Okay I'm going to make an unusual post for me but I feel the need because it has taken me years to piece certain things together and I wanted to see if this would help someone else.
If you are a person who has a uterus and/or gets a period this is important. Heck, even if you had a hysterectomy but are AFAB this is important, because from what I can gather certain things will linger.
Also this especially applies to those that are neurodivergent. For some reason the following issues are ultra prevalent in those with autism, ADHD and AuHD. Like think 96% and 45% respectively.
It is important you know that your menstrual cycle should a) not cause such disruptions in your life that at certain points of the month your moods are impossible to regulate, you're ultra depressed to the point of suicide, you get brain fog, everything irritates you/you get super angry and aggressive, things don't interest you, you can't find joy, you can't function.
b) your period should not be so heavy and so painful that you cannot live your daily life. If you can't get up, can't function, or cry from the pain and curl up in a ball? That's all not normal. Neither are some of the brain fog and such that comes along.
c) some other symptoms like bloating, tiredness, sleep issues, binge eating, can all be tracked and related to these other issues.
d) if your cycle is irregular, long, and you have had trouble conceiving.
You need to look into PCOS, PMDD and endometrosis.
But most specifically PCOS and PMDD. More and more research is proving the following:
These are so much more than just "uterus" issues.
These can be linked to INSULIN RESISTANCE and other damage. No one ever dismisses diabetes, and for good reason. This is more than just something that affects your reproductive organs.
PMDD is in the DSM5. And can be severely debilitating. The hormone drops that happen at a point in your cycle can cause suicide ideation, and for those on the spectrum who already suffer with dopamine and serotonin issues this is more pronounced.
Certain aspects of both PCOS and PMDD can be misdiagnosed, e.g. bipolar disorder or can lead to extra comorbidities on top of it e.g. eating disorders.
PCOS and PMDD can only get better when you realise what's going on and treat it. Stuff like treating the insulin resistance, and not spiking blood sugars, and keeping your cortisol lower. This includes everything from what you eat, to when you eat/how often, and what kinds of exercise you do.
It can be harder to shift certain fats in your body when you have these disorders, and if you are diet cycling it gets worse. But if you haven't been able to change things no matter what you do it isn't you, it's your disorders. The same thing if you have been trying for a baby and can't, or keep taking painkillers to no affect, or your antidepressants work most of the time and then suddenly don't.
These disorders can also affect your hair, anxiety, body hair, shape of your face, libido, pain and sensitivity in other parts of your body, hydration, motivation, and aspects of your menstrual cycle such as length.
There's belief that these disorders are connected to inflammation in the body, your insulin, and your nervous system.
To understand if you are dealing with this you'll need to actually track things. Which means you need to not be on birth control, for a few months. I'd also recommend trying to fall into a regular cycle when you start tracking. If you're finding it hard to get into a regular cycle what has worked for me and others is some form of myo-inosital.
Once you have a regular cycle track everything. When you feel spikes in mood/mood swings, energy lulls, bloating, headaches or brain fog, if you have increases or decreases in libido, how long your cycle isn when it is heavy or light bleeding.
Other things I recommend checking is try getting off gluten for a month, and see if you feel better, try getting off dairy for a month, see if you feel better. Try having 3 meals a day regularly, with enough protein and fiber. Or if you're ADHD like me prepare grazing plates for the entire day and eat regularly but at least 5-6 times a day if it's smaller portions each time. Don't have coffee on an empty stomach, and check if your exercise regime spikes your cortisol.
There are plenty of labs you can get if you suspect you have either one of these, but AFAB people but ESPECIALLY those with these disorders *and* neurodivergence often have low Vitamin D and Iron. So check those first too.
If you have had a hysterectomy the sad news is that you probably still have the insulin issues and probably also hormone fluctuations. This is something I'm still looking into as this is something I want to do myself, but am seeing that it might not just magically make everything go away.
I also can't take birth control. And even if I was able to at present I don't like some of the things it does to my body. A lot of doctors will recommend this as the biggest treatment for all aspects of the disorders - pain and mood fluctuations. But this doesn't treat all the symptoms, and there's no acknowledgement of how abnormal things like the pain are. I also already take SSRIs and my depression still spikes harshly in my luteal phase. Keep pushing if you are dealing with this, and keep up with literature changes and medical research. You know your body best and you are your best advocate.
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