How many times does it happen that if a girl is on her periods and decides to disagree on certain points with her friends or co-workers, they call it PMS? I’m not being sexist here. These are actual situations women go through; as if being on periods doesn’t allow them to have critical thinking skills. Not only does it question the women’s thinking capacity, it also shows the self-righteous egoistic attitude of people who find it funny.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a combination of physical and mental symptoms that women go through during “that time of the month”- before the start of their menstrual cycle. Most women, about 90%, say that they experience symptoms such as:
- Bloating or gassy feeling.
- Mood swings.
- Less interest in sex.
- Clumsiness.
- Headache and backache.
- Irritability and hostile behaviour.
28th May is World Menstrual Hygiene Day and living in the 21st century, it’s high time that we discuss various facets of menstruation. PMSing is a serious issue that one needs to look into. One in 20 suffer so severely that their lives are seriously affected. Most of the time when a girl behaves unusually her friends shrug it off saying,“PMS hai…chill kar!” (It’s just PMS, just relax!).
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
It has been reported that 3-5% of menstruating women suffer from a serious form of PMS – Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The symptoms of PMDD and PMS are similar, but the effect of the former is severe enough to disturb a woman’s social and professional life.
PMS And Mental Health
The exact cause for both PMS and PMDD is unknown. However, underlying depression, anxiety and hormonal changes are related to both, changes in serotonin levels in the brain can contribute to PMDD since serotonin helps in controlling mood, sleep and pain.
Though the symptoms of PMS and PMDD are similar, the latter also includes panic attacks, a lack of interest in daily activities, feeling of hopelessness and possibly suicidal thoughts.
According to NIH, suicide in women is more likely to occur in the second half of their menstrual cycle.
Treatment Of PMS And PMDD
Though there might not be any clinical treatment available for these, a change in lifestyle can be adapted by women to help themselves. These include:
- Educate yourself about yourself – Though the symptoms may vary from month to month, educating yourself about your own moods and psychological changes along with learning how to cope with life’s ups and downs can help release stress that one goes through.
- Healthy diet – A healthy diet having the right amount of nutrition and vitamins with the lesser intake of caffeine, salt and sugar may help relieve symptoms of PMS. Staying well-hydrated is also very important.
- Exercise -Though we are usually told not to do any activity that includes physical strength, light exercise helps release stress and tension.
- Medications – On proper consultation with doctor one can take medicines that relieve symptoms such as backache, cramps and breast tenderness.
As far as India is considered, we are still way behind. We’re still unable to accept the fact that period blood isn’t impure – let alone try and understand the link between PMSing and mental health. I remember when we had made our maid watch the movie Padman along with us. After the movie, all she said was “these things (pads and discussion about periods) are only for you people”. My mother has tried giving her a pack of pads for her daughter and herself a number of times but she always refuses to use them.
Societal assumptions about mental health and menstrual cycles have been largely negative over the past and have been a target of numerous jokes. Menstrual cycle patterns have a direct effect on physical as well as mental health of women and understanding this is important.
Educating both men and women about periods and its effects on the women’s hormones is of utmost importance. Though it’s a natural cycle its effect on mental health at times can be unnatural. Let’s not keep discussions on menstruation behind curtains and crack jokes on PMS.
A healthy body and a healthy mind will lead to a healthy cycle of periods. The blood that gives new life is neither impure nor disgusting. It isn’t shameful if someone wants to discuss it genuinely, but it is shameful if one cracks jokes and doesn’t feel sympathetic about it.