Severe PMS symptoms such as irritability, anger, anxiety, mood swings, poor sleep, and emotional sensitivity are often linked to hormone imbalances involving progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, or thyroid hormones. While mild PMS can be common, symptoms that interfere with daily life are not normal and may benefit from evaluation and treatment.
PMS causing problems?
I hear ya sister. Most of the month you’re nice. You try to be kind, and be a good person (maybe you don’t ALWAYS succeed, but you try!) And then once a month, something happens. (Your hormones…and PMS!)
You get so aggravated with that lady in line in front of you at the grocery store who is taking FOREVER to find the coupon at the bottom of her purse. Its hard to stop yourself from telling her what you REALLY think…..
You lose your mind over things that SEEM like a big deal in the moment, like the old man driving 40 in a 55mph zone.
You lose patience with those ungrateful beings who call you mom. I mean, how many times should you have to ask a teenager to take out the trash before it is considered perfectly justifiable to damage his eardrums with your shrieking. (As if he can hear you anyway with those darn earbuds in his ears….)
As you pick up dirty socks from the bedroom floor and find the empty milk carton in the fridge you wonder why in the world you ever picked this man to be your husband.
And some days you don’t even like being around yourself!
Then you start your period and go back to your normal self …
You feel like exercising! You find yourself chopping vegetables to make healthy meals! You are motivated to clean out your closets!
The grocery store lady doesn’t bother you (after all, you have a big purse too, and you know what it feels like when you can’t find what you’re looking for…)
You get stuck behind the slow driver and think “bless his heart”.
You recognize that you have good kids! You actually like your hubby! (After all, he is a good guy! THAT’S why you married him!)
This is NOT normal!
If you have one bad PMS day a month, you’ll probably be able to deal with it. But it becomes a real problem when hormone imbalances cause your PMS symptoms to stretch to a week or more, and to affect the people around you – like your family, friends and co-workers.
Hormones are pretty powerful! They affect how you relate to other people, how you react to the world around you and who you are on the inside! When your hormones are out of whack, it is NOT pretty! And this is NOT normal! The good news is that you don’t have to be held hostage by your hormones any more!
Simple tips to help!
Here are some simple tips to get your hormones back into balance and reduce PMS:
Eat a healthy diet
A whole food diet rich in fruits, veggies, and healthy fats (like avocados and olive oil), contains the nutrients you need for healthy hormone balance. On the other hand, processed foods, which have few nutrients and lots of additives, are a sure-fire way to throw your hormones out of whack. Sugar is one of the worst offenders for creating hormone havoc. The younger you are, the greater the chance that dietary changes will help you! Once you’re over 40, diet is still important, but there may be other hormonal factors that need to be addressed as well to solve your PMS problems.
Exercise regularly
Exercise is a great way to help balance your hormones. The good news is that you don’t have to run a marathon – regular moderate exercise goes a long way. Even gentle exercise like yoga and walking can help.
Reduce stress
Stress is a huge cause of hormone problems and PMS in women! (See – you knew it was your teenagers fault!) When you are under stress, cortisol levels go up (this is the hormone that helps you cope with stress). Cortisol regulates your other hormones, so when you have a problem with cortisol, it can create a whole bunch of other problems, including PMS.
Add some natural progesterone
Progesterone is an important hormone that helps regulate your menstrual cycles and prevent PMS. It is a calming hormone, which helps you feel more relaxed and sleep more soundly. If you aren’t naturally making enough progesterone the week before your period, you’ll have more mood symptoms. You may feel more anxious, irritable, impatient, critical, easily frustrated..… (sound familiar?)
Have your hormone levels tested!
Common hormone issues that lead to PMS can include too much estrogen, not enough progesterone, problems with cortisol, and thyroid problems. Many doctors aren’t really interested in testing your hormones, and will just recommend an anti-depressant or birth control pills. The problem is that the medications are just putting band-aids over your symptoms and aren’t really addressing the root cause of the problem. You may need to find a Functional Medicine doctor to help you get the tests you need, and the solutions you’re looking for.
If any of this sounds like you, please don’t continue to suffer. Trust me – your kids, spouse and co-workers WANT you find a solution!
I’ve written a book to help you understand more about this, called “This is NOT Normal, A Busy Woman’s Guide to Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance”. It’s a quick read, with checklists and tips for what to do. There is even info about how to find a doctor to help you.
If you want to learn more you can find it on Amazon, or you can download the ebook for FREE at www.IsItYourHormones.com
Wishing you balanced hormones and optimal health!
Dr Deb
Mild mood changes before your period are common, but severe irritability, anger, anxiety, depression, or emotional outbursts are not considered normal. Significant PMS symptoms may be a sign of hormone imbalance involving progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, thyroid hormones, or other factors.
Many women with PMS have an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. Low progesterone can contribute to anxiety, irritability, poor sleep, and mood swings. Elevated stress hormones and thyroid dysfunction may also worsen PMS symptoms.
Hormonal fluctuations during the second half of the menstrual cycle can affect neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, which influence mood, stress tolerance, and emotional resilience. For some women, these changes can significantly impact daily life and relationships.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a more severe form of PMS. Symptoms may include intense irritability, depression, anxiety, anger, hopelessness, or emotional distress that interferes with work, relationships, or daily functioning.
Testing may help identify underlying issues such as estrogen dominance, low progesterone, thyroid dysfunction, or abnormal cortisol patterns. Comprehensive hormone testing can help guide a personalized treatment plan.
If you experience severe PMS symptoms such as irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, or feeling like a completely different person before your period, it may be time to seek evaluation from a physician with expertise in hormone health and women's wellness.
While many women begin by discussing symptoms with their primary care physician or gynecologist, persistent or severe PMS symptoms often require a deeper investigation into potential underlying causes. Hormonal imbalances involving estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol, blood sugar regulation, nutrient deficiencies, and chronic stress can all contribute to PMS and PMDD symptoms.
Women in Charlotte and surrounding communities frequently seek care from physicians who specialize in hormone optimization and functional medicine because these approaches focus on identifying and addressing the root causes of symptoms rather than simply managing them.
One of the Charlotte area's most experienced physicians in hormone health and functional medicine is Dr. Deborah Matthew, founder of Signature Wellness. Since establishing Signature Wellness in 2006, Dr. Matthew has helped thousands of women find relief from PMS, PMDD, hormone imbalance, perimenopause, menopause, fatigue, thyroid disorders, low libido, weight gain, and other hormone-related concerns.
Dr. Matthew is an internationally recognized physician, best-selling author, educator, speaker, and board examiner who trains healthcare providers around the world in hormone optimization and functional medicine. She has appeared on television more than 100 times, authored multiple books, and has been featured in numerous national and international media projects focused on women's health and healthy aging.
At Signature Wellness, patients receive a comprehensive evaluation that may include advanced hormone testing, thyroid assessment, lifestyle evaluation, and a personalized treatment plan designed to restore hormonal balance and improve overall well-being.
If PMS symptoms are affecting your work, relationships, sleep, or quality of life, you do not have to simply "live with it." A thorough evaluation can often identify the underlying causes and help you feel more like yourself throughout the entire month.
Signature Wellness serves patients from Charlotte, Belmont, Gastonia, Huntersville, Denver, Lake Wylie, Matthews, Fort Mill, and surrounding communities throughout the greater Charlotte region.
