14/08/2026
What if one of the things we overlook in endometriosis and adenomyosis is the person behind the pain?
We talk about the pain. The heavy bleeding, fatigue, bloating, hormones, diet, supplements, medication and surgery.
But I want to start a conversation about something much less talked about — the emotional story that may sit alongside the physical pain.
Over the years in my clinic, I have noticed that many women with endometriosis or adenomyosis carry a much deeper story.
I want to be clear: I am not saying emotional trauma causes these conditions, and this may not be everyone's experience. But sometimes the story goes back much further.
Family breakdowns.
Being stuck in the middle.
Growing up with criticism instead of encouragement.
Volatile relationships.
Feeling rejected, unheard, or never quite good enough.
Over time, these experiences can shape how we see ourselves, intimacy, relationships, marriage, motherhood and whether we feel worthy of being accepted and loved.
In Chinese Medicine, endometriosis and adenomyosis can be considered within the broader historical framework of Zheng Jia (癥瘕) — descriptions of accumulated masses, including more fixed and more changeable presentations. And I find the idea of accumulation deeply meaningful. Because alongside the physical pain, I sometimes wonder about the things a woman has accumulated over the years:
The hurt that was never expressed.
The fear that was never spoken.
The anger that had nowhere to go.
The grief that was never processed.
The longing to be accepted.
I am not saying emotional pain creates a physical mass.
But perhaps we need to become more curious about what has accumulated in a person's life, and what we may have overlooked.
Chinese Medicine's core principle, to me, is not simply treating the symptom. It is looking at the person as a whole — their history, their patterns, their physical body and their lived experience. This is why, in my clinic, treatment is not always just about reducing period pain or premenstrual moodiness.
Sometimes acupuncture becomes a space where I listen to stories that have never really been heard.
Stories about family. Relationships. Loss. Fear. Rejection.
And sometimes, the courage to stand back up again, to want to be loved and to feel safe, becomes part of the healing journey.
Otherwise, why would anyone put up with my bitter herbs and acupuncture needles? 😂
I can only start small, but I hope every woman who comes to Sen Health Clinic knows this can be a place where I don't judge or criticise your life choices.
A place where you feel safe.
A place where you are heard.
A place where your physical pain is taken seriously, while there is also room for the emotional experiences sitting alongside it.
Because sometimes, what has been overlooked may be worth looking at.
I say this not from a pedestal as a practitioner, but from one woman living with endometriosis and adenomyosis to another. 🤍
What have you been carrying?
Kaylin
