How To Deal When Your Period Makes You Emotional
I don’t know about you, but my period can definitely make me pretty emotional. Ever since I went off hormonal birth control, especially, I feel attuned to the waxing and waning of different moods that comes with each week of my cycle. And although it’s not always the most pleasurable thing in the world to feel more introverted and emotional around my period , I also have to say I’ve found it useful.
In understanding more and more that my emotional shifts are subject to hormonal changes and other unavoidable physical circumstances, I find I’m more forgiving of myself and others, and less likely to see whatever I’m feeling in the moment especially when it’s negative as The Absolute Truth. The truth is relative, and subject to change week to week. And in a way, that’s kind of comforting.
How Is Pmdd Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will take a medical history and evaluate your symptoms. You may need to track your symptoms through one or two menstrual cycles. To diagnose PMDD, your provider will look for five or more PMDD symptoms, including one mood-related symptom. Your provider will rule out or diagnose other conditions such as anxiety, depression or reproductive disorders.
An Introduction To Periods And Weepiness
Do you feel particularly low or fed up around the time of your period? Some women instead find they become angry or frustrated, or a mixture of both, as mood swings can also take hold. It can be an emotional rollercoaster for many of you and often fluctuating hormones appear to be to blame as these changes in mood turn out to be cyclical. Keeping a symptoms diary can be useful to determine if your changing mood fall are in sync with your menstrual cycle. However, if your low mood is persistent and doesnât seem to ease off, you may want to visit your GP.
On this page I discuss these feelings of low mood â it isnât uncommon to feel sad, anxious or that your self-confidence is lacking at certain times of the month. I explain why you might suffer from low mood or weepiness around the time of you period, outline some self-help tips and then go on to discuss how herbal remedies can help you.
It is important to mention that if cyclical episodes of low mood or weepiness are particularly severe and / or occur in combination with a range of other symptoms around the time of your period, this could be a sign of premenstrual syndrome . Click the link to learn more about the symptoms of PMS.
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Is It Really Just Pms
Certainly, for some people PMS involves nothing more than mild symptoms, like light cramping, bloating, or increased tiredness.
Keep in mind, though, that this isnt the case for everyone. Many people who experience PMS have more intense symptoms, including:
- major changes in mood
These symptoms can easily affect your daily life. In other words, theres no just about it.
Yet PMS, as uncomfortable as it can feel, isnt the only explanation for depression during your period. Here are some other potential causes.
What Are The Symptoms Of Pms
PMS symptoms are different for every woman. You may get physical symptoms, such as bloating or gassiness, or emotional symptoms, such as sadness, or both. Your symptoms may also change throughout your life.
Physical symptoms of PMS can include:12
- Swollen or tender breasts
Talk to your doctor or nurse if your symptoms bother you or affect your daily life.
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Here Are Several Causes:
1. You are constipated. Depending on how constipated you are, you could end up taking a whole army out.
2. Your liver is full of toxins.
3. Your body is overflowing with toxins, including heavy metals.
4. You have a serious case of Candida.
5. Your hormones are out of balance, which depends on the status of your liver.
6. You have vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially magnesium, which causes rage.
Men Can Be Part Of The Solution
Following therapy sessions, women report they are less likely to lose control when expressing their feelings during times of PMS. They have increased awareness of the potential for relationship conflict describe relationship tension as less problematic and are more likely to talk to their partner about PMS and ask for support.
These improvements were evident in both therapy groups in our study. This suggests that even if women do therapy without their partner, it can still have a positive impact. The women will still learn self-care and coping strategies, develop a better understanding of PMS, and go home and tell their partner about the experiences in therapy.
However, the results of this study clearly indicate that the greatest positive impact is seen when a womans partner participates in the therapy sessions as well. So men may feel maligned by being blamed for PMS. But they can be part of the solution, rather than the cause of the problem.
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Ability To Control Emotions And Cope With Fear
At the beginning of the cycle, when the number of female sex hormones decreases, the amygdala , which is responsible for emotions, is less subordinate to the cerebral cortex. Therefore, before menstruation and before ovulation, it can be more difficult for a woman to control emotional manifestations.
In addition, estrogen helps to cope with fear.At a reduced level of this hormone, the expression of the HDAC4 gene, associated with learning, long-term memory, and behavior, increases. At the same time, the memory of fear lasts longer, so anxiety increases during the premenstrual and menstrual periods.
During and after ovulation, estrogen decreases HDAC4 gene expression, helping to quickly forget fear and cope with anxiety.
Moreover, estrogen increases the ability of to feel fear of others.This explains why women have more developed empathy.
