"...11 years later, and I now have the answers my 16 year old self needed."

It started when I was 16 years old. I had intensely painful menstrual cramps. Some were so bad that I would need to stay home all day. I didn’t know how to handle the pain and my normal dose of over the counter pain medications weren’t doing anything for me. I did what most people would do when they are in pain; go to the doctor. I was put on naproxen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. I would still be in pain for hours, even after taking my new prescription. Eventually, I needed more until the pain medications wouldn’t work at all. 

After naproxen, I was put on birth control pills to deal with the pain. My pain was gone, but it wasn’t until later that I realized how much the hormones affected me. If it wasn’t for two accidental forgettings of ordering more birth control, I may have never made the connection. No doctor had warned me that my mood could be affected. It was a subtle change that happened slowly over the years and I was not equipped with the information to self monitor. Once I was off, I had so much vibrant energy. I was dancing and laughing, much like I did when I was younger. My cramps were still there, but I decided to just accept them at the time.

When I started to work with Rose Marie Raccioppi, it came to my attention that I needed to get to the root of all of my menstrual pain, not just treat the symptoms. I had realized that I resented being a woman. I had to explore my experiences growing up and why I hated being “cursed” every month. These were all things I needed to explore. Once I did, I found a release and a new sense of myself. I was missing a good part of my being. Now that I’ve reassimilated, I feel stronger, and more in command of my body. I am no longer a victim of my being a woman. I learned to embrace that side of me and be grateful.

Rose Marie Raccioppi has showed me that our bodies have intelligence, and can hold information beyond our consciousness. They can hold on to past experiences and past emotional responses. I know now the importance of processing all feelings, thoughts and emotions. I understand that if we don’t, they may stay hidden in our bodies and manifest into physical distress or pain. I am grateful that I have the tools to be in command of my own body, to know how to communicate with all parts of myself and address any unresolved feelings. It has made a world of difference in my life and health.

One day soon after this discovery, I found the last missing piece to the puzzle. Something told me to check my messages, and there it was. I was sent an article from Rose Marie Raccioppi about talking to your organs. I decided to heed the words of the article. I started breathing and then asked my body what it needed in regards to my cramps. “Vitamin C.” That was what appeared in my head. I thought, “Vitamin C? I’ve never heard of that!  At this point I had to follow. I took some EmergenC, as it was the only thing I had around. Within 5 minutes, my cramps were gone! I briefly thought that it was psychosomatic. But when I started to get cramps again later in the day, I did it again. They were gone in no time.

I did some research and vitamin C is believed by some to help initiate menstruation. I then started to connect the dots. I’ve always craved juice around this time. I’ve also frequently gotten sick around this time. What are we told to get more of when we are sick? Vitamin C!

I’ve previously accepted the idea that periods make me weak and susceptible to illness because that’s what I was taught. Now I know that my body wasn’t getting everything it needed in order to carry out its cycle, and that I can give it what it needs to be healthy. I learned from Rose Marie Raccioppi that I needed to support my body. If I was getting sick or having pain, look at the source. Instead of masking, figure out how to give my body whatever it is missing. My menstruation doesn’t make me weak. I just needed to be more self aware of what was going on inside.

The more time that I spend with Rose Marie Raccioppi, the more I realize that this is applicable to all areas of my life. Self awareness is key. Becoming knowledgeable about the thoughts, the feelings, the physical manifestations and past experiences that can be keyed in to the present time,  are so important when looking at health and vitality. It is all too easy to get caught up in work, in our phones, in our entertainment. But making time for myself and my health has truly been an important turning point in my life.

I have learned to follow my own intuition. I am realizing more and more that I have the answers within me. I just need to continue to listen. I am very grateful to Rose Marie Raccioppi for guiding these discoveries and encouraging me to keep learning and growing. 11 years later, and I now have the answers my 16 year old self needed.

Thank you.

G.V.