Stressed Out & Out of Sync: What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You
- Tammy Miller
- Oct 27
- 7 min read
One of the driving forces that led me to become a Naturopath was a deep desire to support women through the challenges of hormonal health. Many women with menstrual issues may feel left feeling let down or unheard by allopathic doctors, especially when symptoms are dismissed or managed without exploring underlying causes.
Just to be clear; I hold great respect for Western medicine. It plays a vital role in acute and emergency care and its advancements have saved countless lives. However, in non-urgent scenarios, natural therapies can offer profound healing and long-term support.
Menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea) and heavy periods (menorrhagia) for example, are something many women go through, yet it’s often brushed aside or normalised. I want to gently remind you that being in pain isn’t something you should have to accept as “just the way it is”. You deserve to feel heard, supported and empowered when seeking answers and solutions for menstrual discomforts.
Exploring Hormonal Health: My Journey to Natural Healing
Many women are prescribed the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) or intrauterine devices (IUDs) as a first-line solution for menstrual concerns. These options can be very helpful and even life-changing for some. However, others may experience side effects or feel that these approaches don’t fully address the deeper layers of their wellbeing. In some cases, it can feel like a temporary fix rather than a long-term solution.
When menstrual challenges persist, medical professionals may recommend procedures or surgery to address the issues. There is absolutely no judgement around the choices you have made or may choose to make, I was offered similar recommendations when I was younger. At the time, I followed that path because I trusted my doctor and wasn’t aware of any alternatives. Over time, I discovered that other options do exist and that healing can be approached from multiple angles.
This isn’t about rejecting medical advice. In fact, I encourage you to explore all avenues. Ask questions. Seek information. Get the tests that help you understand your body more deeply. For some, pharmaceuticals or surgery may be the most appropriate choice. For others, hormonal health may benefit from a more holistic approach, one that includes nutrition, minerals, emotional wellbeing and stress management.
Every woman’s journey is unique. My intention is simply to offer a broader perspective, so you feel informed, empowered and supported in making choices that truly resonate with your body and your life.
My own menstrual issues led me on a journey to heal my body naturally. I wanted to understand why I was experiencing imbalance - not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too. And I did. I healed myself through deep research, intuition and a commitment to listening to my body.
I read everything I could find about hormones, pain receptors, inflammation and prostaglandins. I discovered that my thoughts and emotions were triggering a stress response, which in turn disrupted my hormonal balance. I learned which minerals and vitamins I was lacking - nutrients that affect the contraction and relaxation of muscle receptors in the uterus. I explored the abundant plant kingdom and found beautiful herbs that support the nervous system and reproductive organs.
I went back to the root cause and asked myself: What was I thinking, feeling, doing at the time? I began to reflect on how I viewed womanhood. What belief systems had been embedded within me? What societal programming had shaped my understanding of my body? How had ancestral beliefs influenced the way I related to my femininity?
The journey to heal myself was about listening to my body and my intuition, recognising and acknowledging the signs and symptoms and reclaiming my power and natural rhythm.
The Stress-Hormone Connection
Stress isn’t just a mental or emotional experience - it’s a full-body hormonal event. When your nervous system perceives stress, it activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, releasing cortisol to help you cope.
But chronic stress doesn’t stay in its lane. It begins to interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis - the delicate hormonal feedback loop that governs your menstrual cycle.
Under stress, the hypothalamus may reduce or stop secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone is essential for triggering the release of:
Luteinising hormone (LH)
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
These two hormones stimulate ovulation and support progesterone production. When stress suppresses GnRH, LH levels drop, ovulation may be delayed or skipped and progesterone remains low.
This hormonal disruption can prolong the follicular phase of your cycle and lead to a cascade of symptoms.
Cortisol’s Influence on Progesterone
When cortisol is elevated, progesterone remains low and that’s when PMS symptoms tend to flare. Do you experience any of these symptoms below?
Common Menstrual Symptoms Linked to Stress
Dysmenorrhoea (Painful Periods) - Progesterone decreases uterine contractions, so when progesterone is low this can increase cramping and pain. Other factors like high levels of prostaglandins (hormones that cause contractions) may also increase pain in the uterus.
Menorrhagia (Heavy Periods) - Hormonal imbalances like oestrogen dominance and low progesterone, can lead to heavier bleeding and blood clotting.
Amenorrhoea (Missed Periods) - In high-stress states, the body may suppress ovulation entirely, leading to absent periods. This is common in adrenal burnout, overexercising or emotional trauma.
Prolonged bleeding (Longer bleeding time) - Bleeding may last longer than the typical 3–5 days, sometimes extending beyond a week. This prolonged blood loss can deplete iron stores, leaving you feeling drained, fatigued and low in energy.
