AlternaTive

After sharing my personal experiences with birth control, I finally get into the Symptothermal Method- a combination of the cervical mucous method, the standard days method, and the basal body temperature method. It uses these combined methods to indicate when one is highly fertile (ovulating) and has lower fertility, and then consenting partners can abstain from sex during the fertile period or use a barrier method (condom). I forgot to mention this very important fact in the podcast, but this method is 98-99% effective with normal use and 99.4-99.6% effective with perfect use. I discuss the follicular phase, ovulatory phase, and luteal phase of the cycle, what is happening hormonally, and what to expect/look for in one's cervical mucous and basal body temperature with the goal of avoiding pregnancy. I also talk about when to take your temperature and how to check your cervical mucous for this method. Tracking my cycle and being aware of my hormonal fluctuations had helped me feel connected to myself and now I celebrate and honor each phase of my cycle. Being emotional just means you're emotionally regulating- which is really important for overall health. Being hormonal is just a fact- yes, my hormones are constantly changes throughout the phases of my cycle. This should not be an insult, but is another way to minimize and delegitimize women to perpetuate sexism. I talk about self-care during one's cycle through menstruation, the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase, and the luteal phase too. Sources: 

The Period Repair Manual by Lara Biden

https://moodymonth.com/articles/female-hormone-cycle-the-basics

https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/SymptoThermalPEH.pdf https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/sexual-behavior-and-the-efficacy-of-the-sympto-thermal-method/ https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/22/5/1310/2914315

https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/women-s-health-issues/biology-of-the-female-reproductive-system/menstrual-cycle#:~:text=The%20menstrual%20cycle%20has%20three,Luteal%20(after%20egg%20release)

I introduce the Symptothermal Method, a non-hormonal birth control method that I use personally. This has been my "alternative" to struggling with severe side effects on hormonal birth control for 6 years. Birth control is a personal choice and I want everyone to make empowered choices about theirs. To do this, I think we should be totally informed. Haven't heard of the Symptothermal Method? I hadn't either. Doctors rarely teach this method, so I'd like to shed some light on it. Some people love their hormonal birth control or it simply is the most freeing and convenient for them- that is equally an empowering birth control choice. Be free and empowered in your chosen method. This podcast is for people who can get pregnant and people who menstruate. My intent is to be inclusive to all gender identities. I want to note that when I talk about my personal experiences, I experienced this things as a cisgender person w heterosexual experiences. This method has made me more attuned to my body and aware of my cycle. I want to CELEBRATE being emotional, hormonal, and cyclical. These traits might be associated with femininity, so I also wanted to note that feminine energy can embodied by woman, femmes, non-binary people, all folx. Expression of femininity and masculinity is not limited to one's gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, etc. In part one, I discuss my personal experiences on the pill, having an irregular cycle, the IUD, chronic health issues (PCOS), and what led me to this alternative method. 

In an unorganized manor, I analyze systems of dominance and oppression across the narratives with parents to their passionate children, the state and "political party" to the people that support Black Lives Matter movement, global leaders and nations to the countries they colonized and currently force into sweat shops via Neoliberalism. A lot of parents are telling their children right now that their passion does not matter, that "it is the way it is," and "we've come so far." The state and state sympathizers are telling protesters and supporters of BLM, "stop overreacting," and here, take some symbolic/performative change like the cupid shuffle with the cops, but when it comes to systematic change, "shut up" or be met with tear gas. Global leaders are not held accountable for their actions like child sex trafficking meanwhile countries are forced into sweat shops and poverty is criminalized. Why are people told to work within systems that perpetrate oppression and violence and give free passes to those in power to commit whatever violence they want? Complacency and creating normalcy out of such evil and corruption is wrong. If we stay complacent, we will continue these cycles over and over and we will never evolve as a humans. We will never evolve spiritually. Dismantle dystopia. Use anger as a tool for love and empathy. Black-owned plant business to support: grounded-plants.com. Black activists to follow on Instagram: angelamanueldavis, rachel.cargle, opalayo, attorneycrump, ihartericka 

I dive into intuition- trusting yourself and the clear messages given to you. I believe God lives in my heart, so when I am looking for guidance, I go within. Intuition does not feel tense, anxious, and agitated, but rather a clear and calm "yes," "no" or something else. There might be no huge, spiritual reason why you want to eat broccoli tonight, but if that's what you feel like, that's what your body needs. There is not always larger reason that your intuition leads you in a direction, but be open to the possibilities. I talk about utilizing intuition in big decisions, small decisions, and include consent in sexual experiences. It's empowering to make decisions that are in alignment with what we truly want and all of our nos create room for our true yeses. I use intuition for what I eat, my next "life decisions," and in sexual experiences. I trust myself. Unfortunately, a lot of people have had violating experiences, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, (or not knowing which of these to classify it as). Gunnison crisis line for sexual assault: 970-275-1193. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800.656.HOPE (4673). 

