You’re not imagining it. That run that felt easy last week suddenly feels impossible. Your usual weights feel heavier.
Hormonal fluctuations during your menstrual cycle directly impact performance. Progesterone spikes before your period, raising your body temperature and heart rate. Water retention makes you feel sluggish. Iron levels drop, affecting oxygen delivery to muscles.
And by now, he’s definitely not reading this far into period talk. So let’s talk about something else that can make everything feel harder.
Sometimes it’s not your hormones making life feel heavy. Sometimes it’s him.
Here are the warning signs that you might be in an abusive relationship:
Walking on eggshells
- You rehearse conversations in your head before speaking
- You’re constantly anxious about his mood
- You change your behaviour to avoid “setting him off”
He controls your movements
- Questions where you’ve been and who you’ve seen
- Checks your phone, emails, or social media
- Makes it difficult for you to go to the gym, see friends, or have time alone
- Tracks your location or expects constant check-ins
He isolates you
- Criticises your friends or family
- Makes it awkward when you want to see loved ones
- You’ve noticed you see people less and less
Money as control
- Withholds money or gives you an “allowance”
- Prevents you from working or sabotages your job
- Makes you account for every cent
- Runs up debt in your name
He dismisses your feelings
- “You’re too sensitive” or “dramatic”
- “You’re overreacting” or “crazy”
- “It was just a joke,” “You’re being paranoid”
- Makes you doubt your own reality
Jealousy disguised as love
- Constant accusations of cheating
- Gets angry when you talk to others
- Possessiveness masked as “caring”
Physical signs
- Pushing, shoving, grabbing, blocking your way
- Throwing things or breaking your belongings
- Any hitting, slapping, or physical harm
- Threatening violence against you, children, or pets
The pattern
- Tension builds → Explosion → Apology → Repeat
- Good times get shorter
- Apologies sound emptier
- You make excuses for him
If you recognised yourself in any of this, trust your gut. You’re not overreacting. You’re not alone.
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