Connection Between Your Cycle and Your Mood
PMS stands for pre-menstrual syndrome. If you are experiencing emotional and/or physical changes during your period or the week leading up to it, that is completely normal. An average of 50-90% of woman experiences these symptoms. Some people may experience more severe symptoms while others may experience mild symptoms. Every body is different so every body reacts differently during the menstrual cycle. Symptoms can include:
Common Emotional Experiences of PMS:
- Feeling depressed
- Feeling anger
- Being easily irritated
- Crying more than usual
- Feeling anxious
- Feeling confused
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Difficulty concentrating
Common Physical Experiences of PMS include:
- Cravings
- Pain or tenderness in the breasts
- Bloating
- Headaches
- Swollen hands and feet
- Unusual aches and pains
- Tiredness
- Changes in skin like new acne or sudden dryness
- Digestive problems like constipation or diarrhea
- Cramping
- Trouble sleeping
What causes these symptoms is to be related to the changes in estrogen and progesterone hormones in the body. Before and during a cycle, the hormones level drops causing an increase in mood swings, irritability, and sadness. After the cycle ends, those hormone levels rise, improving mood and energy. A hormone is a chemical messenger in the body responsible for coordinating functions in different parts of the body.
If you feel like the symptoms, you are experiencing are stopping you from enjoying the things you usually do then you should speak to your doctor or a trusted adult. If you need help finding a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist. If urgent care is more comfortable for you, please visit this site for a list of Atlantic Health urgent cares.
