A journey to Positivity: Afia Saiyara
'It is that time again'', I screamed as loudly as heaven's quick-darted flame, and my entire family rushed to my room like a fiery torrent within microseconds. Even though they heard it only halfway through, they're already very aware of what it could be. My family means my sisters and mom. I have a dad as well if that comes off as surprising to know because being the only man in the family, we do not count him here. I am generally a very short-tempered person and someone who has mood swings within minutes and also someone who howls around the house at 3 AM for her food. My family is not at all happy with me screaming my lungs out every now and then except for that one time, that comes once in a blue moon. I, more likely we, because my family and I feel that joy only the time we see blood coming through my uterus even in the middle of the night or at the day, we are the happiest, even though those are very rare moments we get to see. Confusing, right? Alright, let's not make it odder like my life. I have been diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 14, since then my life has been changed. Being born in a brown family while having Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was not an easy thing. Starting from people asking me if this disease is spreadable to telling me I'll never be able to get pregnant and saying the most horrible things ever, cheers to the traumatic times of my life! I still remember the reaction of my family when they heard I have PCOS. You must be thinking that was a horrible reaction, right? Well no, they weren't even aware of it. After they got to know about PCOS and how it works, my mom freaked out which is not at all unusual and my sisters started their everyday experiments right away with basically every single ingredient that is available on the planet to get my periods on time. I was already loaded with tons of medicines along with my sisters' everyday experiments and could things go worse? Yes, my mom started experimenting too. My life was already ending with more than enough trials and experiments and then things started getting even worse like always, I started losing weight. I have been skinny shamed already all my life and the only thing my family was hopeful about me having PCOS was I will gain weight due to it but everything took a very wrong turn, again. My doctor explained everybody has it differently and not everyone gains weight, some gain while others drop weight, all games of hormones. My family felt so disappointed in me as if I was liable for having PCOS. My dad started getting concerned when I excessively lost weight but my mom informed him nothing about what was happening with me. My entire family used to think this was a woman's business and men knowing about menstrual health is a huge shame. All the people around me were pro at shaming me because unfortunately, I could never meet up to society's beauty standards. I had hair fall, acne, weight loss, mood swings, and too much body hair due to PCOS. The cramps were unbearable yet so satisfying to finally have your periods after months. I had a traumatic childhood due to PCOS and sometimes I wished I was normal until life took a sudden turn, a good turn this time. I was so tired of getting shamed for having PCOS that one day I started researching so much about it that I discovered unknown facts that no one ever told me.
Myth 1: PCOS makes you infertile.
Just because you have PCOS does not mean you are infertile. This changed my life. I was always the most depressed about not being able to get pregnant.
Myth 2: You have to give up junk and foods containing high fat completely.
The major thing required for having PCOS is maintaining a healthy lifestyle but that does not require you to give up on anything but instead balance things out accordingly. That is the main key to everything.
Myth 3: You are responsible for having PCOS.
PCOS CAN AFFECT ANYONE, healthy or unhealthy. You are never responsible for the cause.
Myth 4: You get to live a short life having PCOS.
Lies. There is no such evidence to that.
After discovering these facts, life took a good turn for me. My life is not ending due to PCOS, I am still perfectly okay, just maintaining a good lifestyle.
I made my entire family aware of menstrual health, which included my dad too, and I am glad I did. They are better now. Life started with a bad phase at 14 but with a positive stage now. My family still celebrates me while I am on my periods and I do too, but having regular periods or not, I always deserve to be celebrated, that is what I have learned through the years now. Today is 'That Time' of the month and I am celebrating by howling. Self-love truly makes life so much easier, give that a try, won't be disappointing.