How Your Cycle Impacts Journaling (week one journal prompts)
How do your hormones impact the art of self-reflection? Plus, a journal session to accompany the article, Benefits of PMS.
How Your Cycle Impacts Journaling
Each phase of your cycle has it’s own energetic experience based on which hormone is influencing your brain chemistry.
There’s a million & one charts / graphics / blogs out there about your “inner seasons” but I’m going to give you MY interpretations as a Certified Fertility Awareness Instructor who studied the Art of Cycle Syncing with cyclical somatics for three years.
PREMENSTRUAL PHASE
Begins with onset of physical & emotional symptoms until period arrives
HORMONES: depending on the health of your progesterone levels, your hormones will either steadily or dramatically decline in the hours (or days) leading up to your period.
BRAIN: your brain chemistry during this time is focused on bringing projects started in the pre-ovulatory phase to completion. (note: this doesn’t always have to mean an ENTIRE project - it can simply mean you’re wrapping up the next step in the process).
ENERGY: decreasing hormones creates a steady loss of the calm, soothing effects induced by high progesterone. If you’re feeling particularly overwhelmed with life stressors, you may notice it impact you in the form of: less energy, lower productivity, etc.
MOOD: The incremental loss in progesterone’s calming effects cause a heightened sensitivity to triggers (hence, why you feel irritable & overwhelmed). You may find that your nervous system is easily dis-regulated by things that consciously or subconsciously remind you of past wounds. Depending on your level of awareness & skillset in emotional processing, will determine how quickly you bounce back.
JOURNALING: Most women stay in the triggered emotional state under the guise of “I’m hormonal”, instead of choosing to alchemize their feelings. The premenstrual phase is a training ground for inner work. Each obstacle you encounter is heightened by hormones to help you see it more clearly. As Brené Brown says in Rising Strong, write a shitty first draft about what you’re thinking & feeling. No judgements. Then watch the healing magic take hold.
MENSTRUAL PHASE
First day of period until last day of spotting
HORMONES: at their lowest point.
BRAIN: the right feeling side & left analytical side are communicating with each other really nicely, so this is the BEST time to analyze facts and situations.
ENERGY: tired (ranging from lethargic to more prone to burnout).
MOOD: varies in range & severity depending on current life stressors. I’ve had menstrual phases where I’m calm & insightful. I’ve had others where I’m sensitive, cranky, overthinking and clinging to my husband for reassurance that I’m not a total fuck up.
JOURNALING: don’t pressure yourself to journal for too long if you’re feeling tired. But if you feel particularly inspired, lean into the opportunity to express your inner voice on paper.
PREOVULATORY PHASE
First day of NO spotting until last day of dryness / slight cervical moisture
HORMONES: waiting for FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) in the brain to trigger the onset of estrogen with the development of an egg.
BRAIN: in a waiting period due to minimal hormonal activity.