When I Finally Realized My Period Was Trying to Tell Me Something

I used to think painful cramps were just part of being a woman. I’d curl up with a hot water bottle, pop painkillers, and push through meetings, pretending everything was fine. It wasn’t until I missed work twice in one month that I started wondering: Is this normal, or is my body trying to tell me something?

Turns out, that question opened a door I didn’t even know existed.

Listening to the Body We Try to Ignore

A few weeks later, I came across a medical article that explained it clearly — menstrual problems like irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, and intense pain are not normal signals to be ignored. They often point to issues like hormonal imbalance, fibroids, or thyroid dysfunction. The article was from AskDocDoc (you can find it here: https://askdocdoc.com/articles/1060-menstrual-problems-in-women-and-their-solutions
), and it changed how I viewed my cycle completely.

I realized my period wasn’t punishing me — it was communicating with me.

How I Started Paying Attention

I read a short post on Threads that said, “Your period isn’t supposed to be painful. When the body’s rhythm is off, it whispers through cramps and mood swings.”
(https://www.threads.com/@askdocdoc/post/DPmLS5djOJ6
)

That line hit hard. Because my body had been whispering for years, and I just wasn’t listening.

So, I started tracking my symptoms. I began noting what I ate, how much I slept, and how stressed I felt. Around that time, I saw a great reminder on X (Twitter): “Your habits write your hormones.”
(https://x.com/1881713393369030656/status/1976335730918961353
)

That made me realize lifestyle really is a form of medicine. Once I cut down on caffeine, added iron-rich foods, and made yoga part of my week, my cramps lessened.

I even found a visual menstrual tracker idea on Pinterest that made the whole process easy and kind of fun to do.
(https://www.pinterest.com/pin/928445279439255597
)

Talking About It Openly

For years, I treated menstrual pain like a secret — something to hide from colleagues or friends. But conversations online started changing that for me.

I stumbled into a Facebook group where women share their experiences openly, and the relief of realizing I’m not the only one was huge.
(https://www.facebook.com/122099392514743210/posts/122142935876743210
)

And then, on LinkedIn, I saw professionals discussing menstrual health as part of workplace wellbeing.
(https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:share:7382101503655895040
)

That hit home. Because let’s face it — productivity, focus, and energy all depend on how healthy we feel. If we can discuss mental health at work, why not menstrual health too?

What I’ve Learned

Our cycles are not just biological — they’re emotional, mental, and even professional signals.

When something feels off, it’s not weakness. It’s wisdom. The body knows. We just need to start listening before whispers become screams.