What Are Your Symptoms Trying to Tell You?
It’s very easy to become accustomed to not feeling quite yourself.
Perhaps you’ve been tired for months. Your digestion isn’t quite right. Your periods have become more painful or your PMS has become harder to manage. Maybe you’re sleeping poorly, experiencing changes in your appetite, or simply feel like your body isn’t working the way it used to.
Often, we find ways to work around these things.
We have another coffee. We go to bed a little earlier. We put our digestive symptoms down to something we ate. We accept that our periods are just “like that”.
And sometimes, these explanations are perfectly reasonable.
But when a symptom keeps coming back, changes over time, or starts affecting your everyday life, it can be useful to take a step back and look at the bigger picture.
Your symptoms are information
A symptom is often the body’s way of telling us that something has changed.
That doesn’t necessarily mean that something is seriously wrong, and it doesn’t mean that every symptom has a single underlying cause.
But symptoms can provide useful information about what is happening in the body and can help us identify patterns worth exploring.
For example, persistent tiredness can have many possible contributors, including sleep, stress, diet, iron or B12 status, thyroid function, lifestyle and other health factors.
Likewise, digestive symptoms may be influenced by diet, bowel habits, stress, medications, the menstrual cycle and many other factors.
This is why simply trying to manage an individual symptom doesn’t always address the bigger picture.
Instead of asking only:
“How can I get rid of this symptom?”
it can sometimes be helpful to also ask:
“Why might this be happening?”
Look for patterns rather than isolated symptoms
One of the most useful things you can do is start paying attention to patterns.
For women, the menstrual cycle can provide particularly useful information.
Do your digestive symptoms change at certain points in your cycle?
Does your energy drop before your period?
Do you experience significant cravings, mood changes or sleep disturbances at a particular time each month?
Have your periods become heavier, more painful or less predictable?
These details can be much more informative than looking at each symptom individually.
The same applies to digestion and energy.
You might notice that your bloating is worse when you are stressed, that your energy consistently drops in the afternoon, or that constipation becomes worse when your routine changes.
Keeping a simple record of symptoms, your menstrual cycle, sleep, food and other relevant factors can sometimes help you identify patterns that weren't obvious before.
When should you investigate a symptom?
You don't necessarily need to investigate every ache, change or bad night's sleep.
But it can be worth paying attention when something is:
Persistent or recurring
Getting worse over time
Significantly affecting your quality of life
A noticeable change from your usual pattern
Occurring alongside other symptoms
Something you've been repeatedly trying to manage without getting to the bottom of it
It's also important not to assume that a symptom is simply a normal part of being a woman.
Painful periods, very heavy bleeding, significant PMS, persistent digestive problems and ongoing fatigue can have different causes and are worth discussing with an appropriate healthcare professional when they are affecting your health or quality of life.
Start with the foundations
Before looking for complicated answers, it can be useful to look at the foundations of your health.
Are you eating enough and getting a good variety of nutrients?
Are you getting enough protein and fibre?
How well are you sleeping?
How much stress are you carrying?
Are you moving your body regularly?
Are your bowel movements regular?
Have there been any recent changes to medications, supplements, contraception, diet or lifestyle?
These things can sound simple, but they can have an important influence on how we feel.
And sometimes, the most useful starting point is simply understanding what has changed.
Look at the bigger picture
Our bodies don't work in isolated systems.
Digestion, hormones, sleep, stress, nutrition and energy can all interact with one another. This is why looking at a symptom in isolation may not always give you the full picture.
For example, someone experiencing fatigue may also have digestive symptoms, changes in their menstrual cycle and disrupted sleep. Rather than treating each concern as completely separate, it can be useful to consider how the different pieces might fit together.
This doesn't mean assuming that one symptom is causing another. It means taking the time to understand the individual and their overall health rather than focusing on a single symptom in isolation.
How I can help
As a naturopath and women's health educator, I take a whole-person approach to understanding health concerns.
During an initial consultation, we look at your symptoms alongside your health history, menstrual cycle, digestion, diet, lifestyle, sleep and other relevant factors.
Depending on your individual situation, we may also discuss whether GP blood tests or additional functional testing could be useful.
The aim isn't to chase every symptom or recommend endless supplements. It's about understanding your health, identifying areas that may need further attention and creating practical, personalised steps that fit your life.
If you've been thinking “something just doesn't feel right”, it may be worth listening to that feeling.
You don't have to simply put up with symptoms that are affecting how you feel and live.