Not just a hashtag. Black lives fucking matter. I cannot create alternative content without first addressing the murder of George Floyd and the violence being done by police to further oppress black people. While I wanted to address this and not be silent, I do not want to take from the voices we really need to listen to: black voices. I discuss violence vs. non-violence a little.  What way are YOU comfortable with people protesting oppression, violence, and white supremacy? The peaceful wasn't "okay" either. Speak up, but more importantly, LISTEN. Here are some resources: Minnesota Freedom Fund Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/82-1214607?fbclid=IwAR00feAVQI_noO-gcFjEviuz7avESSCPeeSPLeT6na8cAhYH4ddGzuxhzOY Anti-Racism Resources https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BRlF2_zhNe86SGgHa6-VlBO-QgirITwCTugSfKie5Fs/mobilebasic?fbclid=IwAR38fNmyI7d2acaDJ2czRecR6CMSWIQgDj4oKYrg3SWxYG2CneYF1ni-8Ec Petition for Justice for George Floyd  https://www.change.org/p/mayor-jacob-frey-justice-for-george-floyd?recruiter=203584981&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_abi&utm_term=80e2aa1ca3354e31a14a532e8a328481&recruited_by_id=3c7f0810-90a1-11e4-bfcd-11787827563f&utm_content=fht-22414602-en-us%3Av2 Protesters, cover your faces, write down lawyers numbers on your arms, wear goggles, carry water, turn off tracking, 3 tsp of baking soda for every 8.5 ounces of liquid to neutralize tear gas

It's about darn time I talked about nudity! No? Yes! A little freestyle about my experience at the nude hot springs as it is relevant to healing my relationship with my body. It affirmed my body is clearly mine- no one is taking from me. I talk about the shame I've felt around my stomach and how it often prevents me from breathing deeply the way I'd like to. When I breathe deeper, I have the capacity to take more in and create more space. I don't think this stomach-shame and habit of sucking in is uncommon. When I had other things to worry about showing, I didn't worry about my stomach and then I didn't worry about those other things either. I am working on instead of being envious of other gals, thinking, "I wish I didn't have to worry about armpit fat or stomach fat like them," realizing that I DON'T have to worry about those things period. Just because I have body parts that show up a certain way, does not mean I am obligated to worry about them and hate them. 

In this podcast, I address body-focused repetitive behaviors and chronic daydreaming (two distracting behaviors I have personally) and have recently brought to the surface more. Having and sometimes struggling with these, it has always been known of their existence, but not their cause or a method to stop. I still don't know the exact root causes, and I am aiming to accept them rather than have an aggressive approach towards myself. BFRB's can involve skin picking, hair pulling, nail biting, etc. and we don't really talk about it. I hope to release the shame and embarrassment around these confusing behaviors and encourage loved ones to be compassionate to those of us who have them. They have served me for a time in my life, perhaps when they were more functional to distract me from a circumstance, but now that I am safe, I can honor them and my experience, while lovingly beginning to let them go. I discuss grounding and mindfulness techniques to bring oneself back to the present moment. 

Season 1- Alternatively T, episode 5. I get into psychological reasons behind addiction and propose it is a lack of connection. I disarm the "disease model" of addictions and the treatment methods in congruence with it like AA and interventions (although I still support them and the people they have helped.) I believe we can still do better. I propose that the "addiction gene" is actually generational trauma. I talk about why these existing models and treatment perpetrate shame and guilt, which is counterproductive to addiction. Instead, unconditional love, support, and community is essential. Rehab might not be sustainable long-term because we take an individual out of a fancy rehab center and put them right back into the environment that their addiction originally manifested and expect them to remain "recovered." Addiction should be treated with the family and other systems. The responsibility of addiction should not weigh so heavy on the addict. I also discuss that exercise can be an addiction as well as caffeine, and social media (mine). I advocate for balance and moderation and love without limits or conditions in treatment.

Season 1- Alternatively T, episode 4. In this episode, I first reveal some of my political beliefs so that I can be authentic and vulnerable with you and shed my fear of people disagreeing with me. I open with my social political perspectives, so that I don't just critique current views and treatments for addiction, but rather, I share policies that I do advocate for. I touch on this political piece first because it is an essential part of the equation and if we deny it, we cannot fully treat individuals for addiction anyway. Or we can and we do, but it might not be the best way of doing so. I discuss our attachment to belief systems, confirmation bias, and us vs. them mentality. I then talk about the War on Drugs that we are not and never will "win." I advocate for harm reduction, safe injection sites, and decriminalization of all drugs. Part 2 will address it from more of a psychological standpoint.

Season 1- Alternatively T, episode 3.  When we wake up and check our phones, we are looking to the external world before processing our own feelings when we wake up. When we create space in the morning, we can self-reflect, cultivate gratitude, and slow down in the moments we do have control over. I've never been a morning person, but waking up becomes more joyful when you CHOOSE to wake up and curiously approach your day after doing the practices that make you feel peaceful.  I describe my personal morning routine and how it has helped set the tone for the day. If any of it resonates with you, try it out and see how it feels. Continue to evaluate your practices and the way they leave you feeling. Keep adapting and adjusting to feel restored and empowered.