Mood swings, backache, headache, nausea, bloating and a general cacophony of mixed emotions all raging up on a rather pleasant morning, leading up to the undeniable periodic question ‘am i PMS-ing?’!
Like clockwork, every 20-25 days, cramps, mood swings, headaches, bloating and nausea indicate the ensuing arrival of periods. Every woman on the face of this earth gets acquainted with PMS syndrome as soon as she comes of age and gosh, does it stick for a really long time! While some girls/women experience very little discomfort of PMS, most women crave for a balanced emotional and physical well being in the weeks leading up to their period.
The Truth Of PMS
A collection of physical (upset stomach, lower back pain, cramps) and emotional (anxiety, unexplained changes in mood) is PMS in a nutshell. But internally, it is the playful circus of hormones; namely estrogen and progesterone which causes the whole disarray of downstream effects.
Let’s throw in some statistics – three out of four women experience PMS; some experience emotional, some experience physical and some experience both. The symptoms may be mild in one cycle and intense in another. However, it all really depends on the woman.
Stress and PMS
Research suggests that levels of stress, a family history of depression, or a personal history of depression or postpartum depression decide the likelihood of PMS symptoms. The chances of depression, sadness and crying spells are likely to increase PMS symptoms if you experience high levels of stress a week or two before your periods.
On the other hand, doctors suggest that there is a bigger window of opportunity to intervene, treat, and make a real difference for women with PMS. Starting early on in the cycle with relaxation, exercise, yoga, counseling, etc. seems to make a validated difference in a woman’s psychological mood and physical well-being before her period starts. Which brings us here…
PMS is common, but do you have to suffer through the symptoms?
The answer is NO; absolutely not! In a way, isn’t it great that your body is following its natural course of reproduction? Most women who experience ample stress in personal or professional life have higher chances of getting the beating from PMS symptoms. Yes, there are drastic changes, but it is always possible to control all these chemical changes and the nature in which your body responds to these changes.
PMS will go away with menopause; until then, here’s what you can do to keep that happy mood intact all through your period cycle…
- Get enough sleep
- Establish a great workout routine with yoga, stretches, cardio and body weight exercises
- Eat a well-balanced, nourishing diet which is free of fried/refined foods
- MANAGE YOUR STRESS
- Cut back on alcohol
- Don’t smoke
- Consider taking help from supplements
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle
Help Yourself in Combating PMS
If you don’t already, now is the best time to start keeping a journal of your emotional graph throughout your period cycle. Keeping a track of the menstrual cycle will help connect mood swings linked to the cycle and knowing why you seem to feel moody suddenly. Your gynecologist is the first person of contact you can turn to for any help regarding period problems. Some perspective and validation can go a long way in combating PMS.
