I’ve been living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder abbreviated as PMDD since I started my menstrual and/or “friend.” Well she’s no friend of mine. She’s been more of an enemy than a friend to me. Looking back, I didn’t realize I had PMDD until I got older. It seemed to get worse. I didn’t get diagnosed with it until I was in my 20’s.
“She’s no friend of mine. …I just recently started letting some people know why I don’t come around when I make plans with them.”
Those of you who don’t know what PMDD is, it’s Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It’s like having an evil twin sister who wants nothing more than to see you break into pieces. I get it two weeks out of every month before my period and it’s the worst two weeks of my life, not to mention my family’s life. You see – when she’s about to visit I start feeling depressed. I have no desire to be around people at all. I’ve had suicidal thoughts and I have zero confidence in myself during this time. I have severe migraines, insomnia, panic attacks and I have lack of concentration. Oh, and bloating that makes me look like I’m 6 months pregnant. I’m not friendly during this time. I have no patience or tolerance for people. You try living a “normal” life with PMDD. It’s taken over my life for what seems like my entire life since I was a teen. There is no cure or medicine that has worked for me and I’ve taken probably all of them. I haven’t taken anything in years now and refuse to at this point. I simply deal with my symptoms the best way I possibly can. My family probably gets the worst of it and I hate that I can’t control it because they deserve so much better than the way I am during this time. Please do not confuse PMDD with PMS because it is 100 times worse and never let anyone tell you that you’re overreacting or using it as a crutch. I’ve heard it all when I try to explain to people that it’s an illness. I just recently started letting some people know why I don’t come around when I make plans with them. As for now, I have no choice but to go through this alone because I don’t know anyone else who has had PMDD who can truly understand how I’m feeling and what I go through. This is a very small portion of my story and I hope it helps someone else who may be dealing with this illness.
Hi, I’m Qura and I’m a wife, mother, daughter and friend. I love helping people and a goal of mine is to spread love and light throughout humanity. I am a spiritual being having a human experience. Love and kindness are key to the evolution of our world.
We are honored to bring you this post from our honored guest Nicole Leffer. This post originally appeared on NicoleLeffer.com. While I still try to wrap my head around COVID-19, most of my commentary on it has been limited to my Facebook page so you’re welcome to check it out there. And, without further ado here’s the article.
As coronavirus spreads, it looks like a lot of healthy people are going to be spending a lot more time at home for a while. Whether you get stuck at home because of an actual quarantine, or are just at home a lot more because of social distancing and social events being put on hold, we may all need to find some exciting activities to keep us from going totally stir crazy or getting bored.
A possible quarantine while healthy doesn’t have to mean that life is super boring if you come into it with the right mindset. With a little preparation so that you have the right supplies on hand (no, I’m not talking about toilet paper or canned goods, I’m talking about tools for home-based self-entertainment, personal growth, and creativity) it could be very rewarding experience that allows you time and space to connect with God and your own soul, learn and dive deep into mindful activities and self-reflection we wouldn’t ordinarily pursue, get creative, play, and just really enjoy the gift of life.
In this light, as we all get prepared for the possibility of coronavirus quarantine, I asked my awesome friends for their ideas of things to do (other than watching Netflix) and what to have on hand if you get stuck at home (but not sick) a lot more because of coronavirus. The list of possible quarantine activities and supplies is awesome and will keep you occupied whether you’ll be home alone or with family. The list spans a wide range including spiritual and personal growth activities, creativity, play, self-care, education and enrichment, and life productivity.
Here’s the quarantine activities we collectively came up with, the quarantine supplies you may not realize you’ll want to have on hand, and some online resources you may find handy!
Things To Do During A Self Quarantine To Make it Awesome (these are also just awesome things to do if coronavirus just has you at home a lot):
Meditate
Pray
Journal
Write a letter to God (or however you define your higher power)
Read a spiritual text (maybe even one from a different faith tradition than your own)
Write a letter to yourself from your future self (the things you think your future self would like you to know NOW)
Create a vision board
Create a written life vision (like a vision board, but in journal form)
Write a bucket list
Write a list of goals (and a strategy to achieve them) / map out your life and work intentions
Finally do the written or meditative exercises in a self-help / personal development book you’re reading
Write heartfelt letters to your friends or family (like the pen and paper kind!)
Email an old friend you’ve been meaning to re-connect with
Read a great book
Listen to an audio book (many libraries have the ability to loan audiobooks virtually so check with your local branch!) – you can do this WHILE you do several other things on this list, too!
As my friend Ciji at Balanced Not Busy suggested: “Do nothing, just sit still. Seems like the perfect time to me for folks to see what it feels like to not have an over-programmed, demanding and unrealistic schedule and just be balanced not busy.”
Supplies you may want to have on hand if there’s a quarantine:
Roll of craft paper
Poster board
Coloring books (adults, too!)
Markers and/or colored pencils
Paint / watercolors
Canvases
Sketch pad
Other craft / DIY project supplies
Magazines to cut up (for vision boards)
Puzzles & puzzle mat
Books
Games
Playing cards
Journals
Stationary
At home yoga stuff (mat, blocks, strap)
At home workout equipment
Organizing bins / tubs / etc.
Tools / supplies for home improvement projects
Self-case stuff (essential oils, bath salts, nail polish, etc)
Online resources that were recommended (I haven’t checked all of these out, was just told they’re great!):
Nicole’s boasts a successful background in entrepreneurship, business, journalism and politics, combined with her service work and vast travel experience, adds a unique depth of perspective to endeavor as an intuitive.
