Menstruation and Mental Health

While menstruation in itself has the biggest stigma attached to it, the mental health issues faced during this time are simply swept under the mat. From anxiety to lethargy, we aim to talk about all those people with menstrual phase.

It is no secret that a menstrual cycle brings an array of psychological and physical stress in the life of a menstruating person. The problem does not start with the cycle, it starts way before that with things like tender breasts, acne outbreak, weird bowel movements, irresistible anger outbursts, food cravings, whispers sudden horniness, an unexplainable surge of depressive thoughts and mood swings and not to forget the fusion of cramps and tears that is served to us without fail by mother nature.

These are some of the symptoms that accompany a menstrual cycle and trust me, they are as relevant as bleeding red each month. They are the result of the hormonal changes happening in your body before and during a menstrual cycle and a popular term used is PMS—Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. After the ovulation, female sex hormones like estrogen and progesterone begin to rise and fall. This can affect brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine which are the chief ingredients in regulating our mood, sleep and motivation.

One of the major effects of PMS is Depression which is said to have a huge impact on our menstrual cycle. Not only does it cause irregular or missed periods, but is also said to be an effect of the hormonal havoc called neurotransmitters caused by our torturous uterus. (sounds like a loop as if our lives are any less complicated.)

Let's get into some biology to make it less complex. Prolonged exposure to stress and depressive symptoms can suppress the functioning of the hypothalamus, which is the root part of our brain in maintaining the hormonal production and balance in the body. This could lead to troubles associated with hormonal imbalance such as sleep cycles, sex drives, emotions and ovulation.

Apart from depression, anxiety and irritability are the other two mental health issues associated with menstruation that are quite prevalent. If we look at some stats, they say three out of every four female suffers from PMS or PMDD - Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (a severe form of PMS, in which the symptoms tend to last for up to 2 weeks before your period, which basically means you spend half your life depressed). Research also suggests that depression is quite prevalent among people with PMS rather than those without it.

HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

One way is to track your mood cycle with a period tracking app or opt for a more traditional method of maintaining a journal. See when you begin to feel the effects of PMS. To some people who menstruate, the effects begin right after ovulation to 11 days before their periods and at the same time. For others, they begin 3-4 days before they start menstruating.

Some of the apps that you may want to use are Flo, Clue, Period Tracker etc.

Although it may feel messy, it is more synchronized than you may think and once you get a hold of your cycle, it gets a lot easier to manage.

However, in severe cases, medical attention is recommended. But here's a thing, how do we know when do we require medical attention? With the vagueness and unawareness around menstruation (also lack of research, but okay feminist agenda later), it is very difficult to know whether the things happening to your body are normal or not.

SEVERE PERIOD CRAMPS LASTING DAYS ARE NOT NORMAL.

FAINTING IS NOT NORMAL.

CRAMPS WITHOUT PERIODS IS NOT NORMAL.

UNLESS YOU'RE STRESSED, IRREGULARITY BEYOND 2-3 MONTHS IS ALSO NOT OKAY.

SEVERE PAIN BEYOND THE AGE OF 20 IS ALSO NOT NORMAL.

If you see any of these symptoms, contact your OB/gynac.

Edited by- Kashish Anand, Sanjana Sathiyanarayan