This Is How I Stopped My Hormones Taking Control

At the end of a random outburst do you find yourself thinking ‘was that necessary or I am due on my period?‘. Then low and behold, Aunt Flow pays us a visit. Which on the one hand is good because now we can understand the outburst, on the other hand we are often left wondering:
Why are my hormones so out of control?

My relationship with my hormones has been a rollercoaster for most of my life… kinda like how I would describe my hormones every cycle! For years I would wonder why my hormones are imbalanced and why they had more control over me than I did of them. It took me until my 30s to realise I don’t have to accept my hormones controlling my life, and neither do you. If you’re as fed up as I was, give some of these ideas a try.

Consider Your Contraception Choices

Coming off the contraceptive pill was the best thing I ever did for my mental health. I didn’t realise how miserable hormonal contraceptions were making me until I stopped using them. And I don’t know why any boyfriend stayed with me, hormonal contraception made me feel psychotic. I know not everyone experiences these extremes, but they do exist, and it’s a fact that hormonal contraception disrupts your hormone balance which affects your emotions. But you don’t have to accept it, there are other choices.

Not using hormonal contraception isn’t for everyone, and if you don’t want to use condoms and you’re not planning to get pregnant, it does limit your options. I recommend checking out The Lowdown; a contraception review platform which I swear by, to help you decide on your contraception path.

For me personally, I have never looked back since using the Natural Cycles app as my method of non-hormonal contraception. The idea of relying on an app is scary, but there is so much more to it than that and it has really worked for me. Before you consider any contraception change, always do your research. Making the switch to reduce or remove hormonal contraception could be a game-changer for you, so it’s worth considering.

Track Your Period

Knowledge is power. Understanding and tracking my cycle has helped me recognise why I might be feeling a certain way at different points during my cycle. Today was a great example; it’s the first day of my period, and when I couldn’t get the table I wanted at the cafe I normally work at and I felt like crying. I KNOW in my head that is unreasonable and I had to remind myself, “It’s just your period making you feel like this.”

Knowing your cycle doesn’t necessarily mean you will have control over your emotions, but it can help you to recognise and rationalise when your emotions are hormone related. And a little pep talk might help you snap out of it. But it’s also okay to be kinder to yourself in those moments.

To track my period I use the Natural Cycle app mentioned above, but there are loads of free ones out there such as Clue which I have used before and would really recommend as the free version is great!

Diet & Lifestyle

Your diet and lifestyle affect your cycle, and having a better understanding of what works for your body is an easy way to better handle the emotional ups and downs. For me, during the first two days of my period I avoid cardio because I know my body is more tired and my iron levels are depleted. But lightweight strength training and yoga are perfect for setting me up for a good day! It’s about figuring out what works for you.

Now, I am by no means a Dietician or Nutritionist, but I know my body well enough to recognise when certain food and drinks exacerbate my PMS. For me it’s alcohol, coffee and sugary foods. Yep, all the good ones! And to be honest, this is probably going to be the same for most people. But you could consider a food diary to help you recognise which foods are triggers for your hormones and affect you emotionally.

If you want a more in-depth idea of what dietary changes you can make to support your hormonal cycle, speak to a Female Health Nutritionist.

Hormonal Support Supplements

Supplementing for the purpose of my hormones has been a game-changer for me. Since discovering Agnus Castus (an absolute dream for PMS!) and taking Magnesium, these 2 power duos have helped me feel more balanced throughout my cycle. My PMS has noticeably decreased and I am definitely more in control of my hormones. Magnesium is also a great one in helping me get a good nights sleep.

To help with PMS cramps, you could also try a Turmeric supplement as it has anti-inflammatory properties. This is especially helpful if you suffer with Endometriosis.

Be Kinder To Yourself

At the end of the day we are all human and our hormones are still out of our control. Even when we feel like we’ve followed every step in the right direction to getting a better grip of our mind and body, but there could be one little thing that throws us off track:
– A bad nights sleep
– Falling out with your partner
– Difficult work day
– Getting sick
– Feeling stressed
– Travelling and jet lag

At times like this, it’s definitely okay to be a little selfish, and if you need anymore convincing on that idea you should read this post: Is Being Selfish Always Bad?

These are just some of my suggestions that have worked for me when it comes to helping me have more control over my hormones. Remember that you don’t have to accept feeling out of control, unbalanced, unhinged, crazy, or not yourself.

If you have any more suggestions that have worked for you when it comes to supporting your hormones, please drop them in the comments below and help us all out!

Amber x