When Spring Doesn't Spring: 5 Common Reasons

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

The hormonal orchestra is working hard for us to provide a basic thematic performance every month with slight variations depending on many variables of our lives.

Spring is the 2nd week of the menstrual cycle landing somewhere starting on Day 6/7 to Day 12/13 of the menstrual month. Not sure what day you are one? Remember that Day 1 is the first day of your period bleed.

In Spring the hormone estrogen is the main player rising steadily along with Follicular Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Estrogen in the right amount provides us with overall energy on all the levels, physically, mentally, socially, and sexually.

Spring Energy is Characterized by:

• Rise in Mental Energy!

• Rise in Physical Energy

• Rise in social energy

• Rise in sexual energy

The Themes of Spring Phase:

• Wanting to get things done

• Spring cleaning

• Starting new projects

• Wanting to get out and see people

• Need for less sleep

• Lists and planning

• Hosting

But what happens when Spring Doesn’t Spring?

Reasons why Spring Doesn’t Spring:

1. Sickness:

I first encountered this when I started tracking 4 years ago. In the winter (day 1- day 6) I was sick with a virus (kinda like I was a few weeks ago). The virus landed in my inner winter phase (also like a few weeks ago).

Getting sick in the winter phase or a few days before is common because the immune system naturally takes a dip when all the hormones come crashing down in the Fall phase (luteal) and stay down for the first few days of Winter (menses). Because the virus landed in my Winter phase my recovery was still happening in my Spring phase. Getting sick or recovering from a sickness in the Spring phase really puts a damper on the energy levels. Knowing that my Spring just won’t really Spring in its usual healthy way, I can take the pressure off of myself to “go get it”.

• Continue resting. If your Brain power comes with Spring but not the usual physical energy, no worries. We can use whatever Spring will give us and do some planning for months down the road or do some computer work or use the brain’s natural creativity. If we have brain power we might as well use it! The best news is that Spring is the strongest hormonal phase for recovery.

During the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle (i.e. the first part of the cycle, from the first day of the period until ovulation), people tend to have higher levels of antibodies in their body and have an increased inflammatory response (1, 4). (source)

2. Grief:

A sudden loss of any kind in Winter or early Spring can also change the way we experience our Spring energy. If mentally or emotionally we are drained from grief, we may not feel the urge to learn something new or tackle a project we’ve been planning. We might not even feel like talking about it just yet.

• Grief in the Spring phase can be used to “do what we can”. Sometimes that means that we spring into action and help take care of the logistics that might come with whatever tragedy is before us. We might find we are quick on our feet and just do whatever is in front of us at the moment.

• Exercising is one of the best ways to process, especially in Spring. There is the natural physical energy waiting to be tapped into and if we push that just a little, by just showing up to the gym or just getting on that bike or on that trail, we find a great outlet ready to reduce anxiety. 20-30 minutes a day is enough to help. If grief is too heavy to take it to the gym, try taking a walk first.

• This review suggests that physical activity may benefit grief outcomes in individuals who have been bereaved, alleviating feelings of depression, anxiety and the experience of post-traumatic stress disorder; whilst also creating a sense of freedom, enabling the expression of emotions, providing a distraction, and an escape from grief.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8028581/

3. Injury:

An injury preceding the Spring phase can be a real bummer for the Spring energy that arrives. Resting is not easy to come by when all the energetic hormones come dancing in. It can be a real challenge to make rest happen when there is a list waiting to get done.

• When our bodies have to rest but our mind is on a hamster wheel; doing things that only require brain power can be helpful and also productive. Computer work, finances (blah), research, planning something fun when resting is over, learning something new, are all doable when the body needs rest but the brain is on hyperspeed.

• If pain restricts the brain from learning or working, or planning, finding something that distracts the brain can be helpful, like puzzles, mandalas and/or coloring. Just giving the brain something to focus on besides the fact that it hates having to lie around, can ease some of the anxiety that lack of exercise can bring in the Spring phase. This would be a good time to have some relaxing teas on hand like lemon balm, lavender, passionflower, mimosa flower and cbd to calm, relax and bring down inflammation. More info on nervine herbs to help ease tension.

4. Hormone Imbalance:

When Spring brings low energy, low libido, emotional crying or rage, it’s time to look at hormone imbalance as a possibility. When I first began tracking my cycle 4 years ago, I noticed a pattern of low energy, anxiety, and sometimes irritation and/or episodes of crying in my Spring phase despite exercising. I researched the connection of chinese medicine, acupuncture and different seasonal phases, their connection to different organs and how that affects our state of being. This study led me to find that Spring season is associated with the liver organ and the liver is connected to and helps control emotions. Not only that but the liver is a key player in eliminating excess estrogen. I went to an acupuncturist regularly and then began focusing on supporting liver function.

• After you have been tracking you may see that you cyclically do not have the tell-tale signs of a healthy Spring phase and you may want to look at some root causes to bring back balance. Lisa Vitti, author of “In the Flo” does a great job of explaining root causes when your cycle is “off”. I highly recommend website and blog posts. https://floliving.com/blog

5. Perimenopause:

When Spring doesn’t spring because, well, perimenopause. Perimenopause begins in the late 30’s to early 40’s. It is characterized by a shift in hormones causing fluctuations throughout the month that can be erratic. This can cause very short cycles, very long or even skipped cycles along with a myriad of other symptoms ranging from thinning hair, hot flashes/night sweats, painful breasts,joint pain, insomnia, brain fog and many others. Fluctuations in estrogen, either too high (typically in the second half), or too low (in one or both halves) or swing both high and low from month to month.

• Cycle syncing meals with specific natural estrogens in food along with cycle syncing exercise can do wonders for increasing energy and cognitive function during this phase.

• Finding the root cause of your specific set of symptoms and bringing harmony back to your hormones plus exercising in sync with your cycle can reduce the severity of the perimenopause phase. Check out https://floliving.com/blog and https://www.johnleemd.com/doctor-may-not-tell-premenopause.htmlfor more info on perimenopause

If your Spring isn’t springing, it’s okay. Give yourself lots of grace to be where you are. Also keep in mind everyone’s biological make-up is a bit different. Keep tracking and do a little digging and hopefully, soon, you will enjoy your Spring energy.

P.S. Have you been tracking your cycle? How long?

Have you ever had a time where Spring didn’t “spring”? What happened?

Do you cycle sync your phases?

Would you like to read more posts about cycle syncing?