Mood swings during your period and what to do about them?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) involves changes in mood and emotions, physical health, and behaviour. These changes develop between ovulation and the start of your period and last until a few days after your period begins. For most women, PMS shows up consistently each month. Along with the physical symptoms, your mood also tends to be affected, resulting in period mood swings. If you’ve been asked if it was that time of the month, read on to know why it’s okay to feel a rollercoaster of emotions at “that time of the month”.

Mood Swings During Period

Though the exact reason is unsure, period mood swings are likely to be the effect of hormonal fluctuations that take place during the second half of the menstrual cycle.During ovulation which happens halfway through your cycle, your body releases an egg. This causes a drop in oestrogen and progesterone levels. A shift in these hormones can lead to physical as well as emotional symptoms. It also influences serotonin levels. Serotonin helps regulate your mood, sleep cycle, and appetite. When serotonin levels are affected, feelings of sadness and irritability influences daily life.Cramps, sleeping trouble and food cravings add to this. Mood swings during periods are one of the most severe and dominant symptoms of PMS. Stressful situations can also add to it. Some women may be more likely to be affected by severe symptoms if they have a pre-existing history of depression, anxiety, or other menstrual conditions.

Key Causes of Mood Swings During Periods

The exact reason is unknown but hormones seem to be the most often cited causes of period mood swings. Along with that, dealing with cramps while being asked “is it that time of the month” may add to mood fluctuations. Nevertheless here are possible reasons for mood swings:Some people are hypersensitive to the hormone changes that happen during the menstrual cycle. This hypersensitivity may predispose a person to premenstrual and menstrual mood swings. When oestrogen and progesterone levels are affected serotonin levels go down as well. Serotonin regulates attention, behaviour and body temperature. When these levels go down, the body’s ability to regulate emotions and behaviour goes haywire.

Severe premenstrual mood swings can sometimes indicate an underlying health conditions:

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) :

  Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) includes a variety of physical, emotional, and behavioural symptoms that occur before menstruation. Many females who menstruate undergo the symptoms of PMS, and it is completely normal to have symptoms that are more than mild. However, a certain percentage of those with PMS may experience more severe or clinically identified symptoms like:

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)

  Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a varying and extreme form of PMS. The major difference between PMS and PMDD is dependent on how severe the symptoms are and how long they last. A person with PMDD will have significant mood swings during periods that may interfere with their personal and professional relationships. The symptoms can continue for a week after the period has ended. This constant hormonal, emotional and physical change is what affects period mood swings adversely.

Hemali, 22, describes it as a harrowing experience. “My mood swings start a week before my period and last until a week after my periods stop. I constantly have cravings and I end up having a rollercoaster of reactions to things I’m not otherwise bothered about. Sometimes it feels like I only get one week without mood swings or physical symptoms”, she says.

• Premenstrual exacerbation (PME) :

  Some may find that a pre-existing mental health condition worsen prior to a period. This is known as premenstrual exacerbation (PME). Some mental health conditions that may worsen shortly before a period include anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder.

There could be other reasons for period mood swings too. It is quite important to receive an accurate diagnosis and gain access to treatment accordingly.

Tell-tale Symptoms to Watch Out for

We’ve all been at the mercy of mood swings taking over our personal and professional lives. It is completely normal and acceptable for someone to experience mood swings. Here are a few of the symptoms one may face:

• Irritability :

  Women going through period mood swings may get irritated over little things around them. Mental health conditions may develop or become severe.

• Crying :

  Though it is usually a result of serious pain in the abdomen area, menstrual mood swings can also add to it.

• Anger/Irritability :

  Sometimes minute things can be a complete mood changer and may even induce normal.

Other common symptoms include difficulty concentrating, fatigue, forgetfulness, feeling overwhelmed or out of control, crying without knowing the reason, loss of interest in most activities. sudden sadness, sensitivity to rejection, social withdrawal, breast tenderness, swelling of the feet or hands, joint or muscle aches or pains, difficulty sleeping. Most symptoms are common among most women. Yet, the hindrance and severity you face are inclusive to you.

Top Tips to Manage Mood Swings During Periods

If your most searched question on Google is ‘how to stop mood swings’, here are a few tips on how to handle mood swings:

• Exercise :

  Physical activity can lift moods and release endorphins, which are feel-good brain chemicals that are released during exercise. This may help fight some of the hormone changes that may trigger severe period mood swings as well as other symptoms.

• Calcium supplements :

  They not only help with fatigue but also answer your question on how to deal with period mood swings.

• Stress management :

  Relaxation techniques, yoga, meditation and exercises help with regulating your mood swings.

• Avoiding caffeine and alcohol :

  Caffeine tends to increase anxious thoughts and sleeplessness. It would be best to avoid it before your period week.

• Prescribed medications :

  After consulting with a doctor you can take medicines that help with the cramps, which in turn lessens the intensity of the mood swings.

Beat Mood Swings and More With RIO Pads

The key to beating mood swings also includes bleeding comfortably and without worry during your periods. You do not want to worry about an overflowing pad while being on period mood swings and cravings.RIO heavy flow pads are designed to absorb high amounts of bleeding and clotting and are the best period pads for heavy flow. RIO heavy flow pads come with an extra glue grip to provide an extra grip. The side guards and double wings keep the pad in place and prevent leakage and staining during both day and night. RIO pads also provide odour lock, fast blood distribution and are antibacterial. The top cover made of cotton prevents rashes and irritation during periods.An RIO pad is also extra-long and gives you complete coverage at the back and front. Period mood swings will be a piece of cake to handle, provided you give yourself the best period care. And that includes choosing the right pad along with eating some chocolate and shutting down those ‘is it that time of the month” questions!