In the article female hormonal acne almost ruined my life, I share my candid struggle with cystic acne. I was put on the pill as a way to maintain the horrible symptoms I experienced and went through years emotional rollercoasters, weight problems, hair loss, skin issues, low energy and you name it.
In university, I started noticing difficulty staying awake during classes and maintaining focus. It got worse over the years. At work, it reflected in my performance. I would always feel tired, drained. I remember at one of the first jobs I had after college, a fellow co-worker made a comment, “that I was too young to always be as tired as I was”. It stuck with me.
To make matters worse, my skin issues affected my confidence and impeded my ability to go after the things I wanted. I’d also gained so much weight as a result of the birth control pills and in all the wrong places. I remember feeling like I was not myself.
My trips to the physician would end up with me undergoing similar tests, which would come back out of whack hormones but overall healthy, and their answers were always the same, try a different birth control pill. Deep down I knew something just wasn’t right with me. I got tired of fighting a losing battle. I was determined to take charge of my health.
I started reading and soaking everything that I came across regarding women’s health and fitness. I developed a strong interest in herbal medicine and foods for healing. For years I read, studied different scientific research and tried various remedies. I still educate myself as much as I can.
The more I researched, the more I understood my body and how as women we cannot ignore the fact that our daily lives are so heavily impacted by our hormones. I also began to understand how the hormonal changes that occur in our bodies as a result of our menstrual cycles affect many aspects of our lives. The dots began to connect.