Christmas Stress + Fibroids: Why December Hits Hard (and How to Stay Sane)
- fibroidwellness
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
The festive season’s creeping up! Lights, lists, and probably lots of last minute runs to the shops! It’s meant to be joyful, but for many women (especially if you’re dealing with fibroids), this time of year can be anything but relaxing.
Between work, family, social plans and those constant last-minute errands, stress can build up without you realising it… and instead of slowing down, as women, we just power through on autopilot!
As a Health Coach who supports women living with fibroids, I focus on stress quite a bit. Not because it’s ‘of the moment’, but because it has a real, physical effect on our hormones and your symptoms. The link between fibroids and stress is stronger than most people realise.
When Stress Becomes More Than Just “A Busy Day”
Your body’s built to handle short bursts of stress. But when it’s constant - that feeling of being always on - your adrenal glands go into overdrive, producing more of your main stress hormone, cortisol.
In small amounts, cortisol is helpful. But when you’re living in a near-permanent state of stress, your body starts stealing resources from other hormones, especially progesterone and oestrogen. This is what’s known as “cortisol steal.”
And here’s where fibroids come into play…
1. Stress Can Disrupt Your Hormones
When cortisol production ramps up, your body diverts energy away from making other key hormones including the ones that help keep your menstrual cycle steady. This can lead to heavier bleeding, painful periods, and more bloating. Basically, stress doesn’t just mess with your head; it can stir up your fibroid symptoms too.
2. Cortisol and Your Cycle
Chronic stress can lower progesterone levels, which throws off the balance with oestrogen. Since fibroids thrive in oestrogen-dominant environments, this imbalance can make symptoms worse over time - more pain, more inflammation, and that “why am I so tired all the time?” feeling.
3. The Movement-Support Connection
Here’s the irony: when we’re stressed, movement is often the first thing we drop. But easy movement (think walking, stretching, yoga) helps lower cortisol and improve circulation - which can actually ease pelvic discomfort and help balance hormones.
You don’t need a full workout. Even 10 minutes counts.
4. Nourish Your Hormones
When you’re stressed, your blood sugar tends to swing all over the place. Keeping meals balanced with protein, fibre, and healthy fats helps steady your energy and reduce cravings for quick fixes. Foods rich in magnesium (like leafy greens and pumpkin seeds) can also calm your nervous system.
5. Rest Is Not Lazy!
When cortisol is high, quality sleep is often the first casualty. Try setting a festive “wind-down ritual” - herbal tea, phone on silent, and lights dimmed an hour before bed. Your hormones repair and reset overnight, so giving your body proper rest isn’t a luxury; it’s essential.
The Bottom Line
The holidays might bring a flurry of to-dos, but the best gift you can give yourself this season is less stress.
When you manage stress, your hormones start to stabilise - and your fibroid symptoms often follow suit.
As a Fibroids Health Coach, I help women reduce pain, improve energy, and find relief from symptoms through simple lifestyle changes that actually fit around your life - not perfection.
If you’re feeling run down, overwhelmed, or noticing your symptoms flaring up more lately - Let’s Talk Fibroids! - a free 30 min chat where we talk about what’s going on and how we can make things easier for your body (and your mind) this festive season. Book your free call below ❤️