Cocooning during this Kansas storm season, I try to avoid the cataclysm outside my window
The spring storm season has brought frequent rain and thoughts of self-preservation, writes opinion editor Clay Wirestone. (Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)
Each day now in Lawrence, where my family and I live, I watch the clouds roll in and the rains come.
The spring storm season thunders and flashes and pours, and the lawns flourish and gutters overflow. I sit here in my home office through the evenings and watch as the lightning casts strange shadows. I hear the rain pelting the roof. Later on, when I take our dog out for a walk, the rains have usually slowed and the neighborhood smells earthy and damp, while the doused roads shine under streetlamps.
During these days, my son hangs around the house. School has ended, and summer activities remain a few weeks distant. He plays video games and dotes on the pets. My husband's work has shifted into its busiest season, so some days I only see him toward the end of the day.
I seem to live now, for a week or two at least, in a small protected bubble. The rains come and the world rumbles and my son and I stay indoors and wait for the storm to pass. Aren't many of us doing that right now, staying in those kind of bubbles, waiting for the skies to clear? We can create those bubbles in different ways. Some of us watch seasons of old situation comedies, following the adventures of Sam and Diane and Cliff and Norm on Cheers (rest in peace, George Wendt). Some of us watch horror movies (I enjoyed Nicholas Roeg's 'Don't Look Now' the other night). Some of us find escape through exercise or alcohol or other activities that change our brain and body chemistry.
It is the season of survival.
We endure the weather. It's different for all of us. Here in Kansas, the weather might be a private prison company pressing to reopen facilities to serve Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. It might be a law that denies critical yet misunderstood health care to teenagers. It might be your immigration status if you study at a university. It might be an uncertain economic climate that threatens small business in towns and cities.
In uncertain times, we search for comparisons. We judge today's storm against the storms of the past. We survived those, we tell ourselves, so surely we must survive these ones. Those storms may have even been worse, we tell ourselves. We should expect spring rains, Discover Magazine explains, as humid summer air collides with dry winter air. The mixture forms clouds, yields precipitation.
We still wait indoors, swaddled in decades-old quilts and drinking hot tea.
The metaphor strains. My correspondents will write me email messages insisting that determined Kansans can weatherproof their homes. We can work together to find community and purpose during these dreary, overcast days. We need not — must not — hide from the work ahead of us.
I understand these things, agree with them, have written them before. We can both endure and act. The stormy season will pass. These times will end. The clouds will clear and the sun will nudge itself above the horizon, and we will pick up the pieces. I will mow the lawn and pick up the random branches that fell from the giant tree in our front yard. Cleanup awaits, and it will take the whole subdivision pitching in.
Yet while spring storm season continues, at least let me have these gloomy evenings. Let me embrace poetry and fiction and imagination leaps. Grant me the time to recharge, to dote on my family, to enjoy distractions for a handful of days. We all deserve time to center ourselves, to feel protected from the inevitable deluge.
These moments of grace will steel us for a long, hot summer.
Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.
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This local therapy helps eliminate many of the risks associated with systemic estrogen, or estrogen that travels throughout the bloodstream to the appropriate organ. Hormonal birth control Hormonal birth control can help regulate your menstrual cycles. Types of hormonal birth control include the: birth control pill birth control patch birth control shot vaginal ring intrauterine device (IUD) Some types of hormonal birth control may also help improve acne on the face and body. Anti-androgen medications Androgens are male sex hormones that are present in people of all genders. High androgen levels can be treated with medication that blocks the effects of androgens. These effects include: hair loss facial hair growth acne One androgen closely tied to hair growth and loss is testosterone. A 2020 study found that when not enough testosterone is produced, hair loss and lack of growth are common. Testosterone therapy Testosterone supplements can reduce the symptoms of low testosterone. In adolescents with delayed puberty, it stimulates the start of puberty. It's available in many forms, including injections, a patch, and gel. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) has risks, including to your cardiovascular system. Thyroid hormone therapy If you have hypothyroidism, the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levoxyl, Synthroid, Unithroid) can bring hormone levels back into balance. Metformin Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication that may help some individuals with PCOS symptoms. The FDA has not approved it to treat PCOS, but it might help lower androgen levels and encourage ovulation. It is often prescribed off-label for this purpose. Flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi) Flibanserin (Addyi) and bremelanotide (Vyleesi) are the only medications that are FDA-approved for the treatment of low sexual desire in premenopausal people. Addyi is a pill, and Vyleesi is a self-administered injectable medication. These drugs may come with some serious side effects, such as severe nausea and changes