Pop-up Podcast Mental Health Month: Sanity & Your Period

This Episode: Jekyll and Hyde....or,  Self-Care During and Around Your Period

If you’re anything like me you may have to look at the calendar every month when your inner crazy person starts to surface. I know not everyone has such cliché mood swings, but I actually have to do a calendar or pill check quite often if I feel myself emotionally freaking out.

Tips:
1. Don’t schedule important meetings or big events around your period if you can control your schedule. This was actually a tip from a therapist when I was a teenager. The more I follow that advice, the smoother things seem to go. It relieves the pressure which helps me go easier on myself.

2. Include good food. I’m not going to tell you to avoid whatever your food monster is craving, but try adding something good. An easy way for me to do this is to make sure I get a big helping of organic fruits in a smoothie and add some frozen banana (which, in my house, has been relegated to the “freezer banana” section of the freezer after living out its life till freckled on the counter. Usually I’ll add some superfoods like hemp protein and chia seed. Hemp has 15 grams of protein per 3 Tablespoon serving! Bananas have magnesium which can help with cramping.

3. Move It! This is one I have to force myself to do. Today I got 33 min in on my mini stepper! So, that’s not a lot, but I have a deal with myself that I just have to do 20 minutes and I can stop if I want to. Usually I do more. It’s been a couple days since I’ve had any activity and I needed it for my mental health as much as anything else. Typically I also live by the rule of not going more than 2 days in a row without a workout. That has wavered with physical challenges, but now that I’m mostly able to do something on any given day, I just make the effort to make progress by taking the right action (in this case, getting activity in).

4. Hugs! They’re freakin’ important for your health, yo! There have been times in my life when I was extremely hug deficient. Actually, kind of like, now! My hug tank is low. This about it. Do you get the minimum 12 per day? I bet many people don’t. Hugs and massages for everyone is an answer to public health and physical and mental longevity ailments. If you aren’t near a friend or loved one, or you’ve recently moved and don’t know many people, consider booking a regular massage. (Tips in a future article about how to build massage into your routine when funds or time are tight). https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and- wellness/2018/february/affection

5. Furtherapy! If you are fortunate to be able to own a pet/furbeast/furbaby they are such helpful sensory distractions which can help distract and lessen the PMS stress. Got emotional pain? Stick your face in that furry beast. It helps. I promise. :::cue crazy cat person voice:: “They’re just so cute. How could anyone not feel better after giving you kissies? You’re so cute. Who’s my crazy beast? Who’s my Buddy Butthead and Whismy Woo?” Oh. Ahem. Try it. (If you have health reasons why this would be a poor choice for you, I’m sorry. That sucks. My friend Theresa is allergic to nouns but she still finds some enjoyment in cute cat videos on Animal Planet and the Internet.

Additional Links:

LA Wine Fest June 1-2, 2019 in Long Beach!

Jessica Lorimer of Smart Leaders Sell: was on episode 3 of the podcast talking about burnout.

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