Menstrual Cycle and Spirituality: Do you (women) find it challenging to stay balanced? Do you (men) have partner who suffers spiritualy? How do you cope?

I find menstrual cycle affects me extremely emotionally. During this period, it is very difficult to maintain my peace within and I become hyper sensitive to what/who's around me. I try to meditate and sit with my emotions that are all amplified but soon become overwhelmed with great despair/sadness. I will walk around all day ready to burst into tears. I keep reminding myself that this will pass as I know it will. But, it is challenging....

Do you, if you are a woman, experience similar emotional turmoil? What do you do? Is there anything you do that works for you to stay with loving heart?

Do you, if you are a man, have a partner or a friend who experience these kind of emotional roller coaster? What do you do to support her? Is there anything you do that brings back her smile?

I'd appreciate any reply as I become lost at even what it is that I need during this time....

Love and Light,
Yoshiko

I remember Eckhart Tolle talking about this in either the power of now or his new earth. I vaguely remember that he said that women relive all the accumulated aggression that have endured from the male oppression in this period. Unfortunately I can only share the male perspective, but my limited experience is that during this period women share their pain with the men in one way or another.

Hope this helps and all the best,

Christian

hi i too find things a little more challening ,during some times of the month,but i also suffer from borderline personality disorder so that can affect my emotions too,sometimes i cry at silly things!!chocolate helps! i also ask the angels to prepare my way for the day ahead. i say the the angels of divine love prepare my way,this helps the day to run a bit better.love and light marianne x

I find that time fairly challenging, also. The most important thing to remember is to be kind to yourself! Instead of fighting against the hormones and emotional changes, try to take them as they come up, feel them and let them go. I find that teas are comforting. Certain incenses soothe me. I suggest trying to continue with your spiritual practices as much as you can. Even if you aren't getting the same results as you might while not menstrating, every bit can help. Basically, to stay with a loving heart, love yourself and your body all the more at this sensitive time.

Thank you for replies and suggestions. As it passes, I can feel my spirit starting to lift gradually. I enjoy hot cup of herbal teas! Now that I was reminded...I think I may try to see if there's any aroma (herbal) that may soothe my sensitivities. When it's all over and a few day goes by, I cannot think or an answer why it becomes so difficult or almost impossible for me to see how much love I'm surrounded by and how wonderful I am just the way I am right now...so puzzling...

I have one more suggestion. During that time, perhaps you can try thinking about your best friend, your sister, your mother, and what you would do to comfort them...and then do those things for yourself. It can be a trying time, but in a sense it is also a wondorous time, because everything that makes you a woman and feminine is so amplified. I'm glad that your spirits are lifting!!!

Ok this might seem insane... but could a part of the issue be diet? I know that when my wife's chemistry is off from to much yeast... to much gluten... too much sugar in her diet... her cycle affects her emotionally to a greater degree. Just a thought

Glad to hear your feeling better

That's a very valid point, Randall! I've noticed the same issues related to diet myself. Don't know why I didn't think of that last night!

It is not insane at all. Food is so important not only for our physical health but mental and spiritual well being. My diet is whole food based. I stay clear, as much as possible, from refined sugar, processed foods, wheat.

Chemical unbalance? during this period brings strong craving for sweet/salty food and I really have to stay mindful to make better alternative choices to what my hands are trying to reach....which is hard

My husband warns me, too. So from the receiving point, because of the mood I may be in, I could think ugly about this kind reminder...but deep down in my heart, I really appreciate it and it gives me a chance to think about things.

Thank you,

You know... there's something a little disturbing when you are wandering around reading posts and discover that your husband is discussing your menstrual cycles with a group of women you don't know...just sayin

LOL...in all seriousness, our hormones and all manner of chemicals in our bodies go haywire when we experience our cycle...and ya I know we all know that...but the research I've done around it suggests that when you have really intense mood swings and depression during this time it is likely an imbalance of some sort, which can very well be food related, or perhaps you are over producing something etc.

