PMS is Real – Dealing with Women who Experience Severe Period Symptoms

If you feel cranky or yucky just before your period is about to arrive, it means you’re experiencing a pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS as it is commonly referred to. A lot of women wonder if PMS is real. Well, it is.

In fact, it’s no longer a cultural myth. When a woman undergoes a combination of mental, physical and emotional symptoms a week or two before her period, it is definitely PMS. The most common premenstrual syndrome symptoms include feeling bloated, acne, tender breasts, mood swings, cramps, food cravings, headaches and sobbing for nothing. While most women experience such symptoms during their pre-period days, there are others who have reported severe or worse symptoms.

It’s high time that we as society stop dismissing PMS as a mere fabrication, a myth or a fictional narrative. Both men as well as women should understand PMS and treat it as important and necessary.

Causes of Premenstrual Syndrome

Though the exact cause of PMS is not known, researchers believe it occurs due to the change in the hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, when the corpus luteum begins to break down, there is a decline in progesterone levels towards the end of the menstrual cycle. This further affects various chemicals in the brain such as serotonin. Women with severe premenstrual syndrome are more sensitive to the effects of progesterone and oestrogen. However, the degree to which a woman experiences PMS also depends upon her psychological and social well-being. Beyond moodiness and irritability, PMS is a reality that needs to be accepted.

Can PMS be diagnosed?

There is actually no premenstrual syndrome test. If you’re experiencing severe PMS, you should speak to your doctor or gynaecologist. However, it’s ascertained you have PMS when:

• Your symptoms start five days before your period and last for at least three menstrual cycles in a row.
• Prevent you from enjoying your daily activities and life
• End within four days after your period start

Irrespective of whether your symptoms are mild or severe, you should track them. You can write down your symptoms in a diary or even use an app on your phone such as a period tracker. This information will be handy when you visit your doctor.

PMS and Related Health Problems

Around 80% women experience PMS, and about 10-15% have symptoms that are severe enough to seek treatment. In certain cases, PMS can also cause other health problems including:

• Depression and Anxiety disorders: Feeling depressed or anxious before your period is common. However, in certain cases they become extremely severe, and can even turn into a disorder.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Menstrual cramps and bloating is something both young as well as middle-aged women experience. However, when this feeling is prolonged, it can get worse and cause irritable bowel syndrome. Gas and loose motion are common symptoms.

When PMS is severe, health problems can worsen. A few women also experience asthma, allergies, fatigue and migraines.

Different Ways of Dealing with Premenstrual Syndrome

There are different ways of dealing with PMS based on its severity. For mild symptoms, a balanced diet, regular exercise, meditation, stretching, deep breathing and essential oils work. During PMS, avoiding salt, caffeine and alcohol is recommended.

If the symptoms are really bad, you might want to pop a pill. A lot of people treat PMS with herbal and vitamin supplements including vitamin B and D, and calcium. There are even studies of people treating PMS with anti-depressants.

Lastly, though chocolate doesn’t necessarily cure PMS, it can satisfy your cravings. When your period is round the corner, remember to stock up on a bar of dark chocolate. It’s an instant mood lifter and is known to alleviate pain and stress.

Stop Shunning Women with Severe PMS

Every time a woman appears moody or irritable, men attribute it to PMS. Well, it’s high time men stop belittling women who experience severe period symptoms. Judging without justification must stop. PMS is a truth which only women experiencing it will really understand. While going through mild symptoms is normal, there are some women whose life turns topsy-turvy a week before their period. They can barely perform their daily activities, undergo severe pain, menstrual cramps, and might not even be able to get out of bed.

Did you know? Around 40% women report moderate to severe premenstrual stress three or four days before their period. Anger and depression are common, accompanied by back pain, headaches and tiredness. Studies reveal that severe PMS symptoms usually occur in women due to a combination of hormonal changes and life stress including relationship problems.

One way in which the symptoms of PMS can be reduced is by engaging in self-care and asking for support. Men too can help their partners deal with PMS.

Seek Therapy to Treat PMS

Since relationship stress is directly related to PMS, women should seek therapy. In fact, couples therapy works too. Most counsellors focus on helping a woman understand the origin of her symptoms, and then develop coping strategies. Some of them might include taking time out for self-care, avoiding conflict, and expressing needs for support.

When premenstrual stress is directly related to relationship issues, partners should also be involved in the sessions. We’ve come across a lot of men who say they don’t understand PMS. Well, only when they’re aware of it, will they be able to support their partners.

Following therapy sessions, women are less likely to lose control or experience severe bouts. They tend to become more aware of their surroundings, and are more likely to talk to their partner about PMS.

When men engage in therapy for their partner who is dealing with premenstrual syndrome, it can definitely have a positive impact. Now is the time when we should make men a part of the solution rather than the cause of the problem.

All women want is support from society and their partner in particular. The next time you mock a woman in pain, put yourself in her shoes, and believe her rather than assuming she is fibbing.