Natural Treatments And Lifestyle Changes
Certain nonmedical treatments might help to reduce the frequency and severity of premenstrual mood swings. Examples include:
- Keeping a mood diary: People can try keeping a record of their mood swings and when they occur during the menstrual cycle. This can help a person recognize the hormonal causes of their mood swings, and anticipate them happening.
- Eating a balanced diet: A balanced diet low in added sugars, sodium, and caffeine could help to reduce mood swings.
- Exercising regularly: According to the MGH Center for Womens Mental Health, regular aerobic exercise can lessen the emotional and physical symptoms of PMS and PMDD.
- Reducing stress:Yoga, meditation, or talking therapy can help to reduce stress levels and balance mood.
- Taking herbal supplements: According to a 2017 review of eight randomized controlled trials, the herbal medicine known as chasteberry is a safe and effective treatment for PMS and PMDD.
- Taking calcium supplements: A found that calcium supplements improved anxiety, depression, and emotional changes connected with PMS.
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Is Pmdd A Mental Health Problem
PMDD is commonly defined as an endocrine disorder, meaning that it is a hormone-related disorder. But as well as physical symptoms, people with PMDD also experience a range of different mental health symptoms such as depression, suicidal feelings and anxiety.
For these reasons, it is listed as a mental health problem in the DSM-5, one of the main manuals that doctors use to categorise and diagnose mental health problems.
Ultimately, it’s important to remember that how you understand your symptoms and experiences is up to you. The most important thing is that you get the support you need and deserve to help you manage the effects of PMDD on your life.
“Every month for 30 years I barely managed to come through each month intact. PMDD is not merely bad PMS. It is so much more serious than that, and is absolutely life changing.”
Key Points About Pmdd
PMDD is a much more severe form of t premenstrual syndrome .
The exact cause of PMDD is not known.
- The main symptoms that distinguish PMDD from other mood disorders or menstrual conditions is when symptoms start and how long they last.
- Symptoms of PMDD are so severe that it affects your ability to function at home, work and in relationships.
- Aside from a complete medical history and physical and pelvic exam, there are very few tests to diagnose the condition.
- Over the course of a year, during most menstrual cycles, 5 or more of the following symptoms must be present:
- Depressed mood
- Lack of interest in activities once enjoyed
- Moodiness
- Insomnia or feeling very sleepy
- Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
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Allow Yourself Extra Time For Rest
Dont Try To Take On Things That Will Frustrate You Its Not Worth It
Focus on Symptom Management
Many anger management strategies can also help when youre dealing with premenstrual syndrome, such as making sure that you are practicing good self-care habits. Premenstrual syndrome self-care includes steps like getting enough sleep, eating the right foods, and making time for physical activity. Exercise is also a great way to increase serotonin levels and boost your mood.
You also may find journaling helpful. Writing out your feelings and emotions and the things that youre experiencing can help you process emotions and situations. If something is making you angry, journaling about it can help you to see the situation more clearly and find a solution.
Seek Professional Help
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Dont Crumble Under Her Pressure
When your woman acts crazy, you have to remain strong and not become overly emotional with her.
When you remain in control of your emotions you are showing her that you are the man, while at the same time allowing her to feel totally feminine in contrast to you.
The truth is that your woman will always experience life differently to you, so dont focus your energy on trying to tame her and make her think, feel, act and behave more like you.
If you do that, she will lose touch with her femininity and your relationship with her will seem more like a neutral friendship, which will kill the sexual attraction between you.
So, the next time your woman acts crazy during her period, simply show her that you love her , and accept the fact that she will likely be more temperamental, moody and irrational during this time and thats okay.
To get rid of the seriousness of the situation, be the one who laughs and brings it all back to smiling, laughter, love and happiness together.
Of course, she might snap and get angry an hour later, but hey shes a hormonal woman on her period.
Just laugh and say, Oh, here we go again. Crazy girlfriend is back. Got to get a video of this and post it on Youtube and have a laugh with her.
Of course, you dont actually post the video online.
Its just something to get her to become conscious of her behavior, get distracted from the tantrum and have something to laugh about with you as you bring the interaction back to love.
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Feeling Hot Hot Hot: The Ovulatory Phase
During a womans ovulatory phase, a substance called luteinizing hormone increases.
This hormone prompts the release of an egg from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes for fertilization. Estradiol is present in significant quantities around the time of ovulation, and it can interact with other hormones to increase your libido.
Estradiol makes insulin more effective, Dr. Schwarzbein says. Then the insulin tells the body to release more testosterone, and testosterone is one of the hormones that regulate sex drive. Some experts surmise that this may be natures way of encouraging women to have sex during their most fertile time.
