This, however, was not a wholly ordinary day, nor was it an ordinary reaction.
This was my birthday, and this was a meltdown.
I snapped at my BFF for choosing to leave earlier than Id expected, and without prior warning.
I wound up crying in a Starbucks with my friend Jordan over a midnight cup of decaf.
When I woke up the next morning, I got my period.
Many women have premenstrual issues, he explains.
While we really dont know what causes it, its probably the progesterone component of your cycle.
Mood is most concerning, Schweizer says.
That was me for a long time.
My emotional moments can be embarrassing at times.
Sappy books will absolutely do me in, and I avoid tearjerker songs on the radio.
(All theMe Before Youads with Ed Sheerans Photograph playing?
Those suckers been doozies.)
I am also irritable for no reason.
Fail to inform me about a schedule change, so I dont have time to prepare?
First reaction: GAH.
Second reaction: calm down.
(Ive learned to talk to myself.)
And of course, there are also physical symptoms, most of which you are probably pretty well-verse in.
Some cycles, breast tenderness is my worst symptom.
Other cycles,bloatingis my most severe issue.
This does not help my breakouts either, which also flare with my PMDD.
Finally, with all this havoc going on in my body, I sleepa lotduring my period.
There have been weeks where Ive needed 12-plus hours a night, multiple nights in a row.
I once put on tennis shoes to go for a walk, but ended up falling asleep instead.
It was 6:30 P.M. My PMDD got significantly worse, to the point where I was bedridden for a couple days.
So, I stopped.
It may take that long for your body to adjust, and to figure out what works for you.
I wascompletelymiserable, 24 hours a day.
Chasteberry extract may reduce estrogen levels and increase that all-important progesterone.
He also says evening primrose oil really does wonders for breast tenderness.
Whats most important, he said, is to confirm Im incredibly in tune with my cycles arrival.
Hes had great results with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) like Zoloft and Prozac.
There are lots of options.
If you have PMS or PMDD that impacts your life pretty significantly:Go to your ob/gyn.
I dont like the shotgun approach, Schweizer says of my one-and-done method.
(When you feel better physically, you feel better emotionally.)
And hopefully, by fall, Ill besubstantiallymore chill about all this pre-period nonsense.
Photo Credit: Chi Lok Tang / EyeEm / Getty