in blood pressure. Talk with your doctor to see if either one could be right for you. Eflornithine (Vaniqa) This prescription cream is designed specifically for excessive facial hair. Applied topically to the skin, it helps slow new hair growth but does not eliminate existing hair. Natural remedies and supplements Many nutritional supplements on the market claim to treat menopause and hormonal imbalance. However, few of them are backed by scientific evidence. Many of these supplements contain plant-derived hormones, which are sometimes called 'bioidentical' hormones because they chemically resemble the body's natural hormones. However, there's no evidence to suggest that they work better than regular hormone therapy. They are also not regulated by the FDA to the same degree as prescription hormone medications. Some people find that yoga helps ease symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Yoga is excellent for your strength, flexibility, and balance. It may also aid in weight loss, which can further help regulate your hormones. You can also make the following lifestyle changes: Lose weight: If your doctor has recommended it, a reduction in body weight may help regulate menstrual cycles and increase the chances of getting pregnant. Weight loss may also help improve erectile function. Eat well: A balanced diet is an important part of overall health. Decrease vaginal discomfort: Use lubes or moisturizers free of parabens, glycerin, and petroleum. Avoid hot flash triggers when possible: Identify things that commonly trigger your hot flashes, such as warm temperatures, spicy foods, or hot beverages. Remove unwanted hair: If you have excess facial or body hair, you can use hair removal cream, laser hair removal, or electrolysis. Hormonal imbalance and acne The primary cause of acne is excess oil production, which leads to clogged pores. Acne is most common in areas with many oil glands, including the: face chest upper back shoulders Acne is often associated with the hormonal changes of puberty. But there's a lifelong relationship between acne and hormones. Acne and menstruation The menstrual cycle is one of the most common acne triggers. For many individuals, acne develops the week before they get their period and then clears up. Dermatologists recommend hormonal testing for people who have acne in combination with other symptoms, such as irregular periods and excess facial or body hair. Acne and androgens Androgens contribute to acne by overstimulating the oil glands. Children of all genders have high levels of androgens during puberty, which is why acne is so common at that time. Androgen levels typically settle down in a person's early 20s. Hormonal imbalance and weight gain Hormones play an integral role in metabolism and your body's ability to use energy. The only way to treat weight gain from a hormone disorder is to treat the underlying condition. Some hormone conditions, such as Cushing syndrome, can increase the risk of becoming overweight or developing obesity. Cushing syndrome causes high levels of cortisol in the blood. This leads to an increase in appetite and fat storage. Hypothyroidism, if the condition is severe, can also lead to weight gain. Slight hormone imbalances can happen during menopause. During this transition, many people gain weight because their metabolisms slow down. You may find that you still gain weight even though you're eating and exercising like usual. Hormonal imbalance and pregnancy During a typical pregnancy, your body experiences major hormonal changes, which are different from a hormonal imbalance. Pregnancy and PCOS Hormonal imbalances such as PCOS are among the leading causes of infertility. With PCOS, the hormonal imbalance interferes with ovulation. While you can't become pregnant if you're not ovulating, irregular ovulation in PCOS can still result in pregnancy. If you're trying to become pregnant and have PCOS, your doctor may recommend methods to improve your fertility. This may include losing weight, if a doctor recommends it. Prescription medications are also available that can stimulate ovulation and increase your chances of becoming pregnant. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is also an option if medication doesn't work. As a last resort, surgery can temporarily restore ovulation. PCOS can cause issues during pregnancy for both you and your baby. There are higher rates of: gestational diabetes miscarriage preeclampsia cesarean delivery (C-section) high birth weight admission to and time spent in the neonatal intensive care unit Becoming pregnant while living with PCOS does not mean an individual will experience any of the above problems. Talking with your doctor and following their advice is the best way to have a safe pregnancy and delivery. Pregnancy and hypothyroidism Babies born to parents with untreated hypothyroidism are more likely to have developmental issues. This includes intellectual and developmental disabilities. Managing your hypothyroidism along with your doctor's advice can help lessen these risks. Hormonal imbalance and hair loss Most hair loss, such as male pattern baldness, is hereditary but may be influenced by a hormone imbalance. Hormonal changes and imbalances can also sometimes cause temporary hair loss. In AFAB folks, this is often related to: pregnancy childbirth the onset of menopause An overproduction or underproduction of thyroid hormones can also cause hair loss. Other complications Hormone imbalances are associated with many chronic, or long term, health conditions. Without proper treatment, you could be at risk for several serious medical conditions, including: type 1 and type 2 diabetes diabetes insipidus high blood pressure high cholesterol heart disease neuropathy obesity sleep apnea kidney damage depression and anxiety endometrial cancer breast cancer osteoporosis loss of muscle mass urinary incontinence infertility sexual dysfunction goiter
