Okay, this is a question for the ladies (and perhaps knowledgeable men) out there:

Every month, I get fairly wicked mood swings.  This is, more or less, the *only* sign of PMS for me.  (Well, I also get a migraine the day before, but an advil generally cures that.) I don’t get angry, I get sad.  I used to be worse, going into near-depression for almost a week every month.  It was so bad that I broke down in the middle of a shopping mall once, and my best friend would almost refuse to see me on the days where I was really bad, because we’d continually get into arguments.

Now things aren’t so bad, but there are still emotional upsets.  I can feel when my mood is fragile and liable to become very sad, very fast.  I might not be at the “I want to sit here and cry” phase, but I’m no little bundle of joy either.  And I react much more to certain negative stimulae than I would at other times of the month.

Does anyone else experience this, and if so, how do you deal with it?

Thanks,
Julie

It’s interesting you ask this question because I have literally forgotten what it was like to have these ‘mood swings’.

I have found in my own personal experience that exercise *really* helps! Before my ‘journey’ I experienced roughly the same emotional mood swings but just dealt with them. After I started working out it took me a few months to realize that that ‘time’ just came and went. I can only assume that exercising helped after a few years at this.

I also started taking vitmamin supplements such as a multi-vitamin, calcium chews, folic acid, fish oil and magnesium. (Magnesium can bring relief from migraine, insomnia, depression, enzyme activity as it also oversees over 350 functions in the body.)

Louis mentioned in another thread although may not applicable to you however in case someone else wants to know; “OK I dont know if this is just a coincidence but since adding loads of spinach to the diet I have found this month it really helped with the painful monthly agony (you know what I mean?!)
I reckon all the iron maybe made a difference, so Spinach is now on my weekly shopping list. It works for me! “

You can also try yoga, Thai Chi or meditation. Regardless of what you try - be advised that this takes time. It will not happen overnight and may take a few cycles to get things under control.

Julie
I really sympathise with you as I too suffer with this also.
I have found adding vitamin suplements (EVENING PRIMROSE, MAGNESIUM and a general “well woman” vitamin supplement really helps.
As to does being aware by keeping a journal of how it is affecting you each month I find I get different effects - some months tired depressed sensitive and other months forgetful tired and irritable.

Exercise as Carrie mentioned seems to be the wonder cure too, sometimes when I feel bloated, stomach crammps etc I force myself out for a walk and even though it is a huge affort it seems to work wonders!
Good Luck I hope you can try some of the ideas mentioned to alleviate your symptoms.

Try reading anything by the great teacher Thich Nhat Hanh - I especially like his book “Peace Is Every Step”. Central to his work is the idea of “mindfullness training” which is all about a simple meditation where you focus on your breath by saying - “I am breathing in, I am breathing out"… This sounds too simple and almost silly… But it really works. When your emotions get the best of your attention, shift your attention to your breath - and like magic the tension and stress melt away.

Best wishes!
Adam