The inner critic is that voice that puts you down and makes you feel like you’re totally out of place in this life and that your wants and desires will never work. We’ve been aware of them since birth, but have learned to live and swallow them up like a god. Apparently, they’re always there, which I agree. But I don’t agree that they are your inner critic.

Anger has driven me for a long time. And that emotion created an action of defensiveness. I defend myself even when I don’t need to, which has been a deep groove to climb out of. I notice this emotional reaction shows up a lot in the later half of my cycle, the luteal phase/Inner Autumn. A time when my internal defenses come down and I’m left standing there naked, feeling like I need someone to rescue me.

Why is this female health important to every other gender? Because when she does well, he and they do well. We can only thrive together if we’re in it together. And with women striving for more research, information, and support, we’re now seeing doors open to other aspects of men's and nonbinary needs.