Fear around social plans during period

Hi coaches

I noticed I feel quite fearful around making social plans around the time of my period. Specifically, there is a camping trip coming up which might coincide with my period. I think the event will be beautiful, and I want to go, but I can see how my first response is fear and the sense that I would be more safe at home all by myself.

Context: thinking about the upcoming camping trip
T: I need to protect myself from feeling uncomfortable in an unknown situation
S: tense & shallow breathing
F: scared, protective
A: consider cancelling, checking the route to see if I can join later, holding back of planning the trip
R: i am secluding myself and act out of a stressresponse – dont allow myself to potentially enjoy the trip

I know those actions have served me in the past, but it is all-or-nothing thinking with which I feel quite tight and I want to invite more trust and openness.

Potential intentional model:
T: i give myself the opportunity to explore both joining AND taking care of myself at the same time
S: more calm
F: trusting
A: thinking about 3 things i could do to support myself, start talking with my friend/organiser about this, thinking about what has worked previously, thinking more practically about where toilets are, how I can keep warm, take deep breaths
R: a bit more curious and relaxed approach – slightly more selfconfidence in my ability to handle the situation

Perhaps you have some feedback on my models and how I can transition into a new relationship with my cykle. any ideas of how I could play with joining and taking care of myself are much appreciated 🙂 thanks!

Answer:

These models look good! Here is a suggestion for your IM’s R-Line: ‘I explore ways that I can both join and take care of myself at the same time’. What do you notice coming up with each of them? In particular, why do you think you’d be safer at home whilst on your period? Can you hear your own answer to this with compassion and without judgment? My second particular question is what’s keeping you from leaning into your IM?

If you were to investigate the ways you could join and care for yourself, how or where can you learn more about how to camp comfortably when you have your period? Where would you go to first? What else? If you had to guess about how to make this idea of joining whilst caring for yourself possible, what do you think that would (or could) look like?