Understanding Mood Swings D...

Understand yourself better by getting to know more about your mood swings and how to be in a good mental and emotional space to handle them better. Whether you’re reading this for yourself, your girlfriend, or your wife, it is good and important to understand it well enough to be able to navigate through it.

To begin, mood swings are abrupt changes in one’s mood due to serotonin fluctuations during your period/menstruation (1). So while the body is enduring period pain, constant mood changes are also something women go through even if it is not externalised.

Here, you’ll learn about mood swings, how to control mood swings during periods, and even make some lifestyle changes to make it easier for you and your partner to cope with hormonal mood swings.

Acknowledging the Significance Of Emotional Changes During The Menstrual Cycle

Mood swings during periods are one of the many Premenstrual Syndrome symptoms. Others include tender breasts, fatigue, food cravings, menstrual cramps, and emotional changes like irritability and depression. A woman may experience some to all of these symptoms, maybe even more, during her period (2).

These changes in mood can also affect changes in behaviour and cause you to have emotions from as low as feeling depressed during period to as high as feeling cheerful. These hormonal fluctuations may alter the brain’s chemical balance which can induce mood swings and cause these emotional changes. Some of these PMS symptoms like mood swings can begin to occur on the days leading up to your period (3).

The Menstrual Cycle: A Hormonal Roller Coaster

To have a better understanding of mood swings during menstruation, you need to understand the menstrual cycle and when to expect these roller coasters of emotions to set in.

There are four phases of the menstrual cycle which are menstruation, follicular phase, ovulation, and luteal phase.

• Menstruation:

This phase is when you get your period and there is a drop in the levels of hormones because the egg isn’t fertilised and pregnancy hasn’t occurred.

• Follicular Phase:

This phase overlaps with your menstruation period as it begins on day one of your period and ends on the day you ovulate. In this phase, you may experience high levels of energy and sex drive. Your mood is lighter, your skin brighter, and you feel optimistic (4).

• Ovulation:

In this phase, a mature egg is released and it travels to the fallopian tube to be fertilised in the uterus by the sperm. This is the phase in your menstrual cycle when you can get pregnant and have lower serotonin levels that can leave you feeling moody.

• Luteal Phase:

There is a rise in hormones in this phase because the egg changes into corpus luteum. If you get pregnant, you do not resume back to the next phase which is menstruation but if you do not get pregnant, then your hormone levels drop and you begin to have symptoms of PMS.

Your moods during menstrual cycle can change in different phases and regulate in some. This is why it is good to know what phase in your cycle you’re in to be able to understand why you’re feeling the way you do.

Understanding the Causes of Mood Swings

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that affects changes in mood and even triggers symptoms of PMS. It can cause emotions ranging from depression to excitement not just during menstruation but menopause as well (5). There are clinical trials that have shown that the precursors of serotonin (6) increase significantly between 7 to 11 days and 17 to 19 days of the menstrual cycle.

Serotonin acts as a hormone because it tells your body how exactly to work with the chemical messages it carries between the nerve cells in your brain and the rest of your body i.e. between your central nervous system and your peripheral nervous system.

So, period cramps aren’t the only thing a woman goes through during her period.

Coping Strategies for Managing Mood Swings

Studies have shown that women experience more severe bouts of depression and anxiety during periods. This Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is an extreme form of PMS that affects a smaller percentage of women and has been known to affect their relationships (7). Hence, it is important to find coping strategies and have measures in place to help you through your menstrual cycle and manage your mood swings.

There are lots of things to try depending on what you’re in the mood for or what you’re interested in. Some of these strategies that can help you manage your mood swings during periods are:

• Yoga.
• Meditation.
• Aromatherapy.
• Exercising regularly.
• Visualisation techniques.
• Going at a regular time to bed.
• Relaxing and listening to soothing music.
• Avoiding alcohol, and any caffeinated drinks.
• Keeping a journal helps you keep track of your mood swings and the triggering factors.

Natural Remedies and Lifestyle Changes

A lifestyle change can make a huge difference in your overall mood and improve your PMS symptoms. This requires you to do away with some things and adopt some new habits in your life. Some of the things you can do away with are, for example, how much you drink coffee or other alcoholic beverages. Some things you can adopt are, for example, making use of products that are made with natural ingredients.

VinzBerry brings you a vast selection of natural-based products like intimate body care, intimate hygiene, and other products that can improve your mood and lifestyle. Feel good, act good, and look good.

We hope this has enlightened you on mood swings and how to cope and manage them. Till the next spike in your serotonin, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and meditate.