We've previously discussed the potential impact of emotional stress on your menstrual cycle, like how it can make your period late, delay or even suppress ovulation, as well as contribute to hormonal health issues such as PCOS and PMS. Here, let's delve deeper into the mind-body connection and how our emotions, feelings, and the energy we hold can play a part in the development of reproductive health conditions.
While it’s very important to look at the root causes of conditions from a functional nutrition standpoint, the emotional aspect also needs to be addressed at the same time for long-term recovery. The emotional patterns behind ovarian cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, and other conditions are common for many, many women and very much a shared female experience.
Understanding this aspect is an opportunity to have compassion for ourselves and for other women. For example, one particular client was experiencing continuous spotting. We had addressed her diet and lifestyle, but during one conversation it became apparent that the spotting had been happening since her father had passed away earlier that year. We suggested that her womb might be holding her unprocessed grief, resulting in the symptoms, which were a literal weeping from the womb. Once she made that connection, she was able to release her emotions - have a good cry - and begin to free herself from the cycle.
We’ve looked at effective food and supplement-based natural treatments for ovarian cysts in the past.
Distinct from PCOS - which is indicated by multiple cysts on the ovary - single functional ovarian cysts are fluid filled sacs the size of almonds that grow on the ovaries, often cyclically and in connection with your hormonal shifts.
Functional ovarian cysts are very common - many women have them at some point during their lives, but not all will have symptoms.
It’s possible for a cyst to grow very large if left untreated and even burst, requiring immediate surgery. A health condition like ovarian cysts can convey a message of the kinds of emotions being held there in the reproductive organs. This thinking is rooted in Jungian psychology, specifically the mind/body connection. A student of Jung, Marion Woodman, developed the concept of “feminine psychology” and her work details how unconsciously held emotions, feelings, and thoughts can affect the female body.
One element of Woodman’s work focuses on how women feel about their bodies. Many of us are brought up to be fearful and distrustful of our bodies, and she believed this has a significant impact on our health. She believed that unconscious trauma experienced by many women - as the result of individually experienced acts of abuse and violence, and as the result of cultural oppression - manifests itself in physical symptoms.
When it comes to ovarian cysts specifically, especially those that are symptomatic and recurrent, they are delivering the message of unfulfilled creative expression. Many women experience these feelings - we hold down full-time jobs, do more than our fair share of housework and childcare, and often start second or third shifts every evening. Do you ever feel like you really want to start a creative project, but you just don’t have the time? Do you have a friend who cannot give themselves the time and space to express their creativity and that causes them frustration?
Energetically speaking, ovarian cysts tend to represent blocked creative desire, or ideas that don’t fully blossom in one’s life. This is nothing to do with your personal choices, and everything to do with the position of women in society, and how we are conditioned to organize our lives.
Whatever symptoms you’re experiencing, the takeaway should be compassion, and the need to find compassion for yourself, your body, and for what other women are going through. Many, many women experience trauma in their lives, whether directly or indirectly, and we all live with a heavy weight of expectation, limitation, and judgement on our shoulders. Many, many women also experience ovarian cysts, as well as other hormonal health issues.
We believe that the way forward is to bring these topics out into the open, to talk about our traumas, those things we don’t normally share openly - like our individual experiences of miscarriage, postpartum depression, abortion, sexual abuse, rape, assault, domestic violence, and our collective understanding of sexism and misogyny.
Releasing these emotions can mean we no longer hold them silently within ourselves, where they continue to do harm. At Flo Living, we're here to support you, every step of the way.
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Reduce Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) symptoms like painful periods, weight gain, acne breakouts, and unwanted hair with Restore, our PCOS supplement kit.
Optimize your fertility and get your body baby-ready with Nurture, our therapeutic-grade fertility supplement kit.
Support whole-body hormonal balance and regular, PMS-free periods with these five essential micronutrient formulations, designed to be taken simultaneously every day.
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Support whole-body hormonal balance and regular, PMS-free periods with these five essential micronutrient formulations, designed to be taken simultaneously every day.
Feel better and perform more effectively when you support your hormonal health during every phase of your cycle.
A revolutionary roadmap for women to help balance their hormones and care for their bodies, so they can feel their best all month long with Cycle Syncing®.
For those struggling with absent or infrequent periods, heavy bleeding, and other more intense menstrual symptoms
Read Woman CodeFor those struggling with absent or infrequent periods, heavy bleeding, and other more intense menstrual symptoms
Read In the FloAlisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
“MyFLO has been a true game changer for me and my cycle. I now have an increased awareness of my body's needs throughout the month.”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
“MyFLO has completely transformed my relationship with my cycle. I am sleeping through the night, intuitively managing my stress, and eating with my cycle.”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
“I use MyFLO every day to track my cycle and symptoms. I've managed to significantly reduce PMS symptoms like breast tenderness, and my cycle length has gone down from 40 days to 30 days.”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Boost micronutrient levels
Manage blood sugar
Reduce stress
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
"My period was missing for 3 years after getting off birth control. MonthlyFLO helped me finally get my period back.”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
I feel more empowered to understand my body and heal my hormones. I no longer accept the patriarchal dismissal and confusion about the female cycle”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
“I got my period back after 15 years! Thank all of you for your support. I'm just so grateful!”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
“FLO Living has seriously changed my life. It gave me the courage and bravery to get off of birth control, and completely changed my outlook on health. I look and feel better than I ever have in my life”
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Detox estrogen
Reduce inflammatory foods
Improve elimination
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Boost progesterone production
Support estrogen elimination with dietary changes
Replenish micronutrients
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Stabilize blood sugar
Reduce Androgens
Restore ovulation
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Detox estrogen
Improve bowel movements
Reduce inflammation
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Manage blood sugar
Address micronutrient deficiencies
Restore ovulation
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Detox chemical stress
Micronutrients to boost egg quality
Reduce inflammation
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Stabilize blood sugar
Detox chemical stress
Targeted micronutrients to support ovulation
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Micronutrients to boost egg quality
Reduce inflammation
Support immune function of uterus
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Implement Cycle Syncing ®
Detox chemical stress
Boost micronutrient levels
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Manage blood sugar
Detox estrogen
Boost progesterone production
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Stabilize blood sugar
Reduce stress
Boost energy
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts
Stabilize blood sugar
Restore Micronutrients
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts
Boost progesterone production
Support estrogen elimination
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts
Micronutrients to boost egg quality
Reduce inflammation
Alisha A / 46 years old
Flo Care Plan
Cycle Syncing® Food & Workouts
Boost progesterone production
Increase micronutrient levels