Cortisol, Cortisol, Cortisol.
& the launch of my new offering - Office Hours!
Before we kick this thing off, I just want to preface that I’m in my luteal phase so naturally it feels like my entire life is falling apart. I’ve been experiencing a great deal of stress these last few weeks and it’s been taking a huge toll on my sleep. I’m someone that needs at least 8 (but ideally 9) solid hours of sleep to function at peak performance. This is the second month in a row that I’ve been dealing with insomnia around my luteal phase. Truthfully, I’m already a chronic over thinker - but it’s like the week before my period all my brain wants to do is come up with the most detailed list of everything I’m failing at.
During this time, it takes me anywhere from 2-3 hours to finally doze off, I’ll sleep for about 4 hours then I’ll wake up around 4 am and the cycle repeats. Last month this went on for a full 7 days and I truthfully almost lost my mind.
I started to do some research and really observe myself as if I was my own client. I tried to see if maybe nutrition or something in my day to day lifestyle could be a contributing factor. But after more digging I realized I was about to get my period and maybe that was playing a part. I know progesterone is at its highest in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, which led me to researching what it looks like if progesterone is too low. And of course one of the main symptoms was trouble sleeping!