How to Deal with Anxiety Before Your Period?
It is common to experience anxiety before your period. This is faced by many women around the world. Often periods are associated with cramps and bloating, however, pre period anxiety is a major symptom of PMS. This anxiety can manifest in different forms, such as excessive worrying, nervousness and tension. You may experience anxiety 10 days before period thus affecting your day-to-day life.
Anxiety and periods go hand-in-hand. Experts believe that PMS symptoms, including anxiety, take place due to changing levels of oestrogen and progesterone. Anxiety after period or before ovulation is a norm for many women. It is crucial to understand the causes of this condition so that it can be managed more effectively.
What Causes Pre-Period Anxiety?
Even after considerable scientific development, experts have not completely understood pre-period anxiety. They believe that changing levels of reproductive hormones during the luteal phase of menstruation cause anxiety. Abrupt hormonal drop can lead to mood swings and anxiety, a week before period. The body prepares for pregnancy by creating more hormones after ovulation. However, if an egg does not implant then the hormone levels drop, and periods arrive. These fluctuating hormone levels affect serotonin and dopamine in the brain and contribute to pre period depression and anxiety. It is not evident why PMS affects some women more than it does others. It is possible that genetics are responsible for it.
PMDD and PME
If the levels of premenstrual anxiety are too severe then it could also be a sign of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) or premenstrual exacerbation (PME).
PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder): This is a mood disorder that affects up to five per cent of women who menstruate. The symptoms of PMDD are so bad that they can mess up your daily life. They are even associated with already existing mental health disorders. Listed below are the symptoms that could potentially interferer in your daily life:
- Feeling sadness
- Feeling irritable
- Feeling tension or feelings of anxiety
- Feeling emotional so that it results in crying
- Feeling low on energy
- Craving more amount of food
- Lesser interest in activities and relationship
- Cramps, bloating, headaches, breast tenderness and muscle or joint pain
PME (Premenstrual Exacerbation): This particular condition is related to PMDD. It occurs when a generalised anxiety disorder intensifies during the menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycles are hard enough. Always is committed to easing your menstrual journey in the best way it can. Always has sanitary pads and tampons you can choose from for those pesky days. The Always Tampax Cardboard comes with an innovative absorbent core. Its anti-slip applicator makes insertion smooth. Choose one that fits you perfectly for the best results. Meanwhile, the Always Night Dreamzzz Pads are perfect for night with heavy flow. Its deep channels minimise leakage and its flexible wings keep the pad in place as you toss and turn.
Some of the preexisting conditions that can increase before your period include:
- Migraine
- Seizures
- Eating disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
Treatment for Anxiety Before Period
Managing pre-period anxiety calls for significant effort on your path. It is important that you do not panic. There are measures you can take so that you are better equipped to handle the symptoms of anxiety. Here are a few things you can do:
Diet: Include carbohydrates in your diet. Whole grains and starchy vegetables can help bring down moodiness and anxiety-inducing food cravings during premenstrual syndrome. There are certain foods that are best avoided or limited as they could trigger PMS symptoms. A week or two before your period is due, try and limit or completely avoid fatty foods, sugar, salt, alcohol and caffeine. Taking care of your diet will help you avoid intense anxiety before period.
Regular exercise: According to studies aerobic exercise can help reduce symptoms of PMS.5 People who exercised regularly were less likely to have mood and behaviour changes such as depression, anxiety and concentrating woes.
Sleep: It is imperative that you get at least 8 hours of sleep every night.6 A busy life could interfere with your sleeping habits. It is good to have a regular sleeping schedule so that your anxiety can be better managed.
No smoking: Smoking is injurious to health and can cause you to develop PMDD and PMS according to a 2019 study, conducted by the National Library of Medicine, NIH.
When to see a doctor
You must definitely reach out to a professional when you are not able to manage pre-period anxiety by yourself. Some common treatments that a doctor would suggest for PMDD include:
- Hormonal birth control
- Antianxiety medications
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Hormone intervention
- Light therapy
You must not ignore pre-period anxiety and instead understand how it is caused you so that you can resort to getting the right treatment. Understanding the cause will help you get a proper diagnosis and inadvertently lead to the right treatment method. From anxiety after period or before ovulation to extreme anxiety before period, it can occur in numerous forms. Simple lifestyle changes can help you deal better with unwarranted symptoms. Through it all, Always is always by your side to make the journey bearable.
Disclaimer
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