In response to Julia, I think hormones are sometimes confused with mental illness--such as depression, or being bi-polar. People suffering from those diseases can't "pull themselves out of it" and need medication and other help. Hormones are different because, while they can exert the same control of your reactions, they usually level out again--after a period or, in my case, a d&c, so after the "episode" you can think again. Also, I don't think many of us can "pull ourselves out of it" when we are having a hormone induced reaction to something. I think you basically said that yourself--how you respond to your hormones and how you plan before and after the hormones hit can be your only way to positively handle the problem. During is pretty much lost. For Kammers, things like "don't live in Chicago during the winter" is an example of a positive help. Not solution, but help. My mom tracked her period and the three days leading up to it she and dad weren't allowed to talk about money. At all. Positive strategy. For me, lots of sex usually helps. I know, too much info--but seriously, my emotional health is directly related to how much I'm being touched. So---these are the things we need to know about ourselves to make a positive plan of action.
I don't know. Kelly, does the book talk about specific things in your diet that can help??
Thursday, October 28, 2010
More on Hormones
I think it is one of the hardest parts of being a woman trying to distinguish between mental thought and hormones. This has baffled me for years! I, too, have had those scary moments of thinking I'm going to hurt/ruin my children or my marriage, even. I don't think necessarily as drastic as Andrea's situation, but times of darkness nonetheless.
I have to ask myself, though, why one person can "pull themselves out of it" while others continue to suffer? Is it only hormone related? Sometimes, yes. But I don't think all the time. I've had a very interesting couple of years that have caused me to think more about my hormones as well. And what's been most interesting is that after a major paradigm shift recently in my life, the "bad times" haven't been as bad. Does that make sense? I had a mental shift, which thus shifted the hormonal responses. I still had symptoms (bad PMS) but my husband and I dealt with the situation with much clearer vision rather than how we'd unproductively and distructively handled it in the past. I don't know if that's making any sense. But with this experience I'm just wondering where the mental and the hormonal meet.???
Maybe I just need to read the book. :-)
I have to ask myself, though, why one person can "pull themselves out of it" while others continue to suffer? Is it only hormone related? Sometimes, yes. But I don't think all the time. I've had a very interesting couple of years that have caused me to think more about my hormones as well. And what's been most interesting is that after a major paradigm shift recently in my life, the "bad times" haven't been as bad. Does that make sense? I had a mental shift, which thus shifted the hormonal responses. I still had symptoms (bad PMS) but my husband and I dealt with the situation with much clearer vision rather than how we'd unproductively and distructively handled it in the past. I don't know if that's making any sense. But with this experience I'm just wondering where the mental and the hormonal meet.???
Maybe I just need to read the book. :-)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Hormones are interesting
Kelly, that book sounds fascinating. I would, actually, like to hear about your issues. Most people I've told this to think I'm making it up, but I think I've been a lot more sensitive to hormonal changes since the molar pregnancy. What happens with a molar pregnancy is that the egg that is fertilized doesn't have a nucleus, so a mass of cells grow really, really fast. Cancer, essentially--though they don't treat it like cancer unless there is a recurrence.
I went through 12 weeks of pregnancy hormone increases in three weeks. Basically, I became mentally ill. Literally. I don't like to think about it, but I kept my kids locked in their rooms for several days (they would get out when Timothy came home and fed and whatnot) because I was afraid I was going to hurt them. My brain would be telling me to do something but I would be doing something completely different. It was very, very scary. And confusing. And hard to admit to anyone. I called my mom one day to ask for help and she told me to take a nap. Not her fault, but you can see how people can spiral out of control before anyone realizes there is a serious problem.
Anyway, since then, any hormonal fluctuations and I flip out. I switched birth control once, fairly recently, and my body freaked out. I had a miscarriage and my body FREAKED out. Pregnancy hasn't been as bad--I think it is because the hormones increase more gradually, but still--this summer was rough. Hormones is one of the main reasons I'm scared to have more kids--even though I want at least one more after this baby. I just hate feeling like I've ruined my family because I can't keep my actions in check.
Again, I can hear all the people in my head who I know would tell me I'm just justifying bad behavior.
Anyway--like I said, I'm very interested in the topic.
Currently I'm reading two books. The first one is Miracle of Forgiveness. No, I've never read it. A lady in my ward gave one of the best RS lessons I've ever heard about repentance, and now I'm motivated to learn more.
