The sacral chakra, or Swadhisthana, is the second of the body’s seven main chakras, or energy centers. It forms when we are between the ages of 8 and 14 and just beginning to develop a sense of self.

This energy center sits about 2 inches below the belly button and is all about creativity, sexual energy, and relating to our emotions and the emotions of others. Someone with a balanced sacral chakra radiates warmth, confidence, and generosity. For women, we hold a lot of space in this chakra, so when it is out of balance we can really feel the blockage.

When the sacral chakra is out of balance it can show up in all sorts of ways, it can lead to feelings of fear, overwhelm, depression, emotional instability, loss of creativity, and addictive behaviors. When your sacral chakra is out of balance it can also lead to health problems such as chronic low back pain, ovarian cysts, and other reproductive issues, urinary tract infections, impotence, pain during intercourse, complications with the bladder and kidneys, and other pelvic–lower abdominal issues.

For me personally, it showed up in losing my period for 2 years. I never had issues with my period, I was always very regular. When I was 21 I started experiencing really bad hormonal acne and I tried everything. From topical creams to diet, to supplements and nothing seemed to be doing the job so I decided to go on hormonal birth control. My skin started to clear up within 2 months but the side effects were too much for me to handle so I stopped taking the birth control. I then lost my period for 2 years – that’s pretty unheard of according to the dermatologist I was seeing, and she didn’t understand how that could be happening. I mean sure – to lose your period for a couple of months in normal but 1+ years, doesn’t really happen unless of course, you’re on the pill for years. When I went to the gynecologist she said “well most women don’t have regular periods” that was the moment I knew I had to figure it out myself.