informed before making any decisions – speak to your GP for advice and information. times I couldn’t get out of bed in the mornings because life felt a bit too much. I would sleep more, eat more, and scream more. I was a hot mess. A beautiful, wild, mess of a woman. You see, we aren’t really taught that we are cyclic beings, and therefore our bodies and moods will change throughout the month. Due to hormones that can sometimes change dramatically, how we feel can change dramatically too. If you’re dealing with other mental health issues, these can feel unbearable during your bleed – they become heightened and exacerbated. Spiritually, it’s like all the things you need to reveal and heal are bleeding out too. There is something to be said about