I'm also reading Pure Religion. It is the history of our modern church welfare program and it is RIVETING. Much more so than I imagined it would be. Love it. You should all read it. What has surprised me most, so far, is the emphasis on avoiding idleness as the key reason the program got started. Makes you think. Also, many stories are included about how DI and other assistance plans helped people get not just what they needed but also a few extra things that they wanted. The point has been made repeatedly that people are here on earth for joy, and that feeling deprived all the time doesn't encourage the feeling of joy. Also makes you think.
(There was one story about a little girl sent to the Bishop's Storehouse to get shoes, and she was so sad that she had to get the practical, ugly shoes. The Bishop--a literal Bishop--working there at the time insisted the girl take home a pretty red pair instead PLUS three little anklets that weren't on the original order. He said that watching that little girl bounce out of there with a mile-wide smile and a better sense of worth was EXACTLY what the welfare program is about. So, so interesting. Another story that made me cry and laugh was about a Scandinavian gentleman whose only skills were playing the violin and cutting hair. The man interviewing him for assistance told him to report the next day to work as a barber. Then the interviewer spent the rest of the night CREATING a barbershop in the storehouse so the man could have a job. Amazing. It was ready for operation by opening time the next morning.)
Like I said, the book is fantastic and has really made me think about fast offerings and taking things to DI in a slightly different way. You should all read it.
The end.
I went through 12 weeks of pregnancy hormone increases in three weeks. Basically, I became mentally ill. Literally. I don't like to think about it, but I kept my kids locked in their rooms for several days (they would get out when Timothy came home and fed and whatnot) because I was afraid I was going to hurt them. My brain would be telling me to do something but I would be doing something completely different. It was very, very scary. And confusing. And hard to admit to anyone. I called my mom one day to ask for help and she told me to take a nap. Not her fault, but you can see how people can spiral out of control before anyone realizes there is a serious problem.
Anyway, since then, any hormonal fluctuations and I flip out. I switched birth control once, fairly recently, and my body freaked out. I had a miscarriage and my body FREAKED out. Pregnancy hasn't been as bad--I think it is because the hormones increase more gradually, but still--this summer was rough. Hormones is one of the main reasons I'm scared to have more kids--even though I want at least one more after this baby. I just hate feeling like I've ruined my family because I can't keep my actions in check.
Again, I can hear all the people in my head who I know would tell me I'm just justifying bad behavior.
Anyway--like I said, I'm very interested in the topic.
Currently I'm reading two books. The first one is Miracle of Forgiveness. No, I've never read it. A lady in my ward gave one of the best RS lessons I've ever heard about repentance, and now I'm motivated to learn more.
I'm also reading Pure Religion. It is the history of our modern church welfare program and it is RIVETING. Much more so than I imagined it would be. Love it. You should all read it. What has surprised me most, so far, is the emphasis on avoiding idleness as the key reason the program got started. Makes you think. Also, many stories are included about how DI and other assistance plans helped people get not just what they needed but also a few extra things that they wanted. The point has been made repeatedly that people are here on earth for joy, and that feeling deprived all the time doesn't encourage the feeling of joy. Also makes you think.
(There was one story about a little girl sent to the Bishop's Storehouse to get shoes, and she was so sad that she had to get the practical, ugly shoes. The Bishop--a literal Bishop--working there at the time insisted the girl take home a pretty red pair instead PLUS three little anklets that weren't on the original order. He said that watching that little girl bounce out of there with a mile-wide smile and a better sense of worth was EXACTLY what the welfare program is about. So, so interesting. Another story that made me cry and laugh was about a Scandinavian gentleman whose only skills were playing the violin and cutting hair. The man interviewing him for assistance told him to report the next day to work as a barber. Then the interviewer spent the rest of the night CREATING a barbershop in the storehouse so the man could have a job. Amazing. It was ready for operation by opening time the next morning.)
Like I said, the book is fantastic and has really made me think about fast offerings and taking things to DI in a slightly different way. You should all read it.
The end.
Female Studies
Hey gals.
Just read a fascinating book about premenopause. Does that seem weird to you?
It's called, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause".
Really, really interesting. I find hormones an interesting topic. I won't go into personal details (unless anyone wants to hear them) but I've had my issues and I'm trying to fix them.
If you are at all feeling something is not quite right that could be hormone related, I'd recommend this book. It gives a lot of information about what we know about how hormones work in our bodies (that knowledge is really limited, by the way), and some suggestions about common complaints that are usually hormone-related but overlooked.
Other than that, I haven't been reading as much as I normally do. I've had a lot of things going on. I've been enjoying some light reading in my spare time, and re-reading of favorite books.
Hope you guys are all doing well!!
Just read a fascinating book about premenopause. Does that seem weird to you?
It's called, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause".
