HealthTree Blog

Every month, about two weeks before your period starts, you may feel out of sorts because of PMS. You may have the following symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Moody
• Stomach pains
• Headaches
• Depression
• Anger
• Breast tenderness
• Bloating
• Food cravings

If you have these symptoms and they are intense enough to interfere in your daily activities, you may wonder if there is something you can do to help you get through this time of the month.

Helping Your PMS

• Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet
• Get enough sleep
• Exercise
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers for discomfort
• Practice stress management and anger management techniques
• Get a massage
• Ask your doctor about anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications to help with depression and anxiety
• Ask your doctor about birth control pills that are specifically designed to help women with PMS

Be Aware of Yourself

While you may not be able to completely stop all of your PMS symptoms, you may be able to work through them so that you can function as you normally do throughout the rest of your month. The first thing you need to do is to be conscious of the fact that you are experiencing PMS. So when someone comes up to you and says something that rubs you the wrong way, know that you probably wouldn’t normally feel so strongly about it, and try to react appropriately. If you find yourself feeling depressed, try to  get out with friends more during this time or do other things that you know will lift your spirits. If you are feeling too bloated and achy to get out, pamper yourself at home with a nice warm bath (which will help with cramps), candles and your favorite foods. The best thing you can do for yourself at this time is to take care of yourself well. Before you know it, you’ll feel much better and can continue on with your month without the extra attention to yourself.

Photo Courtesy of: 欠我兩千塊 on Flickr