Hi everyone, In 2016 I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. I remember being confused, but oddly validated. After so many years of undiagnosable, and often misunderstood, pain I had a name for the shadow that hung over me. I remember being at school and in so much pain during a period. I squeezed my legs together that I feared my baby making parts would be crushed from the inside. I remember breathing deeply and hoping I wouldn't faint. Why didn't I say anything? Why did I think this was ok? When I started investigating my pain, I had no idea how many of my symptoms were actually NOT NORMAL. You mean other girls don't hurt all days of the month? You mean you're not supposed to have fatigue dragging you down every day? You mean you're not supposed to miss social events, work and other important parts of life because you are in pain? I had been conditioned by the world around me to "Suck it up", "don't be weak" and "take some panadol and deal with it like the rest of us". The thing is though - I am not like the rest of you. In fact, 1 in 10 females assigned at birth are just like me. That statistic is assumed to be closer to 1 in 8. Have you heard of diabetes? Of course! 1 in 10 people have it and we've seen it on TV, in the newspaper, in advertising at the doctor's clinic and we all seem to know someone who knows someone with it. Well, Endo is just as common. How many TV shows have shown a fictional character dealing with Endometriosis? How many articles have you seen in the media? Medical literature? I am thankful that the word is spreading but there is a lot of work to do. This March, I am trying new things and while I am doing these things, I will be trying to educate and raise awareness around Endometriosis. All monies raise will be going to the Pelvic Pain Foundation Australia. This organisation runs a program called the PPEP Talk program. The Periods, Pain and Endometriosis (PPEP Talk®) Program is a fun, medically accurate and age-appropriate information session incorporating the modern neuroscience of pain, of benefit to all students, particularly the 1 in 4 girls and people assigned female at birth with severe period pain. For more information, please see https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/ppep-talk-schools-program/ How could my life had look different if someone had told me that what I was experiencing was outside the norm? How would that teen me be today? For your friends, neighbours, sisters, brothers, partners, children, for those children to come and for those teens struggling to see out there day, please be involved and donate today. Let them know, they are not alone and there is hope.