Really, really interesting. I find hormones an interesting topic. I won't go into personal details (unless anyone wants to hear them) but I've had my issues and I'm trying to fix them.
If you are at all feeling something is not quite right that could be hormone related, I'd recommend this book. It gives a lot of information about what we know about how hormones work in our bodies (that knowledge is really limited, by the way), and some suggestions about common complaints that are usually hormone-related but overlooked.
Other than that, I haven't been reading as much as I normally do. I've had a lot of things going on. I've been enjoying some light reading in my spare time, and re-reading of favorite books.
Hope you guys are all doing well!!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Crusoe
I just barely FOUND my Crusoe after putting it in a special spot so I'd be able to track it down in my bookshelves easily. Ha.
Am I lame that I've read three Louis L'Amour's and the first two Ranger Apprentice series recently. Yes, all books I've read before. Yes, I loved them just as much upon a rereading. Yes, I reread books all the time.
Yes, my brain is in official pregnancy hibernation.
Yes, I have to read a TEXTBOOK of all things, to put my course together. It isn't bad, but it isn't great, either.
Sigh.
Point of ramble--I'm not ready to move on to the economics book until October. Maybe by then I will have figured out my life enough to carve out time for reading.
But whatever.
Am I lame that I've read three Louis L'Amour's and the first two Ranger Apprentice series recently. Yes, all books I've read before. Yes, I loved them just as much upon a rereading. Yes, I reread books all the time.
Yes, my brain is in official pregnancy hibernation.
Yes, I have to read a TEXTBOOK of all things, to put my course together. It isn't bad, but it isn't great, either.
Sigh.
Point of ramble--I'm not ready to move on to the economics book until October. Maybe by then I will have figured out my life enough to carve out time for reading.
But whatever.
Crusoe and Economics
I'm cool if we move on to the economics book and read it simultaneously with Crusoe. Crusoe is a VERY long read and so I'm finding I need to take breaks to read other books. I've got less than 200pgs. left! :-)
JULIA
JULIA
Monday, September 13, 2010
Readings
I read Silas Marner this weekend. I'd previously read Middlemarch. Most of it, anyway. I was finding it a little boring. I also tried the BBC DVD of Middlemarch and it just wasn't high enough on my priority list to devote the time needed to finishing it. I think it's a nice story - but it wasn't gripping or funny and sadly, I'm all about gripping or funny these days. (As in, I read Mockingjay while I was on vacation because it was more exciting to me than seeing relatives that I love and rarely see. Sad).
But back to Silas. I liked it. I don't think George Eliot is going to be one of my favorite authors. Good books. Good morals. Not so fascinating as I would like them.
I read a book called "Emily's Ghost" a few weeks ago that is a novel about Emily Bronte. The author took what little is known of the poor girl and spun a fascinating story out of it. Among other things, it gave Jane Eyre (I know, that's Charlotte's book) and Wuthering Heights some perspective that makes them more interesting to me. There was plenty in the book that was made up, but it was an interesting read.
I'm planning on skipping Defoe for now. I have other books stacked by my table that all came in at once. I'm looking forward to the Economics book. Let me know when you start it!
But back to Silas. I liked it. I don't think George Eliot is going to be one of my favorite authors. Good books. Good morals. Not so fascinating as I would like them.
I read a book called "Emily's Ghost" a few weeks ago that is a novel about Emily Bronte. The author took what little is known of the poor girl and spun a fascinating story out of it. Among other things, it gave Jane Eyre (I know, that's Charlotte's book) and Wuthering Heights some perspective that makes them more interesting to me. There was plenty in the book that was made up, but it was an interesting read.
I'm planning on skipping Defoe for now. I have other books stacked by my table that all came in at once. I'm looking forward to the Economics book. Let me know when you start it!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Hi all! I know I am lame. I never post. But I haven't posted on my own personal blog for 5 months now either. Oh well. So, my husband and I just finished reading The Virginian by Owen Wister. This is the third time I've read this book. It is one of my favorites. I am kind of surprised that a guy wrote it. My husband said he wasn't convinced that her dreams were met. I said he's crazy. Socially he gained her family's approval. Intellectually he discussed classics with her and gave her different perspectives simply because he was a guy and had totally different life experiences than her. Emotionally he opened up and shared his feelings-- what woman does love that? The only part I disagreed with was his reasoning for killing Trampas. I would rather he left his pride out of it since I don't think that was a valid excuse. He should have mentioned the fact that Trampas was a murderer and thief and that The Virginian needed to protect himself and his future wife from a possible stab in the back some day. But the speech by the judge was amazing!
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