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
