Whether you were just recently diagnosed with PCOS, or have had it for years, knowing your next steps can be confusing and stressful.
I speak to and connect with many women who have PCOS and allow it to crush them mentally, emotionally and physically.They hear the words “infertility” and “obesity” and take it as the final word that this condition cannot be overcome. Many women with PCOS allow PCOS to become them. They use it as their identities, as an excuse as to why things are the way they are.
I am not saying that PCOS isn’t serious, nor that it should be taken lightly. When I was diagnosed with PCOS and finally made an appointment with a “natural” OB/GYN, she told me I would have to take birth control and Metformin until I hit menopause and any chances of having children, unless I started using fertility medications now, would be slim. After hearing this from my doctor, I got into my car and had a breakdown…you know, the kind where you start sobbing and can’t stop? That was me. Defeated. Taken down by a condition that, in my world, didn’t exist until now. I had never heard of it, and all of a sudden it was consuming my life and becoming my identity.
Instead of being defeated, I got mad. Really mad. And I used anger to fuel my journey of finding answers. It motivated me and moved me off my tush to search for a different solution. I hadabsolutely no references to base my crazy idea on that this condition could eventually dissipate and not control me; that I could overcome PCOS if I found the right solution.
My anger turned into passion and excitement, and I learned to create a new identity for myself on the way. I wasn’t “sick, depressed, a woman with PCOS…” and refused to be. Instead, I was “determined, strong, passionate, unyielding,” and I used my new identity to start a career in holistic health, wellness and personal growth.
The interesting thing is that what was once my problem turned into my passion. PCOS no longer defined me but allowed me to help other women with my similar situation. It’s normal for us to take on the identity of our sickness, syndrome, condition and circumstances, but we must realize that the identities we choose for ourselves will directly effect the decisions we make and the results we get.
Take the time, right now, and decide who you are. This is SO important, because if you don’t decide who you are, someone else will. Your family, peers, the environment, your condition, past circumstances and even society will influence the person you become if you don’t take a stand and decide who you want to be.
Use descriptive words to decide on your identity. Words that I use for myself now include “compassionate, loving, encouraging, inspiring, vibrant, healthy, intentional, and confident.” I have the women I work with decide who they want to be and repeat it daily, so they ingrain in their mind the words that now define them. You’ll be surprised at how you think, feel, speak, decide and act when you create your new identity. And, interestingly enough, when you act “confident”, for instance, you’ll behave this way after too long and actually get the results a confident woman would get!
When you decide who you are and the words that define you, consciously make decisions from this place. If you’re “fearless” then boldly take action toward your goals; this could be improving your health and taking charge and getting to the bottom of your PCOS symptoms. If so, you’ll find that being fearless will push you to try anything you think will dramatically improve your condition; by doing so, you’ll eventually find an answer. This is how I found my solution. I refused to quit. But what if my identity had still been “defeated”? Do you think I would have continued to search for an alternative solution? No way.
Decide on your identity today. Turn PCOS into your solution, your passion and your new motivation for creating a new life, better health and helping others. You can instantly shift the way you feel about your life and move in a new direction just by defining yourself in an empowering way.
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