The Luteal Phase: Why do I feel like a different person every three weeks?
The Rejuvenating Follicular + the Luteal Dip
Hey beautiful souls,
Have you ever had those weeks where you feel like you could take over the world? You’re sparkly, you’re social, your brain is firing on all cylinders, and you actually want to talk to people?
And then, almost like a light switch has been flipped, you wake up a week later and suddenly… everything feels heavy. The social plans you made feel like a burden. Your brain feels foggy. You feel like a completely different person.
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered where the ‘other’ you went, I want you to take a deep, grounding breath. You aren’t broken. You aren’t inconsistent. You are cyclical.
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The 24-Hour World vs. Your 28-Day Rhythm
We live in a world that is designed for a 24-hour circadian rhythm. It’s a linear, ‘push-every-day’ kind of world. But as women, we have a second internal timekeeper: the infradian rhythm.
While the 24-hour rhythm is like the sun rising and setting, your infradian rhythm is like the moon – shifting, changing, and moving through distinct phases over roughly 28 days. This rhythm doesn’t just affect your period; it powerfully influences your brain chemistry, your metabolism, and your nervous system.
When you feel like a ‘different person,’ what you’re actually experiencing is a biological shift in your internal landscape.
The Brain Shift: Why Your Personality Seems to Change
It’s not just in your head – it’s in your hormones. Throughout your cycle, the levels of oestrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in your body are constantly fluctuating, and these hormones have a direct line to your brain.
The Sparkly Version (Follicular & Ovulatory Phases)
During the first half of your cycle, oestrogen is rising. This hormone is like a natural brain-booster. It activates the verbal and social areas of your brain, making you more communicative and outward-facing. This is the version of you that wants to network, start new projects, and say ‘yes’ to everything.
The Focused & Introspective Version (Luteal Phase)
After ovulation, progesterone takes the lead. Progesterone is often called the ‘calming’ hormone, but it also primes your brain to be better at focusing on details and looking inward. As your hormones begin to dip toward the end of this phase, your brain’s access to serotonin and dopamine can also shift. This is the version of you that needs more space, more quiet, and more somatic listening.
Somatic Wisdom: Stop Fighting the Shift
The reason we feel so frustrated by these shifts is that we’ve been taught to fight them. We try to force the ‘sparkly’ version of ourselves to show up even when our biology is in a ‘restorative’ phase.
When we do this, we create a massive amount of stress in our nervous system. We feel like we’re failing because we can’t maintain a linear level of productivity.
Somatic wisdom is about acknowledging the shift without judgment.
•Instead of asking: “What is wrong with me today?”
•Try asking: “Where am I in my rhythm, and what does this version of me need?”
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Embracing Your Cyclical Nature
You are not meant to be the same person every day. Your cyclical nature is a strength, not a weakness. It allows you to be both a visionary and a detail-oriented worker; both a social butterfly and a deep, introspective thinker.
When you start to understand the biological shifts of your infradian rhythm, you can stop gaslighting yourself about your energy levels. You can start to work with your body instead of against it.
So, the next time you feel that shift happening, don’t panic. Just say, “Ah, there’s the other part of me. Welcome back. What do we need today?”
How do your personality shifts show up for you? Do you have a ‘favourite’ phase, or are you learning to love them all? Let’s share our stories below.
With love and cyclical grace,
Chantelle
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always listen to your body and your healthcare provider.
Where can you start?
So how can you start to come home to yourself? How can you start to work with your hormones rather than against them?
This is why I created ‘The Embodiment Cycle Pack’ – a guide to empowering your cycle through somatic practice.
It’s packed with tips to guide you through each cycle and to understand the different seasons of your menstrual cycle. Our body is wildly intelligent, something we are taught to forget as women.
To us, as always
Chantelle
Want to read more of my blog?
Why is it always so hard to let go?
Why building Somatic Awareness helps your menstrual cycle
Why you Nervous System holds the key to Hormonal Balance
Why sobriety/endings/boundaries still hurt
The Luteal Phase: “I know all this but I can’t move”
An ode to ‘feeling wrecked’ right now
Hormones in the High Stress Era
Your Hormones aren’t betraying you
Trauma and Your Hormones: Understanding the Silent Connection
Let’s stop chasing the ‘perfect’ cycle
My Hormones + Hakomi: The 5 Simple Principles of Hakomi that overhauled my PCOS
10 Months of Clarity: Why Sobriety Was My Ultimate Hormonal Reset
From PCOS to PMOS: A Journey to Understanding Hormonal Health
Data vs. Soul: What My Toxic Hormone Coach Taught me About Sovereignty
The Ultimate Guide to Eating and Moving for Your Specific Cycle Phase
