November 23, 2024

During your menstrual cycle, what happens?

The biologically female body breaks down and expels uterine wall tissues during the menstrual cycle. Hormone levels sharply decline as a result. Anger, sadness, and anxiety can result from biological and mood changes in the body and brain caused by low levels of estrogen and progesterone. During this period, serotonin levels also often decline.

The uterus forms follicles, or pockets packed with fluid, as your menstrual cycle progresses. As your cycle goes on, these pockets usually help your body produce hormones.

Your uterus often expands and decreases during your period. Bloating may be the result of hormonal changes in your uterus swelling, which will eventually go away as your monthly cycle continues. Generally, bloating caused by PMS doesn’t require medicine unless it’s accompanied by gas, gastrointestinal irritation, diarrhea, or constipation.

Hormonal variations during the premenstrual phase are sometimes blamed for the typical phenomena of experiencing elevated levels of anxiety before to the onset of one’s period. On the other hand, you can be more susceptible to PMS or PMDD if you do suffer from constipation, diarrhea, or any other type of gastrointestinal distress during your cycle.

Premenstrual syndrome: what is it?

The term “premenstrual syndrome” (PMS) refers to a collection of physical and psychological symptoms that individuals may encounter one to two weeks prior to their monthly cycle. These symptoms of anxiety, include headaches to mild ones like light bloating, breast tenderness, and tiredness. About 90% of individuals who have a menstrual cycle report having PMS symptoms prior to their periods, indicating how common the condition is. PMS symptoms can also last far into your menstrual cycle; often, they don’t go away completely until two or three days after your cycle ends.

The decline in hormone production before your period, especially after ovulation, is associated with PMS symptoms. Hormone production typically peaks during ovulation, and the subsequent decline in hormone levels might result in PMS symptoms. In most cases, PMS is not a reason for alarm and doesn’t call for medical or psychiatric assistance.

Is anxiety a result of premenstrual syndrome?

The synthesis of hormones frequently has a major impact on behavior and mood in general. Your mood and your capacity to regulate emotions will probably be greatly impacted by hormonal changes, which may set off the classic signs of depression, anxiety, impatience, or melancholy.

Things that might not normally cause distress can become very distressing during the low hormone production portions of your cycle. During their cycle, some people may have intense outbursts of rage, while others may feel worn out or even drowsy. For people who are experiencing it, the concoction of feeling physically unwell and having trouble managing their emotions can be a recipe for worry.

Premenstrual anxiety can seem to have no clear trigger at all, or it can be brought on by a variety of factors. It’s possible that the hormone synthesis stage matters more than the trigger.

Additionally, waiting for your menstrual cycle could cause anxiety. If your symptoms are severe, you can feel anxious or afraid before your period, which could make your current problems worse. A fantastic treatment for this specific kind of anxiety is talk therapy. A therapist can assist you in creating coping mechanisms for the anxiety associated with your PMS symptoms.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: what is it?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a diagnosable syndrome that causes anxiety in a person’s hormone production to spike and fall each month during their cycle. For some people, these fluctuations can result in severe symptoms, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The following circumstances may lead to a diagnosis of PMDD, per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is published by the American Psychiatric Association.

First, there has to be at least one of the four emotional signs listed below:

significant fluctuations in mood or sensitivity to emotions.

extreme irritation, rage, or a rise in interpersonal problems.

marked melancholy or a sense of worthlessness or hopelessness.

stress or worry rising.

A person diagnosed with PMDD may also exhibit at least one of the symptoms listed below, but between the two lists, a minimum of five symptoms must be clinically noted in order to make the diagnosis:

a decline in activity interest.

difficulty concentrating.

fatigue and lack of vigor.

It can be significant to remember that some people with PMDD have even more severe symptoms, like panic attacks or suicidal thoughts.

The physical and psychological symptoms mentioned above must not be brought on by other medical disorders and must be severe enough to interfere with everyday functioning in order to be considered for a PMDD diagnosis.

Is premenstrual dysphoric condition curable?

Antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs may be used occasionally to treat premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms, especially in severe cases with suicide ideation and significant depressive episodes. In order to help regulate hormone production and reduce severe highs and lows during the menstrual cycle, doctors may recommend hormonal birth control.

 

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