Menstrual Blood Clots - Thicker endometrial lining and poor progesterone regulation can result in clotting during menstruation.
Irregular Cycles - Stress can cause cycles to lengthen, shorten or become unpredictable due to disrupted hormonal signalling.
The Sacred Link Between Menstrual Cycles and the Moon
For centuries, women have lived in harmony with the moon - our bodies naturally attuned to its rhythm. The average menstrual cycle is 28–29 days, mirroring the lunar cycle almost perfectly. This isn’t just a coincidence - it’s a reflection of our deep connection to nature, one that many of us have forgotten in the rush of modern life.
Each phase of the menstrual cycle aligns beautifully with a phase of the moon, offering emotional and energetic guidance if we choose to listen, this connection is illustrated in the diagram below.
🌑 Menstruation | New Moon
Keywords: Release, Letting go, Introspection, Reflection, Gentle quiet time
Hormones: Oestrogen and progesterone drop
Menstruation begins with the new moon - a time of darkness, stillness and renewal. Just as the moon disappears from view, our energy turns inward. This is a sacred time for rest, reflection and release. The body is shedding; the mind is softening and our souls inviting us to go within. It a time for slowing down and tuning into what you’re ready to let go of physically and emotionally. Focus on self-care, journalling and clearing space for new beginnings.
🌒 Follicular Phase | Waxing Crescent & Gibbous Moon
Keywords: Birth of new ideas, Growth, Planning, Confidence, Determination
Hormones: Oestrogen, LH & FSH begin to rise
As the moon begins to grow, so does our energy. The follicular phase is a time of renewal and possibility. Oestrogen rises, bringing clarity, motivation and a sense of expansion. This is the perfect time to set intentions, plan projects and take inspired action. You may feel more confident and mentally sharp, lean into this upward momentum and let your creativity bloom.
🌕 Ovulation | Full Moon
Keywords: Fruition, Manifestation, Excitement, Illumination, Clarity
Hormones: Oestrogen and LH peak
Ovulation is the peak of the cycle - just as the full moon shines its brightest, our bodies are at their most fertile and vibrant. Emotions may feel heightened, intuition sharp and desires illuminated. This is a time of connection, celebration and manifestation. The full moon invites you to stand in your power and radiate your truth.
🌘 Luteal Phase | Waning Moon
Keywords: Gratitude, Introspection, Reassessing, Preparing to let go
Hormones: Oestrogen drops, Progesterone rises
As the moon begins to wane, our energy gently turns inward again. The luteal phase is a time for gratitude and reassessment. Oestrogen drops and progesterone rises, triggering the feel-good neurotransmitter GABA in the brain, to have a calming effect on the body. This is a time for evaluating what no longer serves you, such as old beliefs or negative habits. Progesterone starts to decline along with oestrogen to allow the lining of the uterus to shed away in preparation for the release of the new cycle ahead.
🌙 Reclaiming Your Rhythm
When we slow down and start to tune into our bodies and our cycle, we may find that it is aligning alongside the moon, we are reconnecting with a rhythm that’s ancient, intuitive and deeply empowering.
Emotional, Mental & Beliefs Affecting Your Cycle
When our hormones are out of balance, there are very real physiological changes happening within the body. These imbalances can affect everything from mood to metabolism, and I take all of this into consideration during our sessions. I support your body physically - through nutrition, dietary adjustments, minerals, vitamins and herbal remedies but I also look deeper. Your emotions (how you feel), your mental patterns (how you think) and your belief systems are equally important when addressing health conditions.
What You Can Do
Understanding this connection is empowering, here’s how you can support your cycle holistically:
Calm the HPA & HPO axis with meditation, nature and gentle movement
Track your cycle with an app to notice patterns and signs
Keep a food diary of everything you eat and drink [Be honest..]
Look inwards - are you in-sync with nature – the moon?
Support at Natural Inner Health
I offer compassionate personalised care to help you restore hormonal harmony:
Naturopathic consultations
Salivary hormone testing
Herbal medicine protocols
Vitamin and mineral supplementation
Dietary and lifestyle advice
Homeopathy and emotional wellbeing support
Sacred Flow Massage & Sound Healing sessions
Calm ritual guides and daily practices
Your cycle is a reflection of your inner rhythm. When you honour your calm, you honour your hormones.
CALM is your Superpower
Palm Health. (2023, September 19). How Does Cycle Syncing Work? | PALM Health St. Louis. PALM Health. https://www.palmhealth.com/sync-your-cycle-and-exercise/. Menstrual Cycle Hormonal Diagram.
Trickey, R. (2003). Women, hormones and the menstrual cycle: herbal and medical solutions from adolescence to menopause. (2nd ed.). Allen & Unwin; London.
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