Lock-down and Women

Spread the love

The present lock-down situation has been difficult on everyone, old and young alike, men and women alike. Really – men and women alike?

Women across all ages and social status are undergoing a lot of stress during the lock-down. Most of the states have reported a spurt in domestic violence cases in the last couple of months. This has been mostly attributed to financial problems, apprehensions about future, job insecurities, etc. faced by families resulting in an outbreak of stress, the burnt of which has to be faced by the woman in the family in the form of violence. Another very common way of venting out stress by husbands has been sexual overdrive – be it with or without consent, which is naturally very traumatizing for the wife.

Many women of present times are efficient, managing office and home effectively. However, the regular routine prior to the pandemic, would seldom include doing both the same time. In usual scenarios, home and office work are clearly segregated into different time frames. But now, that is not the case. The clear expectation from others and from yourself is to be able to manage everything together – be it household chores, husband, in-laws, kids, meetings, phone calls, emails and work. But is it taking a toll on women physically and emotionally? of course!

For most women, looking good is not just about physical appearance. It is also a confidence booster. Having to hear how unkempt you are looking these days, or how you have suddenly gained weight makes one feel low. Taking that time out for yourself, be it a visit to the salon, a quick gym session or just some quality grooming time for yourself at home is a big stress buster. It is something that makes you love yourself. As materialistic as it may sound, not getting that “me” time amidst all the chaos around you, sure adds to the frustration.

We are all used to getting a lot of funny messages, jokes and posts on social media regarding the woes of a husband during lock-down – the dishes he needs to wash, the cleaning up he needs to do. Even, women tend to sympathize with the men on seeing such posts. But do we take a minute out to think that this is what a woman does on a regular basis? So, sympathizing with men is quite fine – as this is a completely unfamiliar territory for them, but be sure to appreciate the woman who does all this and in fact much more all along, without getting any acknowledgement at all.

Here’s hoping that these tough times end soon. And till then the hope remains that women get a little more support, a little more understanding, a little more appreciation and a little more love from everyone around coz – a happy woman sure can spread cheer and positivity all around her that will help everyone get through these testing times.

Spread the love

I got my first period at the age of 13. Always painful, heavy and irregular. My gynaecologist said the condition will improve with age. And yes, it did. The irregular periods were gone by the age of 16-17. But what never left my company was this pain, this unmerciful and burning pain. I remember sometimes I used to faint because of the pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. I see many girls who play, swim, party and lead a normal life even when they are menstruating. I would say “Girls you must be God’s favourite”.

So, I considered myself a not so favourite of God and started leading my life accepting the monthly challenges. But then my life took another turn. When I was 26, I started getting random cramps. Cramps like mini ninjas were trying to kill me from inside. Getting down from my bed in the morning became like a battle. I rushed to my gynaecologist. And after all the scans and tests, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis, a chronic illness I have to live with.

I had not heard of endometriosis before nor had any member of my family. I had to do my own research by consulting the internet and doctor. Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to the endometrial tissue (tissue that forms the lining of your uterus) grows outside of the uterine cavity, on ovaries, fallopian tube, bowel, and tissues lining your pelvis. Some of the symptoms I suffered from were:

chronic pain during or in between cycles
heavy bleeding during periods
Fatigue/lack of energy/weakness

Some days can really be hard when the pain is to the extent that I cannot stand up straight or walk properly as the pain is down my legs and up my back. Lying curled up in bed in the fetal position around a hot water bottle becomes a common way of coping.

The treatment my doctor suggested is of combined oral contraceptive pills. These pills contain a mixture of estrogen and progesterone and works by suppressing ovulation and affects the production of female hormones in the ovary. The hormones in the Pill cause the uterus lining to become thinner, causing periods to become shorter and lighter, thus reducing endometriosis symptoms. I have been taking this treatment from past 3 years now with planned breaks in between. I can say that in my case the treatment did not work as effectively as expected. Instead it brought some side effects like weight gain and mood swings.

This is when I had to bring some changes in my lifestyle. And trust me these changes work as add-ons to the treatment.

Yoga and workout: There are yogasanas which are specially for Endometriosis pain relief. Workout is important because this treatment can cause an unproportionate weight gain.
Avoid dairy products: As suggested by an ayurvedic doctor because dairy products contain hormones which can affect the natural hormone generation of the body.
Add green vegetables and fruits in your diet.
Positive attitude: This illness can sometimes play with your mind and you can feel sick and on your own. Don’t fall for it. Go out, spend time with people and try to lead your life as normal as you can. Just take one day at a time.

People often say, “You don’t look sick”. But I am not surprised, even I was not aware of it before. A surprising fact is that approximately 10 per cent of women in India are suffering from this debilitating illness, still, no one knows about it till they suffer themselves. So, I just want to bring this awareness among girls who are suffering from lethal pelvic pain or any other symptom. Don’t spend half of your life assuming that it is just normal period pain and go see your gynaecologist for correct diagnosis before it’s too late.

Share your story with us & we will share it with the world! #MyStory