Recent studies have concluded that women are indeed more likely to display sexual behavior just before ovulating and may have a greater tolerance to pain too. You might also be more likely to buy clothes, makeup, and other items to help yourself feel more attractive, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology.
How The Menstrual Cycle Affects A Womans Mental Abilities
- Zaria Gorvett
- BBC Future
Immediately after menstruation, womenâs spatial imagination improves, and verbal skills peak in the middle of the cycle. Hormones do affect a womanâs brain, but this effect may very well be positive.
This is an article from The Health Gap series on the issue of Ave. women and men in health and medicine.
First there was âhysteriaâ. From the priests of Ancient Egypt to the bearded philosophers of classical Greece, doctors attributed a wide variety of symptoms to this condition, from anxiety to erotic fantasies. Only one thing was clear: hysteria is an exclusively female disease.
Plato believed that hysteria is caused by the uterus, which is sad because she does not carry a child. His contemporaries argued that hysteria occurs when the uterus of a non-pregnant woman wanders around the body, getting stuck in different parts of it.
This latest concept persisted until the 19th century, when the disorder began to be treated by bringing women to orgasm with the first mechanical vibrators.
However, today the idea that hormones in a womanâs body affect her intellectual abilities and mood is firmly entrenched in the mass consciousness. Irritability is immediately explained by PMS, and sexual desire â by ovulation.
There is, of course, a good deal of truth in this. Some women do experience a lot of anxiety and irritability before and during their period, and libido does increase during ovulation.
Signs to the photo,
Signs to the photo,
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Ability To View A Problem From Different Angles
The human brain works asymmetrically: when performing some tasks, more activity is observed in one of the hemispheres. For example, in right-handers, the left is mainly responsible for speech, and the right for musical abilities. This functional asymmetry is called brain lateralization.
In men, lateralization is more pronounced, the interaction within the hemispheres is higher than , due to which the connection between perception and action is more developed.In women, however, the connection between the hemispheres is stronger and the interaction between analytical and intuitive perception is better.
But if in men the lateralization of the brain is always approximately the same, in women it depends on the phase of the cycle. With an increase in the level of sex hormones, the lateralization of the brain increases. Hormones activate the left hemisphere, and the work of the right hemisphere is inhibited.
Why Do You Get Cranky During Your Period
Few women look forward to their monthly period. But if you regularly experience mood swings, irritability, and crankiness as your period approaches, it can make you dread that time of the month even more.
If you find yourself struggling with anger, moodiness, or other symptoms that interfere with your life every time you get your period, dont wait to seek help. Our gynecology team at The Womens Center specializes in treating premenstrual syndrome and other menstrual problems.
Many women notice changes in the way they feel in the days before and during their periods, but were here to help you recognize when your symptoms could be a sign of a treatable medical condition like PMS.
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Signs Of Severe Depression During Period
You may experience severe depression before and during periods due to premenstrual dysphoric disorder . PMDD is similar to PMS, but its severe and sometimes disabling. PMDD can cause extreme mood shifts, which can interfere with your daily life, relationships, and work. Symptoms usually start a week before menstruation and continue a few days after your period begins. Apart from severe depression before and during periods, other symptoms and signs of PMDD are:
- Tension or anxiety
- Feeling out of control or overwhelmed
- Extreme moodiness
- Hopelessness with extremely negative thoughts
- Trouble concentrating
- Binge eating or food cravings
- Fatigue
- Lack of interest in relationships and daily activities
- Loss of interest in sex
You may manage depression during your period by making certain lifestyle changes and taking specific medications.
Why It Happens And What To Do
Feeling depressed before and during a menstrual period is common. Experts believe that these emotional changes occur as a result of fluctuating hormone levels.
Most people who menstruate will experience some symptoms of premenstrual syndrome , including moodiness and headaches.
However, some individuals can develop more severe symptoms, such as depression and anger. Hormones can also cause people to feel nauseated during their period.
Severe PMS symptoms may indicate another condition, which is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder . Additionally, existing mental health conditions may temporarily worsen during a menstrual period.
In this article, we explore why some people feel depressed during a period. We also list home remedies and treatment options.
Hormonal changes during the second half of the menstrual cycle, called the luteal phase, may cause a low mood and irritability in some people.
After ovulation, which occurs midcycle, the levels of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone begin to fall.
Rising and falling levels of these hormones can affect brain chemicals called neurotransmitters.
Examples of these neurotransmitters are serotonin and dopamine, which are both chemicals that influence mood, sleep, and motivation.
Low levels of serotonin and dopamine can cause:
- sadness
- food cravings
All of these are common symptoms of PMS and PMDD.
PMS
Experts estimate that up to 75% of menstruating women experience some form of PMS.
PMS can cause:
Suicide prevention
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