Episode 8 - No More Painful Periods & More with Isabella Thor

By Jessica Garrison

Trigger warnings: suicide, infertility, stillbirth

We love to have discussions that benefit women, even if they aren’t always deemed “appropriate.” Periods are a fact of life, and it’s imperative that women receive as much information as they can. Isabella Thor is a loving, playful, and orgasmic woman who brings so much to the F.E.E.L conversation.

Isabella expresses the importance of setting time aside for yourself everyday, and I couldn’t agree more. For her, the time is spent stretching and moving her body, but this could be anything that makes you feel nourished. It’s about giving yourself the time you deserve, and we have to remember it isn’t selfish to think this way. When I first started writing for the podcast, I was a guest on a season 2 episode entitled “Prioritizing the Time.” I’m a huge advocate for people scheduling their self care time or any time they want for just themselves.

Sometimes I’ll hear a friend say they want to see a particular movie, but they don’t have any time. If it’s something you really want to do, then you should be able to set aside 2 hours for yourself out of the week to do it. No matter what it may be, scheduling that self care time can be life changing, and this in turn helps to develop boundaries.

It isn’t easy to set boundaries, especially if you don’t have a lot of practice at it. There might be some pushback from people in your life who aren’t used to it, but you have to stand by what makes you happy, and your time is valuable. Sometimes it even creates a positive domino effect where others will feel inspired to do the same.

Isabella offers a great breathing exercise for times you’re feeling rushed, overwhelmed, or caught in a thought loop (a thought loop is a pattern of repetitive thoughts that can contribute to mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorders). Slow everything down by breathing in, holding your breath, exhaling, and holding again in 5 second increments. I always think in my head that breathing exercises won’t work, but then when I utilize them, it really helps to bring my anxiety down. Even if you haven’t tried it before, see if this helps with the anxiety that setting boundaries can bring.

There’s a free article Isabella mentions during the episode entitled, The 5 Steps to Resolve Period Pain for Good, that offers further insight into a pain free period. Her expertise and kind hearted attitude makes this an episode you definitely won’t want to miss!

Ways to Engage: Think of something you’ve wanted to do recently but haven’t found the time to do it. Not something someone else has been bugging you to do or something work related, but an activity that nourishes your soul. Carve time out of your schedule, write it in your planner, and stand by your boundaries to accomplish it. Sometimes you have to push yourself to make the time, but it’s so worth it in the end.