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kalikshama -> RE: Submissive Cycles (1/14/2011 5:31:37 PM)
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"Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom" by Dr. Christiane Northrup
The Menstrual Cycle
...There is an intimate relationship between a woman's psyche and her ovarian function throughout the menstrual cycle. Before we ovulate we are outgoing and upbeat, while ovulating we are very receptive to others, and after ovulation (premenstrually) we are more inward and reflective...
[Psychological and physiological study done by Drs. Benedek and Rubenstein]
...They found that before ovulation, when estrogen levels were at their highest, women's behaviors and emotions were directed toward the outer world. During ovulation, however, women were more relaxed and content and quite receptive to being cared for and loved by other. During the postovulatory and premenstrual phase, when progesterone is at its highest, women were more likely to be focused on themselves and more involved in inward-directed activity.
Interestingly, in women who had periods but did not ovulate, the authors saw similar cycles of emotion and behavior, except that around the time when ovulation should have occurred, these women missed not only ovulation but the accompanying emotions; that is, they were not relaxed, content, or receptive to being cared for by others."
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Premenstrually, I am much more inclined to do things of a spiritual or self-improvement nature. It's when I ponder moving back to Massachusetts, changing my job, and things of that nature. The chapter has a lot more to say about this.
I generally love to bake for people, and made myself the official birthday baker at work. Today, I'm seconds away from getting my period, and was totally not in the mood for baking this morning, but forced myself to do it. So I didn't let being premenstrual change my actions. I recognized where my negative feelings were coming from, honored them, and carried on. I did decline a dinner invitation, however, preferring to spend time with WBWW.
I really appreciate the way this book (which I first read in 1999 while struggling with a serious illness) gave me an additional way to look at things. Many libraries carry it and you can often catch Dr. Northrup on PBS during fund drives.
KK
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