I vividly remember being thirteen years old, doubled over in the middle school hallway by excruciating menstrual cramping pain. I wasn’t sure if I’d make it to the cafeteria for lunch, and even if I did, I dreaded the idea of sitting upright in a chair, socializing with classmates. My body was trying to say something, but I didn’t know how to listen or what to do about it. 

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I had been menstruating since I was 11, but this day of cramps felt unlike any other. Though I didn’t yet fully understand my menstrual cycle, I knew this pain wasn't normal and that I needed to be at home, resting.

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We are often taught that people with menstrual cycles need to push through pain, dismissing menstrual discomfort as an invalid reason to rest, skip gym class, take time off work, have space to lessen their responsibilities or to receive extra support. Even at a young age, I could sense that the society and culture that I lived in was not supportive enough of those with menstruating bodies—and that there was so much more to learn about what really goes on within the menstrual cycle. 

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For three years, I pushed through amplified premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms and painful and heavy periods—plus the shame and dread that came along with having a period. By the age of 16, my periods were consistently debilitating and overwhelming. I was referred to an OBGYN and after I shared my experience with her, she prescribed me the progesterone-only oral birth control pill. While oral birth control can be helpful and women deserve the right to choose it for themselves, I wish I could have had more options for resolving my symptoms. The OBGYN said that once I got on the pill, my symptoms would likely resolve — Hooray! Unfortunately, I didn’t yet have the knowledge or self-advocacy to ask the OBGYN for greater clarity on the medication or to look into alternative options. So, I started the pill and the pain went away—because my period stopped altogether. I had no idea that by taking the pill, I had halted an entire four-phase natural cycle that was a vital indicator of my health and well-being. I didn’t fully understand the impact, so I kept taking the pill every day, hoping my symptoms would stay away.

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During that time, I gained weight and continued to experience anxiety, fatigue, and mood swings. Eventually, I developed a strong reluctance to take it. I began to wonder: What is this pill actually doing to me? At the time, I was also following a vegan diet—a dietary choice that, if not properly planned, can deplete the body of essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, much like the pill did. Simultaneously, I felt disconnected from myself, my body and my heart.

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At 18 years old, I’d had enough of the pill. I had just completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training and was exploring integrative health practices, feeling drawn to a more holistic way of living. Although I never imagined I would, I came to miss my period—not the severe symptoms, but the sense of connection to my body’s natural rhythm that symbolized my health and vitality. 

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I was more worried about not having a period at all than the return of the pain, so one day, I stopped the pill cold turkey. While I don’t recommend discontinuing it abruptly, at the time, I didn’t know where to turn for the support I needed, especially since my OBGYN had recommended either staying on the pill or trying a different form of hormonal birth control. I trusted my intuition to choose a different path.

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My period returned the following month and while it was light and manageable, I knew it would take time for my cycle to fully regulate after stopping the pill. I felt ready to embrace the truth of my body, so I began researching ways to understand my cycle, ease painful periods while also preventing pregnancy and reconnecting with my body. 

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I decided to pursue health and wellness as a career, specializing in Nursing, with the goal of transforming our healthcare system to become more integrative and functional. While earning my nursing degree at the University of Vermont (UVM), I also took courses in integrative health, exploring holistic and alternative approaches to health and wellness. Additionally, I completed UVM’s integrative health and wellness coaching program. Through my education, various training programs and self-study, I discovered that the female body and menstrual cycle is miraculous, beautiful, and powerfully designed.

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Since coming off the pill, I’ve been tracking and learning about my cycles with passion and curiosity—exploring how they connect to my lifestyle, choices, environment, society, and the world around me. Now that I better understand and align with my menstrual cycles, I experience little to no PMS, minimal cramping, increased energy, and improved recovery from stress and anxiety. Of course, there are months when I still experience bothersome symptoms, but they are so much more manageable, and I’m proud to say that the days of debilitating periods are behind me! What once felt like burdensome cycles have transformed into cycles filled with valuable feedback and insight for my health and well-being.

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Symptoms, I’ve learned, are a guide—helping us identify areas where balance needs to be restored or where something isn’t quite working. This shift in my relationship to my cycle has been profoundly healing, and it’s why I’m so passionate about empowering my clients—whether their cycle is just beginning to bloom, pausing, transitioning, or coming to a close in menopause, or anywhere in between—with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to navigate their own cycle health. Our cycles are not obstacles; they are powerful sources of insight, calling us to approach them with compassion, curiosity, and the courage to transform.

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By understanding and living in harmony with our cycles, we can ground ourselves deeper into the present moment and in our connection with ourselves, those we love, and the world around us. My mission is to help menstruating people be with their bodies, to make space for their needs and to embody their MoonRise Vitality.

 

Thank you for reading. 

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Please remember, you are infinite & expansive. 

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Peace,