Listening to My Body: A diagnosis of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency

 Learning to Trust My Body: My Journey with Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI)

3 Ways to Move Forward After a Diagnosis of POI

1. Find Support in Community
   When I was first told about my diagnosis of premature ovarian insufficiency, it felt really overwhelming. But one of the best things I did was to talk to someone about it. Whether it’s talking to family, or friends, it’s powerful to know you’re not alone. Just knowing there are others going through similar struggles can make it feel less scary and more manageable.
2. Take Things One Day at a Time
   This is a hard one for me! It is still a struggle everyday, but I am aware of it. It’s easy to feel like you have to have everything figured out right away, but that’s not realistic. I learned that taking small steps every day, like noticing how I feel or making one healthy choice, helped me feel more in control. Instead of worrying about everything at once, focusing on one thing at a time makes it easier to manage.
3. Learn About Your Body
   After my diagnosis, firstly I knew I had to find a way to manage my anxiety and stress and it starts with taking care of myself. I realized how important it was to learn about my body and my symptoms. I started reading about POI, understanding how hormones work, and figuring out what things might help me feel better and starting with one small change. Knowing what’s going on in your body can help you make choices that are good for you, and it helps to feel informed and empowered too.

3 Holistic Ways that helped me to Manage Symptoms of POI

1. Yoga and Gentle Exercise
   One of the first things I committed to again was my yoga practice, and I’m so glad I did. Moving my body and focusing on my breathing made a huge difference. I missed it so much. Even if I was only able to go to a class once or twice a week, it helped me feel calmer and more connected to myself. Exercise doesn’t have to be intense to be helpful—even just stretching and moving a little can help reduce anxiety and make you feel better.
2. Mindful Eating and Nourishment
   I started paying more attention to what I was eating, trying to choose foods that made me feel good and gave me energy. It wasn’t about dieting or restricting, but more about nourishing my body in a way that felt balanced. First, I needed to incoporate more protein into my everyday routine. Eating more whole foods, like fruits, veggies, and lean proteins, helped me manage my energy levels, and it even helped with some of my mood swings.
3. Journaling and Silence
   I didn’t realize how helpful my journaling practice was until I started back at it everyday. Writing down how I felt gave me a way to let things out without judgment. I also started taking time each day to just sit in silence, even if it was just for a few minutes. These quiet moments helped me feel more grounded and gave me space to think clearly, which made the hard days a little easier. It also brought me back to turning my journal entries into blog posts to hopefully inspire you.

My Journey with Perimenopause & POI: Embracing Change and Healing

When I first started noticing symptoms around age 38, I thought they were just random changes. At first, it was little things—feeling extra tired, a bit more anxious, and having trouble focusing. But as time went on, these symptoms got harder to ignore. I’d forget little things, feel mentally foggy, and even doing simple tasks felt exhausting. My periods became more irregular, and I was constantly tired. When I brought it up at my doctor’s appointments, I often heard the same advice: “You need to reduce stress,” or “Just eat more protein and get more exercise.” I’d leave those appointments feeling like I was overreacting, even though I knew deep down something was off.

Life was already busy with family and everyday responsibilities, and like many moms, I’d gotten used to putting everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. I’d go for quick coffee dates with friends or an occasional date night with my husband, thinking that was enough self-care. But those were only small breaks in a hectic routine, not the kind of care I really needed. Over time, I felt more and more disconnected from myself and what my body was trying to tell me.

Then, I found a Barre Fitness studio that led me into finding and loving yoga. It was only once or twice a week, but something changed. On the mat, I felt my mind quiet down, and even my symptoms eased a little. I finally felt like I could breathe. From there, I started journaling and making time to be still. These little practices became a new kind of self-care—one that was intentional and actually made me feel like I was taking care of myself.

I also found support in my yoga community of women who understood what it felt like to be overwhelmed. Talking with others helped me realize that none of us have to go through hard things alone. We all have struggles, and when we share them, we’re reminded that we’re stronger than we think.

Looking back, I may have been able to prevent a POI diagnosis if I dealt with my symptoms of perimenopause sooner. It has taught me to listen to my body and to take care of myself from the inside out. Self-care isn’t selfish—it’s what lets us keep going, for ourselves and for the people we love. If you’re going through something similar, I hope my story reminds you to trust yourself and to find support. Community and compassion really can make a difference. We’re all in this together, one step at a time.