I have to admit if I can keep my stress levels down, and eat pretty good the weeks prier, then I usually don't have really bad reactions.

Also, there is something that happens energy wise during these times that is very powerful and opens us up to some amazing universal and earth energy, as well as enhances our ability to move energy from the earth to the sky, and visa versa.

I sometimes think that these extreme mood issues can be caused by a sensitivity to these things happening.

Randall also had suggested once to me that he noticed a difference sometimes to how I was acting and reacting during my monthly cycle based on what was going on in the world at the time and how I was dealing with it...which goes hand in hand with the energy from earth to universe etc.

We hold amazing power as women, and we move amazing amounts of energy on a regular basis...anything out of balance could make the most intense part of our month unpleasant.

Just some thoughts.

Thanks, Shannon. I saw a few thing stuck out from your reply.

>eat pretty good THE WEEKS PRIER...
I can give this a try for next time around (there's always the next round for us, isn't there...). I can be more mindful during this prior weeks, even before I started to notice my usual cravings.

>these extreme mood issues can be caused by a sensitivity to these things happening.
Events surrounding personally weighs heavier but I can see what you are getting at. For example, it happens to be I was at the time of the month recently and I couldn't shake off over anxious/worrisome feelings aside from the worries I was experiencing from my personal life. Then, I heard the news on the radio that there were a rather strong quakes around North and Tokyo in Japan. And my gut reaction was "I knew it". Odd but that's how I felt. ...mind you I'm born and raised in Japan and all my family is there.

I do feel like a giant satellite during this period. Receiving not only my own emotions but feeling the energy everyone else carries. The thing is I receive negative energy only and become blind to positive.... Positive encouragement doesn't sink and spread through me like it always does. I only stare blankly at the source of this loving soul and fill myself with sadness....

I remind myself all the time that even if it is difficult emotions I experience during this time, they are one of emotions and experience I need/chose to experience in this life.

Love and Light,
Yoshiko

Good Afternoon....

Yoshiko,

I was also reminded of something that might help. Our craving for sugar is the same as our craving for protein, and I think we often get the two mixed up.

Try a good quality protein bar or protein drink when the craving hits, it takes a little longer to satisfy, but I've found it helps....

Also on the anxiety issue, which I completely understand, I've had some real success with the understanding that most of the time, it has nothing to do with me but rather issues that are happening with someone I'm connected with, or an energy from outside...world events etc.

I've spent a few years working on it, when I feel the anxiety I first look within and see if I have any real issues to cause this, then I feel around at my family and current circumstances, and then reach out to others I'm close to and finally feel the energy of the world. Through this exercise I've actually managed to eliminate much of my anxiety...although I'm not sure it would work for anyone else...but maybe worth a try.

Good luck!!

Thank you Douglas,

Acceptance is, I come to realize, my next step. I have "tried" to accept my emotions during this time. A few times when I come close to an acceptance, I felt lighter because I know it's just part of being a woman and it will pass. Other times, and most of the times, ...not so easy. There was once the same custom in Japan to let women retreat during this time and I understand why. I find it soothing to be in female company especially, even I with to be comforted by my partner (but it doesn't work...).

I appreciate your insight,
Yoshiko

It was Eckhart Tolle that talked about menstrual cycle being a "sacred" time for women. He had said that women are more attuned to their emotions than men (hey just quoting)and that during menstrual cycle they are at the height of their sensitivity. I had also read about Native tribes who leave women to be alone with "spirit" during these times because having your cycle is a sacred time to be with God

Reading this stuff made me appreciate my moods and sensitivity during my cycles. It's just "stuff" coming up waiting for me to deal with so I have also claimed this time to be my "sacred" time as well. I make sure i have a lot of alone time and journal my dreams (which are more in depth and intuitive during this time), so actually this has become a healing period for me. All in how you perceive it right?

hope this helps