View from the couch: fragile X
When my cycle became irregular aged 24, I sought help and got a diagnosis of being a fragile X carrier – a genetic condition that can bring on early menopause.
After learning about fragile X syndrome, I was then diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency – the loss of normal functioning of the ovaries before the age of 40 – together with a long list of different physical and emotional complaints, including acid reflux and digestive disorders, dry eyes, headaches, sensitive teeth and gums, mood swings, nausea, fatigue, acne and a sore scalp.
I tried many natural treatments and therapies, and these helped lead me to acupuncture. I researched it beforehand and read that it could help with the digestive issues I was dealing with – such as bloating and gas, which the doctors had diagnosed as IBS – and the hormonal headaches, feelings of anxiety and fatigue etc. The list goes on…
I decided to try acupuncture and see if it felt right for me. During and after my first session I felt really relaxed and that the tension was leaving my body. I knew this was going to help, so I continued having regular treatments targeting different imbalances within my body.
I slowly started to feel like me again, with digestion issues easing, the overall fatigue not dominating my life and the anxiety disappearing. I started to enjoy living – it gave me hope for a brighter future free from pain.
Acupuncture helps me to return to myself – physically, emotionally and energetically. The benefits are far beyond what I can put into words – it’s more of a feeling. I think everybody should experience acupuncture at some point in their lives – for their own wellbeing and to feel balanced and whole.
Practice note: In her 2011 Complementary Therapist’s Guide to Conventional Medicine, Clare Stephenson states that fragile X syndrome is best described as a form of jing deficiency:
Fragile X syndrome is the result of a multiplication of a small portion of the DNA in the long arm of the X chromosome. In girls, this defect can be balanced out by the healthy chromosome in the pair of sex chromosomes (although the defect may give rise to mild learning difficulties in one third of girls who carry it). For this reason, fragile X syndrome primarily manifests in boys. The main features of fragile X syndrome are learning difficulty, large forehead, long face and protruding ears, and large testes.
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