I fall into the category of spastic dysmenorrhea. For those of you women out there who have not read Amanda McQuade Crawford's book "Herbal Remedies for Women," I highly suggest it. She breaks down menstrual pain and cramping (dysmenorrhea) into two categories: 1) congestive and 2) spastic. It is important to know the difference in order to support your process effectively. Congestive is more of a "cold" condition while spastic is more of a "hot" condition. Somehow I feel comfort and pride while embracing my hot spastic self :)))))
There are times when I can push through this discomfort the way society wants me to. Grit my teeth, go to work, shove the pain into the back of my mind, and earn my daily pay.
And then there are days like today.
Simply put....I can't do it. My body and mind refuse to comply to anything outside of what it needs in the moment. So I crawl onto the couch with a heating pad, a good book and I release into the process of facing the pain.
When I take the time to allow for what my body needs, I can feel the rhythm that this type of pain provides. I note that there are waves that I can ride if I stay truly present. This pain is not constant. And I begin to trust in the fact that this is temporary and that I can endure if I believe in my body's inherent ability to handle this experience. It is tiring, emotional and uncomfortable. As many parts of life are. But as I sit here, I am not afraid of this pain. I trust in its process.
Americans in general are terrified of pain and discomfort. They run to the nearest drugstore or practitioner so that they do not have to take on the responsibility of "dealing" with what is happening. They want anything that will make it go away. The magic bullet or herb that will make it all better. Now there are times when we do need this kind of help. But what of the times when we don't? Are we doing ourselves justice by skipping the opportunity of building endurance and trust in the slow and steady process that our bodies are trying to teach us?
There is something strengthening about taking the time out to support what my body needs at this time of the month. Every time I do this, I am stating that I believe in me. I believe in my body. I believe in the cycles of life. And I will honor them.
Funny how when I simply curl up on the couch and honor my process, the pain subsides in response and love.
