#pmddawarenesschallenge

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 16: Happy Place. A screenshot from Dorothy (Judy Garland) singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" in "The Wizard of Oz" (Dir. Victor Fleming, 1939, USA). This image symbolizes many of my favorite happy places... Within the world of a beloved book, Absorbed in a favorite film, In cinefilia and film studies, Images rendered in Technicolor, The George Eastman Museum, The Castro Theatre, Single screen and neighbor cinemas that continue to exhibit revival cinema, Comradery and connections with family, friends, colleagues, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, In irreverent jokes, In treasured memories, In connection. #pmdawarenessmonth2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/CcbQ10evMkk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 30: Reflection. 30 days, a post a day, and me blasting out to the public my PMDD battles. I'm glad that I did it, in so much as I did it my way, and appreciate all the conversations and positive feedback these posts received. The posts ranged from therapeutic, to incredibly hard to write, to fun artistic exercises. It's been a journey, but the road goes ever on. (at War Memorial Opera House, 301 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA) https://www.instagram.com/p/COT0iE8BHg7/?igshid=uwtfzs2zxkg1

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 29: Looking Forward. It is heartening to know that more and more people are learning the difference between PMS and PMDD, and the impact of the latter on the lives of anatomically female individuals. Personaly, with a post-pandemic future closer than ever, I am looking forward to routines that allow me to be more active, out and about, and doing things that will lessen my symptoms. All the same, I know I live a privileged existence. I have insurance, a white collar job, and access to experts. Not all women do. Some don't even have guaranteed access to sanitary products. We need to do better by people who aren't white cisgenderer men in terms of health care access and treatment. We need to tear down taboos around mental health care too. I think enough other people need and want these things too that we'll get there. (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CORuac4h7Dw/?igshid=1wb1z8md8fwyf

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 28: PMDD Won't Take Away... ...my will to get back up. I hate losing time and feeling guilty that I need to step back from my usual activities due to PMDD showing up, but that doesn't mean after a much needed rest I won't pick myself up and resume my regularly scheduled program. I am writing this post on a day where I needed to take a sick day, and rest and crochet and watch a period piece procedural, with my phone muted. It took me awhile to think of how to answer today's prompt, because for all my espousing the power of boundaries and rest, I hate admitting that I need the rest. I hate admitting that my symptoms have gotten the better of me. The fact that depression, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, come along as part of PMDD symptoms doesn't help. I am stubborn as hell though, and that means I will recover from what's ailing me, even if it means forcing myself to relax. https://www.instagram.com/p/COO-2j4h0m5/?igshid=up59avi4wodg

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 27: PMDD Remembrance Day. April 27th is a day of remembering folks who PMDD led to their premature death. I do not have names or stories directly related to share. So instead, I will give remembrance to Anarcha, Betsey, Lucy, and the unnamed 9 other enslaved African women that were experimented on, without anastasia, by Dr. J. Marion Sims to unlock the secrets of female anatomy. Sims became "the Father of Gynecology" for exploiting the bodies and lack of rights of these women. Yes, his findings have gone on to save countless women, but the medical rape and misogynoir perpetrated here is part of the story of those advancements, and needs to receive wider awareness. For more information and context: Remembering Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey: The Mothers of Modern Gynecology https://www.npr.org/2017/02/07/513764158/remembering-anarcha-lucy-and-betsey-the-mothers-of-modern-gynecology Remembering Anarcha, Betsey and Lucy: February 28 to March 1 https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/remembering-anarcha-betsey-and-lucy-february-28-to-march-1 Black Subjectivity and the Origins of American Gynecology https://www.aaihs.org/black-subjectivity-and-the-origins-of-american-gynecology/ The More Up Campus https://www.anarchalucybetsey.org/ Image credit: Robert Thom, “Illustration of Dr. J. Marion Sims with Anarcha ,” Young American Republic, accessed April 27, 2021, http://projects.leadr.msu.edu/youngamerica/items/show/123. https://www.instagram.com/p/COL1d-Ehb7_/?igshid=s6jkwbecl72k

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 26: Strong. Last night, when I was getting ready for bed, my PMDD symptoms showed up like a drunken roommate. My nervous tension and physical symptoms calmed down enough so that I finally could get some sleep, and then one of my neighbors decided that 3am was the ideal time to set off fireworks. After a disruptive night's sleep, whilst willing myself to get up, because my share of a time sensitive project was due at work, so taking extra time off to sleep was not an option, I saw today's #pmddawarenessmonth prompt and thought, "Are you kidding me?" I then proceeded to rally through my day, raw irritability needing to be constantly tempered, and got the time sensitive work requests done. Does rallying through my symptoms, and keeping them from damaging relationships, make me strong? Survival and preventing negative consequences is an act of practicality, not strength, to me. Does it take strength to do that? I guess so. Frankly, I rather not have to be strong; I rather just be. (at San Francisco, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/COJvjhhBEe9/?igshid=1gwaii69i7i3b

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 25: Advocacy. Engaging with #pmddawarenessmonth is advocacy. In each post I have talked about how I actively advocate for my well being, and increase knowledge of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Open conversations, and directly stating your needs and expectations to those for whom your care is dependent is essential. If openly advocating for yourself is something you're inexperienced with, or if your healthcare providers haven't taken your complaints seriously, don't just explain your documented symptoms, explain their impact. How often has your period necessitated you take a sick day, or time off work? Caused rifts with family, friends or coworkers? Or otherwise derailed you functioning normally? Making it clear to my doctors that a chronic condition was interfering with my life and livelihood is how I finally started getting the help that I needed. https://www.instagram.com/p/COGg_wQhWFY/?igshid=1n1zjoc7cmg9t

#pmddawarenesschallenge Day 24: #pmddpeeps Quoting Jane Lane here may be hyperbolic, but as far as I knew before #pmddawarenessmonth started, no one else I knew had premenstrual dysphoric disorder. I knew women with gnarly periods, yes, but the causes differed. By taking part in PMDD Awareness Month, I discovered one of my role model cousins, a close friend from high school, and a former co-worker also had it. Discovering 3 other badass, cool women had it too was surprising and heartening. I never had been interested in finding a support group for PMDD, but I am glad to know that I have people to discuss struggles with who have firsthand experience. https://www.instagram.com/p/COEPCB_BDAW/?igshid=1cu04i21o8m3z