Let's talk about periods and body shame 🪞

Hiii 🤎

You may have seen over on Instagram recently I’ve been talking about a study looking and the premenstrual experience and body shame.

When I polled you guys, 83% of you experience a premenstrual worsening in body image. But 40% of you have either kept that experience bottled up or only spoken about it once or twice. There’s something about the combination of feeling negative in our bodies and anything to do with periods being taboo, shameful or hushed.

And that’s the very reason WHY I’m talking about it.

Unfortunately we always jump to blaming the female body (thanks patriarchy). We jump to content about “beat the bloat” or “cure your PMS” or “heal your hormones”. And don’t get me wrong, I get it. Finding relief from symptoms is justified. And there ARE some lovely little tips and tricks we can use to support an alleviation of PMS.

AND

I also want us to focus on the fact that our body ISN’T wrong. It never was. What is wrong is the societal constructs that tell us what our body “should” look like or how it “should” function.

The study also found that we are less likely to practice “self-policing” behaviours (such as exercising) in the lead up to a period. This letting go of these behaviours resulted in an increase in guilt. The researchers encouraged people with periods to exercise more to help relieve the guilt.

Well you can bet I have thoughts on that:

1. What I wish more people knew is that our capacity for eating and exercising a certain way changes throughout our menstrual cycle. In fact, our metabolism increases and our exercise capacity decreases in the lead up to a period. If your “self-policing” behaviours involve eating less food and doing more or higher intensity exercise IT MAKES SENSE why you would let these go premenstrually. They’re going against your body’s needs.

2. Not to mention the shame piece. The more shame we have, the less we look after ourselves. Shame is a terrible motivator.

Overall, I would love you to know the following:

1. Negative body image in the lead up to the period is normal (but not essential)

2. Talking about our experience with trusted loved ones or practitioners can help

3. Your body is not wrong

4. Learn a little about self-compassion to support shame reduction

5. There are things we can do to alleviate bloating/fluid retention, mood swings etc.

6. Societal body ideals are the WORST and having a healthy critique of cultural ideals can support body image

Thanks for reaing my rant <3

Nadia xx

P.S. Got thoughts? Send me an email or DM me on Instagram. I'd LOVE to hear from you.