Spring Anxiety: 7 Questions for Late Inner Winter to Spring Into New Energy

Inner Seasonal Transitions

Hello fellow cyclers,

Today I am writing to you from Day 17, inner Summer phase.

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

I have given you all a lot to “chew on” since the last post, Foods For the Flow of Spring. Today, I thought I would go a little less academically heavy and shift gears to the transition of inner Winter to inner Spring (Day 5-7 of the menstrual cycle).

*Quick note. Since I will be referring to actual seasons of the year and also the inner Season of the menstrual month, I will use lower case to indicate the “actual seasons” of the year and upper case to note the “inner Seasons” of the menstrual cycle.

During my early days of tracking, about 4 years ago, I noticed a recurring mood during my inner Spring.

Anxiety.

It felt as though my Spring energy went from 0 to 100 in the course of one day and I felt completely overwhelmed by it.

As you may know, our hormones are doing big big things for us throughout our 28ish day cycle. Each Seasonal week brings new perspectives and energies dictated by the hormonal orchestra designed within us. 

Between each inner Seasonal week are transition days:

• Inner Winter to Spring (Days 5-7)

• Inner Spring to Summer (Days 11-13)

• Inner Summer to Fall/Autumn (Days 18-21)

• Inner Fall/Autumn to Winter (Days 26-the day before Day 1

Some months’ transitions go smoothly while other months… they seem almost debilitating. Why is that?

The answer may lie in our hormone fluctuations, yes, but also we need to think of our awareness or lack of awareness, poor planning and not giving time to ourselves to pause at these transitional times.

Today is daylight saving time here in the US and it is a very transitional time that marks winter’s end and the transition towards spring. Even though the spring equinox is 10 days away, spring is very much springing here.

We have arrived at spring’s doorstep. At this point of leaving actual winter behind to embrace spring, I equate to the last day of inner Winter in the monthly menstrual cycle (around Day 6).

Signs of spring energy are fast approaching and the uncertainty of leaving the warm coziness of winter behind can feel uncertain. This is especially true as I have fully embraced winter this year. I have lived at turtle speed and hunkered down into my cozy blankets. As I peak my head out now I wonder what is in store for this spring.

During my early days of tracking, about 4 years ago, I noticed a recurring mood during my inner Spring. Anxiety. It felt as though my Spring energy went from 0 to 100 in the course of one day and I felt completely overwhelmed by it. Thoughts flooded into my brain, while physical energy surged through my body. Without a plan I was doomed. Sometimes the thoughts flooded in but the physical energy wasn’t there to back up all the ideas and to-do’s that came rushing at me. Tracking my cycle helped me find this little glitch. I’m supposed to be feeling great, why do I feel so irritated, bonkers and tense?

Once again, what we do in inner Winter sets us up for inner Spring. I have since found that being proactive rather than reactive is the best when it comes to inner Spring energy.

Let's look again at inner Winter:

• Rest 

• Renewal

• Review

• Reflect

• Envision

• Direction

This is the ultimate practice in our inner Winter phase. It is imperative that we prioritize this time, especially as we enter perimenopause.

I have learned to slow my inner Winters down and even when inner Spring energy pops up early, I try to remember to give Winter its full time of rest and restoration. This is an on-going practice.

By allocating this time to rest, reflect and direction, inner Spring feels less scattered, less anxious. Even when I don't feel Spring energy yet, I know that it is coming. 

Spring anxiety is common for many women. Have you ever experienced physical anxiety or overwhelm during Days 6-13?

Symptoms of Spring/Week 2/Follicular anxiety:

• Worry

• Restlessness

• Feeling on edge

• Irritability or tension

• Tension headaches 

• Anxiety out of the blue

There may be several hormonal reasons for this anxiety, namely low estrogen levels in the follicular phase or a sensitivity to rapidly rising estrogen. 

There is more information on hormone imbalance here¹and here²³.

However, today, I’d like to focus on a non-hormonal approach that may be very helpful. This approach is based on cycle awareness and cycle syncing and it starts at the end of inner Winter.

 I find doing this practice before inner Spring arrives makes all the difference. Here is a practice that I use to Go With the Flow.

Towards the end of my inner Winter (around day 4-6) when I start to anticipate Spring, I sit in a quiet space and journal out these questions:

1. Did I fully rest during my Winter?

  Yes? Great. No? Make space to rest.

2. Did I get a chance to reflect and journal about my last month’s energies and goals?

Yes? Great. No? Do that today.

3. Have I looked at my month ahead and aligned my lists and goals to match my Seasonal energies?

Yes? Great. No? Do that after reflecting.

4. Have I planned some time for myself this month?

Yes? Great. No? Prioritize time alone during each season’s transitional day this month.

5. Have I made a list for my Spring week?

Yes? Great. No? Get the list out of my head space. It feels so much better.

6. Where do I plan to put my surging Spring energy?

A personal project? Or Exercise? Or both?

7. If I feel anxious, what can I do?

• PRAY and continue praying while doing the rest

• Get outside and briskly walk or run

• Go to the gym and get my heart rate up

• Clean the house

• Blood sugar can crash so eat high protein

• Reduce caffeine intake

• Taking herbs and supplements l-theanine is great. CBD oil, calming tea, tulsi and ashwagandha

When I first started Cycle Awareness I realized I needed additional help in my transitions and made acupuncture appointments specifically on transition days. This was super helpful.

I really enjoy my Spring energy when I can prepare and also know what to do with the energy that comes. I also know what to avoid if possible (like standing around waiting in lines or any task that requires patience ). 

Getting to know my own nuances during this time, I try to give myself what this energy asks of me.

Your challenge for your next inner Winter is to take some time to review your last month’s energy and reflect and ask yourself these 7 questions. Your phase is unique to you and giving yourself this time may help you go into your inner Spring.

If you experience Spring anxiety, what tools do you use to Go With the Flow?

Thanks for being here,

1. https://www.myhormonology.com/how-do-your-hormones-affect-anxiety/

2. https://floliving.com/blog/natural-remedies-for-anxiety

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4000966/