How to Decode Your Period Symptoms

If you’ve ever stared at your period app wondering what your body is trying to tell you—this is for you.

Because while cycles are often reduced to being “annoying” or “inconvenient,” they’re actually giving you real-time updates on your health. Not just your reproductive health—but your nervous system, nutrient stores, blood sugars, and metabolism.

But here's the catch: no one really teaches us how to interpret them.

You might have grown up thinking period pain is normal, that mood swings are just part of being a woman, or that bleeding through tampons is just “how it is.” But if you’re constantly wondering…

• Is this amount of pain normal?
  
  
• Should I be this exhausted before my bleed?
  
  
• Why is my skin breaking out like I’m 15 again?
  

…you’re not alone—and none of that is “just part of being a woman.”

What you might be experiencing are beige flags.

These are the signs that your body isn’t in full crisis (yet), but it’s definitely not thriving. They’re whispers before the scream—clues that your body wants support before it hits burnout or breakdown.

So how do you start decoding them?

Start by checking these fundamentals:

🧠 Nervous System: Are you constantly rushing, overstimulated, or running on adrenaline? Your period may be telling you to slow down. Create spaciousness in your days—less back-to-back scheduling, more space to breathe.

🌞 Metabolism: Are you syncing with the sun? Light exposure (especially morning and midday sunlight) sets your internal clock—including your menstrual rhythm. Get outside more. Minimise bright light at night.

🍳 Blood Sugar: Are you fueling or crashing? If your PMS is intense or your cycle is irregular, look at your plate. Make fat + protein the anchor of your meals. Balanced blood sugars = balanced hormones.

🧪 Nutrients: Period poos, fatigue, heavy bleeding, mood shifts—these often point to nutrient depletion. Instead of guessing, consider testing. Even simple adjustments (like magnesium, B6, or zinc) can make a massive difference.

And then there’s the energetic layer...

Your period is more than a bleed—it’s a monthly invitation to release what’s no longer serving you.

Ask yourself:

“What am I holding onto this month that’s no longer aligned?”
“Is this symptom a sign I’m pushing through something that actually needs to shift?”

The truth is, you don’t need to overthink your period. You just need to start listening.

Your body is not broken—it’s speaking. The real question is: are you ready to understand what it’s trying to say?

If you want a deep dive into what’s normal, what’s not, and how to read your cycle with confidence, you can tune into Episode 20 of the ‘What’s My Body Telling Me?’ podcast: What’s Your Period Telling You?