Dealing with uncomfortable or terrible symptoms associated to your monthly period is rather frequent among women, referring to physical, mental, or behavioral changes that occur prior to or during your menstrual cycle.
There are several names for this. PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is arguably the best-known. It refers to extremely bothersome symptoms that disrupt a woman’s daily life. Moderate PMS affects 30-50% of women, whereas severe PMS affects 4- 14% of women.
CPPD1, or cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort, refers to the cyclical pelvic pain, mood swings, and physical blahs associated with our periods. It clarifies diagnosis such as dysmenorrhea and PMS. Up to 70% of women experience some degree of CPPD.
PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that refers to extremely severe PMS symptoms. You must have at least 5 negative symptoms, such as severe irritation, depression, anxiety, or extreme mood swings. Around 4-8% of menstrual women develop PMDD.
PMM, or premenstrual magnification, occurs when an existing physical or mental health concern worsens in the lead-up to your period. PMS on steroids, essentially.
Common symptoms include pelvic pain, fluid retention, fatigue, headache, breast tenderness, mood swings, anxiety, sadness, irritability, and so on. They often peak before your period and subside once bleeding begins.
What causes this is complicated : hormones combining with heredity, stress, and a woman’s sensitivity. Research does not support a single biological reason. Our bodies are complex!
Diagnosis involves tracking symptoms for 2-3 cycles to validate the pattern and intensity. Questionnaires and symptom calendars can assist with this. Data is a buddy.
Treatment guidelines recommend beginning with lifestyle changes, stress management, vitamins, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. SSRIs are used to treat severe PMS/PMDD that does not respond to other treatments.
An integrative, whole-person strategy that considers biological, psychological, and social variables is most effective for coping with these monthly issues and promoting our health as women. Knowledge is powerful!
The Monthly Emotional Struggle is Real!
You are not alone; we have all experienced those moments. In the week leading up to our periods, our moods fluctuate dramatically. Mainly due to regular hormonal changes such as estrogen and progesterone. When they surge and crash, it disrupts neurotransmitters in our brains that regulate how we feel. Not cool!
Other factors, such as insufficient sleep, excessive stress, and bad habits, exacerbate the problem. It becomes a recipe for loosing our cool once a month! PMS alters a person’s entire personality.
While we can’t completely control our emotions, we may try certain coping strategies when PMS hits hard. What helps is listening to great music and dancing out your emotions, going for walks for fresh air, avoiding stressful social media, hanging out with positive people, and eating chocolate! Consider taking magnesium supplements.
Here is the suggestion that you shouldn’t have to deal with these monthly mood swings alone! Lean on your friends and the other girls who understand how difficult it is. You must listen to each other without passing judgment, offer chocolate or ice cream as needed, and remind each other that we will not always feel crazy. We can get through the emotional rollercoaster of PMS together! We got this!
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