Day 17: When the Void Hits. Understanding the Estrogen Drop and Mood Shifts

Have you ever noticed how you feel around day 15 to 17 of your cycle? Maybe your mood dips for no reason. You feel more tired, less inspired, or strangely disconnected. If that sounds familiar, it might not be “just you”, it might be your hormones shifting.

Yesterday, I felt great. I had recorded my podcast, spent the day refining it, and went to bed proud of my work. Then this morning came, and none of it mattered. I woke up feeling flat and heavy, like the meaning had drained out of everything. My partner was cuddling me, but I felt nothing. Just emptiness.

I stayed in bed for a while, hoping the feeling would lift. Eventually, I forced myself out for brunch and a walk on the mountain, thinking food, sunshine, and nature would fix it. But everything irritated me. The café didn’t have a phone number listed on Google. The trail felt endless. I didn’t trust where my partner was leading us.

When he asked, “Does it really matter where we’re going?” I snapped internally: Of course it does. Because that morning, I had no direction, not on the path, not in my mind.

Usually, I’m focused and driven. I know where I’m heading. But that day, I felt aimless, untethered, and unsure why I even cared. My usual clarity was gone.

Then I remembered something from my last ayahuasca ceremony: There’s nothing to achieve. Nowhere to arrive. Only to be.

That truth hit me again. So I asked myself: What does being mean for me today? The answer was clear, no computer, no productivity. Just rest and nourishment. I was depleted. And if I hadn’t felt this low, I probably would’ve kept pushing through, disconnected from myself.

The Hormonal Truth: Why Mood Drops Around Day 17

Around day 17, estrogen begins to drop sharply after ovulation. This hormonal shift is part of the luteal phase, and it’s often when many women experience a sudden dip in mood, motivation, and energy.

Estrogen is a powerful mood-supporting hormone, it boosts serotonin and helps us feel optimistic, productive, and connected. When it falls, serotonin often drops too. That can trigger emotional lows, fatigue, irritability, or even a sense of emptiness.

If you’ve ever woken up feeling like everything that mattered yesterday suddenly doesn’t, this could be why. It’s not a sign of weakness. It’s a natural phase of your cycle.

The Wisdom Beneath the Low

We’re conditioned to view emotional downs as something to fix or push past. But the perimenopausal and menstrual cycles both teach a deeper truth: every dip has wisdom. These phases call us inward, asking us to slow down and listen.

That’s what day 17 reminded me of. On this Thanksgiving Day, I gave thanks to my cycle, for the way it brings me back to my inner world. Otherwise, I’d keep chasing goals, staying busy, and missing the deeper pulse beneath it all.

Every month, my body humbles me. It reminds me that rest isn’t regression, it’s rhythm.

Your Turn: Listen to Your Body’s Rhythms

Have you noticed how you feel around day 15 to 17?If your mood dips or your motivation fades, know you’re not alone. Everything in your cycle moves and changes. Your body isn’t betraying you, it’s communicating.

Instead of rushing to fix it, pause. Track your patterns. Notice what your body is asking for. Sometimes the most healing thing you can do is simply be.

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