Sofia Arellano on Endometriosis
If your period always caused unbearable pain, how would you know it wasn’t normal? In this episode of Woman Worriers, host Elizabeth Cush talks with Sofia Arellano on the challenges of diagnosing and managing endometriosis.
“All these years I thought I was crazy when, really, I was just sick.”
Show Notes:
About one in 10 women experience the painful periods, heavy bleeding, bloating and other symptoms of endometriosis—sometimes simply called “endo.” Yet, in their search for a diagnosis, many women are sent to therapists or psychiatrists. Told that what they are experiencing is normal, some women with endometriosis may even come to doubt themselves. All of this can provoke depression and anxiety. In this week’s episode of the Woman Worriers podcast, host Elizabeth Cush, LCPC, of Progression Counseling in Annapolis, Md., invites Sofia Arellano, an advocate and founder of the Endo Goddess page, to share her personal journey with endometriosis and to share tips for getting to a diagnosis, managing the disease and finding support.
Listen and learn:
What endometriosis is and what its symptoms are
Why endo is so painful
What we know about endo and what we don’t
Why nobody talks about this common condition
Why endometriosis is especially hard for women who get it very young
How symptoms can vary from one woman to the next, and change over time
How doctors might misinterpret symptoms like painful intercourse
Why doctors might refer women with endo to a therapist—and why women with endo might want to see a therapist. (HINT: They’re not the same reasons.)
The many shaming messages aimed at women with endo
Why doctors may have a difficult time diagnosing endo
The medications and other methods used to treat endo and their side effects
The role of surgery
What happens if you don’t take care of the condition
The relationship between endometriosis and adenomyosis
The best first steps to take if you think you might have endometriosis
Where to connect with women who have been through it
Learn More
> Sofia Arellano (endogoddessclub) on Instagram
> Endo Goddess International on Facebook
> Endometriosis information from the Office on Women’s Health
> Fall mindfulness groups for women in Anne Arundel County, Md.
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