Dealing With PMS

Intro: Akum. You ppl will be reading an article by Carol Watkins.. on PMS, n how to deal with it. PMS, Pre Menstrual Syndrome, (or as put by Id's Pasha) as Penyakit Macam S**L. Cheh. Haha. (Sorry kpd sume laki dlm dunie yg terpakse put up dgn mende alah ni. Kami dtg dlm package ye. Haha. Esp. kpd boifrenku yg didera akhir2 ini. Muahs u! Hehe)

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) refers to uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms that occur before the onset of the woman’s menstrual period. Estimates of affected women range from 40 to 80%.

The symptoms can be divided into three general categories:
1) Changes in Mood or Anxiety
Depression. Irritability. Anger. Tearfulness. Increased emotional reactivity. Changes in sexual desire. Anxiety.
Exacerbation of existing psychiatric condition.

2) Changes in Attention
Forgetfulness. Confusion. Difficulty staying on task. Prone to accidents.

3) Physical Changes
Breast tenderness. Feeling bloated. Swelling in arms and legs. Migraine. Back pain. Difficulty sleeping. Changes in energy level. Nausea.

Treating Symptoms of PMS:
1) Lifestyle Changes:
- Exercise, three to five days per week, improves mood, and increases physical tone.
- Eating less salt may minimize bloating and swelling.
- Also helpful is a healthy diet, rich in complex carbohydrates and low in simple sugar.
- Decreasing caffeine and alcohol intake may help irritability and mood swings.
- Relaxation techniques, such as meditation or yoga, decrease physical discomfort and stress.

2) Self Knowledge: A woman with mild PMS, are able to accept and adjust to her monthly changes in energy and mood. Although parts of the experience are unpleasant, she discovers that it helps her to view things from a different perspective. If she is impulsive or irritable before her menses, she may decide to defer important decisions for a few days. If she feels angry at a friend, she may write down the anger. If, after a few days, it still bothers her, she then responds to the anger. Some women learn this on their own. Others may seek counseling to help reduce stress and to learn ways to actively cope with the PMS.

3) Social Support: A supportive spouse or roommate can be a great help during low energy days or periods of irritability. Some women can take turns helping each other during vulnerable times. However, women who live or work closely together often go into synch: they have their menses at the same time. Depending on the situation, this can either be a support or a difficult time for the entire group.

4) Vitamins and Minerals

Conclusion: Some women find that when the most severe symptoms, mood, or physical symptoms, are addressed; the other symptoms are less intense. Thus, a woman who is successfully treated for premenstrual depression may experience fewer physical symptoms. Other women need active treatment for both kinds of symptoms.