Your day is going fine, and you’re feeling quite joyful. Out of nowhere, anxiety kicks in, your heartbeat accelerates, and you feel like you’re losing your mind. After some time, you’re back to normal, but your mood is now off.
Sounds relatable?
Keep calm, we’re about to explain why this happens when you’re on your period, and how to deal with such feelings so you can embrace womanhood to the fullest!
What is Period Anxiety?
Anxiety caused by your period is usually nothing major to worry about, because it’ll eventually pass.
Period anxiety is one of the common symptoms of PMS and is generally mild. However, if you don’t manage it properly, it may spiral into panic attacks, or worse.
So, how can you control the feelings of anxiety during your period?
Below are some expert tips on dealing with period anxiety. But first, let us understand why it happens …
What Causes Period Anxiety?
Mild period anxiety is a symptom of PMS (premenstrual syndrome), and more extreme anxiety comes under PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
If you’ve never heard of these terms before, there’s no need to panic. They’re simply used to refer to a collection of symptoms that women experience owing to the hormonal fluctuations that happen during the menstruation cycle. PMS is slightly milder and can be managed easily while you may need medical attention if you have PMDD.
As we said it, the root cause of your anxiety is related to the hormonal fluctuations that you’ll experience during your period. Estrogen and Progesterone may reach peak levels and suddenly drop as you enter different stages of your period.
Since they also impact your central nervous system, sudden hormonal fluctuations may cause anxiety, stress, or depression.
Signs of Period Anxiety
Anxiety is a symptom of many physical and psychological disorders, which is why it can be difficult to decide whether your anxiety is related to period hormones or if the root cause is something else.
However, no one knows your body better than you do. And so, identifying between period anxiety and everyday stress can be pretty easy.
Here’re a few symptoms of period stress:
- Feelings of being overwhelmed before your monthly period
- Sudden heartbeat changes that accompany mental stress
- Breaking into cold sweats occasionally during the days before your period
How to Deal with Period Anxiety?
Some women may experience more severe anxiety as compared to others.
How you deal with period anxiety will depend on the severity of the symptoms you experience.
It should be noted here that while as much as 75% of women may experience period anxiety, only 2-10% of them will have severe symptoms.
Here are some ways to deal with mild anxiety:
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Eat Foods Rich in Carbs and Calcium
We all know about the physical benefits of a good diet, but did you know that carbohydrates can help improve your mood as well? Add more carbs to your diet when you feel anxious but take care to consume complex carbs like whole grains to prevent weight gain.
According to some studies, calcium may also help ease the symptoms of anxiety related to PMS. Instead of taking supplements, try and get more minerals through your diet.
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Avoid caffeine
If you have a habit of drinking coffee or tea when you’re stressed, then you should reconsider. Caffeine and other stimulants can have a negative effect on your nervous system during your period.
But, doesn’t tea and coffee help you relax?
Yes, it does.
However, studies have shown that caffeine can also increase the production of certain hormones, mostly estrogen. And an imbalanced level of estrogen is no good news …
High levels of this specific hormone are often linked with headaches, mood swings, sleeplessness, fatigue, and yes, anxiety too!
So, if you want to have a balanced mood during your period, cut down on your caffeine consumption.
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Exercise For Relaxation
Do you feel frustrated when someone tells you to “just relax” when suffering from period anxiety? After all, no one explains exactly how to relax.
Your last resort may have been a cup of coffee; even that seems to send your mood on a rollercoaster ride!
Fortunately, you can stimulate your nervous system naturally through exercise without feeling any side effects. Studies have shown that regular aerobic exercise can help you deal with PMS symptoms and improve your mood.
So, if you’re feeling anxious, it’s time to balance your emotions by hitting the gym, going for a run, or even playing a physical game!
Just remember to choose the most comfortable Sensitives extra-long pad for a stress-free run.
The only best way to deal with severe period anxiety:
Get Therapy
If the symptoms of your anxiety are extreme and it’s affecting your daily life or even leading to suicidal thoughts, then you need medical help. Therapy is effective in helping you cope with the anxiety-related symptoms of PMS.
A therapist will give you advice on which supplements to take, how to change your routine to cope with anxiety and whether you need medication or not. In extreme cases, a combination of medicine and therapy will be the only solution.
By following these tried and tested tips, you’ll be able to deal with period anxiety more easily. Once you master a specific routine, you’ll no longer dread your period’s arrival every month!
Good Luck!
