If you follow my other blog, you'll know that I had a major meltdown last week when my son wouldn't take his nap. I've been suffering from mood swings since I was a child, but it kills me that my child should suffer from my issues. However, last week's meltdown was a wake-up call that I need to take care of my physical self better, and that I need to make it a top priority.

I mentioned in a previous post that I suspected I was a "copper personality" person, meaning that my body accumulates copper very easily, and if I don't keep it in check, the imbalance can cause problems, including mood swings. I learned that zinc helps balance copper. I was going to see a naturopath before treating myself with supplements, but for some reason it's really hard for me to go see new doctors. I keep asking for recommendations but haven't come up with anything great. So, I just keep putting it off.

Since I didn't want to delay treating the problem, I decided to go ahead and get a zinc supplement and try it out. It's almost like night and day. I have more energy, a better and more positive attitude, and a desire to be productive (of course the latter two may just be a result of having more energy). But it doesn't mean everything is perfect. Habits are hard to break. My mind is still trained to flip out over certain things. I don't really feel it building up, though. I don't feel the stress physically. So I will feel fine, feel fine, feel fine, and then all of a sudden I've decided that I've had it, and I flip. I need to somehow condition myself to be more accepting of situations that I don't like (because when you are a mother, there ARE situations you don't like, and you can't just walk away from them, and you can't necessarily change them, either).

Does anyone know of some mental exercise that might help?

I'm taking baby steps to change what my moon time is like for me. Two cycles ago, I ordered 105 Ways to Celebrate Menstruation by Kami McBride. I waited till my next cycle to start reading it. I started getting ideas to make my time special.

When I read The Red Tent, I was amazed that all women menstruated at the start of the new moon. I knew that women who lived together would often cycle together, but I didn't know there was traditionally an actual specific time for all women to menstruate. Huh. What's more, they only menstruated for three days! I've always had long periods...easing in slowly, a couple heavy days, and then easing out. If I counted from the first drop to the last, it's probably about nine days long. Well, obviously I can't take a special time out for nine days a month! So I've decided to go with the three heaviest days. I've read that a woman can control when her cycle starts by focusing on it, so I wonder if it's possible to condense it? Hum. That would be interesting.

So I give myself three days. The first of my three days begins tomorrow. In preparation I went to the store to buy a few things: pomegranate juice which is so expensive that I consider it an indulgence...one that apparently quenches my thirst exquisitely when I menstruate; organic strawberries, a mini seedless watermelon, and ylang ylang scented organic shampoo--I think I want to get one indulgence from the cosmetics department each time, if I feel like it. I would have bought some good chocolate or a slice of their decadent chocolate cake, but we have sugar galore at our house right now (my son was very good at finding the candy-filled plastic easter eggs at my parents' house last night, and we somehow ended up taking home half of a birthday cake).

I recently re-acquired The Annotated Alice from the library (I had to return it after only reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) so I will be reading the second half during the next three days. Interesting note: The book has a red cover.

The last two months I have been very gentle on myself during my period, although I pretty much had to as I was sick both times. That actually happens a lot, I think. Will be paying more attention to that. Anyway, pretty much didn't leave the house, just took it easy. Kept chores to a minimum, and lived in my pajamas.

The first month I paid attention to my cycle, I also looked at the moon phase. My flow days started on the new moon. The next one started exactly 28 days later. This month is earlier by four days. *Sigh* It hasn't always been this erratic, but then, I used to pay more attention and write it down every month. Hopefully it will find a good rhythm again.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to tomorrow--drinking pomegranate juice, eating sweet red fruit, eating leftovers from Easter dinner, reading my book, and taking it easy.