Introduction
In this episode, The Hormonally Balanced Mothers Podcast aims to provide support, understanding, and coping mechanisms for menstruating individuals who experience exhaustion during their periods. The podcast covers topics such as normal menstrual exhaustion, painful periods, the importance of rest during menstruation, and the characteristics of a healthy menstrual cycle. Host Monique Dixon offers her expertise in menstrual cycles, hormones, and period-related issues to provide listeners with valuable insights and knowledge on understanding and embracing exhaustion on their period. Through this informative and empowering episode, Dixon hopes to help menstruating individuals improve their understanding of their own bodies and create a more positive experience during their menstrual cycles.

Is it Normal to Feel Exhausted on Your Period?
Feeling exhausted during menstruation is a common experience for many people who have periods. This is due to hormonal fluctuations that occur throughout the menstrual cycle, as key hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are at their lowest levels during this time. Feeling somewhat tired and experiencing mild discomfort is completely normal, as your body adjusts to these hormone shifts. It's important to acknowledge and respect the need for rest and self-care during your period in order to maintain overall well-being. Monique Dixon explains that it's vital to listen to your body and recognize its natural rhythms. She suggests that it's important to honor your body's energy levels and not push yourself too hard during menstruation, as this can lead to extreme exhaustion and discomfort. By understanding that exhaustion is a normal part of the menstrual cycle, individuals can better manage the fatigue they experience and learn to care for themselves more effectively.

Painful Periods
While some level of discomfort during menstruation is normal, experiencing extreme pain may indicate an underlying health problem. Undiagnosed conditions like endometriosis or fibroids can contribute to heightened menstrual pain, making it important to discuss any unusual levels of pain with a healthcare professional. Regular, moderately painful periods can also be addressed through various pain management strategies such as heating pads or over-the-counter pain relievers. In her discussion on painful periods, Monique Dixon emphasizes the need to address the root cause of extreme menstrual pain before attempting to achieve a healthy menstrual cycle. By tackling the issue head-on and seeking medical advice, individuals can take the necessary steps to improve their menstrual experience and minimize pain moving forward.

The Importance of Resting During Your Period
Giving yourself permission to rest during your period can be a powerful self-care and healing strategy. Societal expectations often prioritize productivity over self-care, making it challenging for menstruating individuals to prioritize rest during their cycles. By allowing yourself to slow down and rest, you offer your body the opportunity to recover and rejuvenate, ultimately contributing to better overall well-being. Monique Dixon encourages listeners to reframe perspectives on menstruation and embrace the need for rest during this time. She acknowledges that societal pressures can make it difficult to prioritize self-care, but emphasizes the value of taking time to recharge during menstruation. Remember, it's not only acceptable but necessary to allow yourself the downtime and rest your body craves during your period.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Take the Hormonal Imbalance Quiz at MoniqueDickson.com/HormoneQuiz to find out your hormonal imbalance score.

• Rate and review the podcast to help more mothers like you begin their hormone health journey.

• Check out organic tampons and pads to avoid harmful chemicals.

• If you are experiencing pain or excessive bleeding during your period, seek medical advice to find the root cause.

• Rest during your period and give yourself permission to slow down.

• Stay tuned for future episodes on understanding and balancing your hormones.