Ever noticed yourself sobbing during a comedy show or wanting to launch your phone across the room for no rhyme or reason while on your period? Well, you’re not alone boo. According to a study published in the Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, three out of four women struggle with mood swings during periods. Given that it’s a common period affliction, we’re here to talk about it. Scroll down to know why it happens and how should you manage it better during that time of the month:
What Are Period Mood Swings?
Period mood swings are characterised by sudden or intense changes in your emotional state before or during your period. You may experience them for one-two weeks or days before your period along with other symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) such as fatigue, bloating, and abdominal cramps. These mood swings usually subside after you get your period or post the initial two-three days of shark week.
Period Mood Swings: Why Do They Happen?
In most cases, period mood swings happen due to PMS. For the unversed, it refers to a collection of symptoms like mood swings, fatigue, breast soreness, acne, bloating, and cramps that one may experience during days leading up to their period. Even though the exact cause of PMS and the resulting mood swings isn’t clear, it is believed that it happens due to hormonal fluctuations during the second half of the menstrual cycle. During the middle of the cycle when you typically ovulate, your body releases an egg, causing estrogen and progesterone (female sex hormones) levels to drop. Changes in these hormones also influence serotonin levels. Now, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood, sleep cycle, and appetite. Low levels of it can trigger feelings of sadness and irritability, in addition to trouble sleeping and unusual food cravings.
Symptoms Of Period Mood Swings
It’s quite convenient for many people to blame all your emotional outbursts on your period. But you can tell if they stem from an ongoing life issue or are just period-induced. Check out these symptoms of period mood swings to get a clear picture:
-Sadness and anxiety a week or two before your period due date or during your period.
-Feeling cranky and irritated closer to shark week.
-Sudden changes in mood within a short span of time for no reason.
-Mood swings are accompanied by PMS symptoms like bloating, fatigue, cramps, and acne.
-Mood swings have no real trigger or reason.
-You automatically feel better after you get your period or post the initial days of shark week.
Are Period Mood Swings Normal?
If your period mood swings are manageable, don’t disrupt your daily routine or spoil your relationships. If they automatically subside post your period, you shouldn’t be worried. All you need to do in this case is to be aware of the situation and allow your negative emotions to pass while staying as calm as you can. However, you’ve got to know that these two related conditions can also make you feel moody before your period and that you need medical intervention to manage them:
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
PMDD is quite similar to PMS. However, its symptoms are more severe. It can trigger intense mood swings, unbearable pain, and extreme fatigue that interfere with your daily life.
Premenstrual Exacerbation
Premenstrual exacerbation is when the symptoms of an existing mental health condition like anxiety, bipolar disorder, or depression, become worse in the weeks or days leading up to your period.
How To Manage Period Mood Swings
Period mood swings are manageable if they’re not due to underlying health conditions like PMDD and premenstrual exacerbation. Here are five effective strategies to power through them like a champ:
Be Aware
Being aware of a problem is definitely the first step to solving it. So keep track of your period dates and be prepared for any mood swings that might ensue before or during your period. Know that these are a side-effect of the hormonal changes in your body and allow the negative emotions to pass while staying as calm as you can.
Exercise
Exercising regularly can boost your overall health, but it is particularly helpful during a turbulent shark week. It can relieve menstrual cramps and elevate your mood if you feel sad or low during that time of the month. This is because exercising promotes blood circulation and triggers the release of happy hormones called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain and boost your mood. From stretching to a slow, simple stroll in the park, engaging in any physical activity can help you a great deal.
Meditate
Meditation is scientifically proven to relax your mind and help calm you down. During meditation, you focus your attention and eliminate the stream of jumbled thoughts that may be crowding your mind and causing stress. This process can result in enhanced physical and emotional wellbeing and keeps you calm.
Eat Mindfully
Apart from sticking to a balanced diet full of green leafy veggies, fruits, and home cooked meals, you can add mood-boosting foods to your diet. Fermented foods like idli, dark chocolate, bananas, and oats are a few great options to feel better during your period almost instantly.
Massage
A relaxing head or body massage with calming essential oils such as lavender oil can help you feel relaxed while on your period. So the best time to schedule a spa/massage day is during or before shark week.
We’re sure that these remedies will help you keep your cool and fight off period mood swings like a boss. Do try and let us know how you feel. Here’s wishing you a happy, healthy period!
Featured Image: Pexels
Also Read
What Are Tampons: Planning to give tampons a go? Here’s all you need to know about them.
Home Remedies for Period Pain: These effective home remedies will help you power through period pain like no other.
Reasons for Delayed Period: Here’s why your chums aren’t as punctual as you’d like them to be.
Brown Discharge During Period: Is brown discharge during pregnancy normal, you wonder? Read this to find out.
Everything About Bacterial Vaginosis: What is it and how to deal with it.
