More than Bleeding: Finding Your Unique Cycle For Life (Part 1)

For most of my life, I pushed myself to maintain the same pace every day, every week, every month. I believed I should be productive and consistent all the time- like a machine. Sound familiar? But here’s the truth: we’re not machines. We’re human, and humans are cyclical. In the therapy room, I have seen countless clients have breakthroughs in their mental health and wellbeing by tapping into seasonal frameworks for resilience, and embracing rhythmic living.

A big part of unravelling the secret of my own mental wellbeing was exploring my neurodivergence in my 30s. However, it was also around this time that I truly began to appreciate how much my menstrual (inner) cycle influenced me. There were significant factors along the way- endometriosis & adenomyosis, pregnancies, babies, normal hormonal shifts in aging. I also now know that we are only just starting to research how the ADHD experience is linked to our hormonal cycle, and there will be new learnings still.

For those of us who menstruate, our cycles can affect everything- our energy levels, our mood, and even how we interact with others. But even if you don’t have a menstrual cycle, or it is changed by medications, you’re still influenced by rhythms. Most of us are familiar with the phrase ‘it’s a full moon, watch out!’ as everything seemingly gets stirred up. You may also have heard of Seasonal Affective Disorder, where changes to sunlight hours in Winter influence mood significantly.

Whether it’s external cycles (such as the phases of the moon or the changing seasons), or simply your unique internal ebbs and flow of energy, we can all attune to rhythms. From increased resilience during challenging times, to understanding our moods, anyone can benefit from adopting a cyclical way of living.

Don’t hold back

Our cultural systems- capitalism, consumerism, and colonialism- tend to encourage productivity over rest, prioritising constant output instead of honouring cycles of renewal. It is even seen as good feminism (by some)  to not let a menstrual cycle hold you back. The truth? We’re not designed to run at full capacity 24/7, and that’s okay. Ignoring our natural rhythms- whether tied to our menstrual cycle, the moon, or something else- doesn’t just lead to burnout; it can disconnect us from ourselves.

This post series isn’t just about periods or productivity hacks. It’s about finding your unique rhythm, embracing it, and learning to work with it instead of fighting against it.

Why Rhythms Matter for Mental Health

When we deny or suppress our natural cycles (at a societal level), the impact on mental health can be profound. For many of us, this can look like:

• Feeling like you “should” always be productive, leading to guilt or shame when energy dips.

• Experiencing overwhelm or burnout when we don’t account for natural highs and lows.

• Internalising societal expectations to “push through” rather than listening to our bodies.

• Shame about our body’s natural capabilities, bodily products or appearance

• Impacts on relationships and increased isolation or conflict

• Distress around symptoms of anxiety, depression, and ADHD

• Unpredictability and disrupted routines

For neurodivergent or genderqueer people, this can be even more complex. Sensory overwhelm, trauma responses, or dysphoria can create added layers of stress around cycles, routines, and expectations. People with ADHD, PMDD, or other challenges may feel these rhythms in sharper ways- or struggle to identify them altogether.

The good news?  Knowing how a cycle impacts you means you can lean into it, or even structure your lifestyle around it to minimise the most challenging aspects. If you don’t have any natural rhythms that you observe, you can develop one to follow (check out our Part 2 for tips!)

Finding Your Unique Cycle or Rhythm

Whether you bleed or not, here’s how you can start exploring and embracing your natural inner rhythms. A simple way to begin is by noticing how you feel throughout the day or month. Use a journal or an app to track:

• Your energy levels (low, medium, high).

• Your mood (anxious, calm, irritable, joyful).

• Physical symptoms (headaches, fatigue, pain).

• Any major events or stressors that may influence how you feel.

• Your stress response- including disconnection and dissociation, fighting or pushing through challenges, demand avoidance, or similar.

Over time, patterns will start to emerge. This could be tied to your menstrual cycle, the moon, or your own unique rhythm.

Interested in learning more? Join us for our Embracing Life’s Rhythms workshops, or stay tuned for Part 2 of Living Cyclically to explore more about living by a season/ cycle model and how culture, gender and neurotype influence us.