How I Regained Control Over My Body After My Phase Of PMS

‘Is it that time of the month?’

Well, my husband is a sweetheart. He never forgets to mention that. After all, my actions and behavior make it so evident that no one dares to mess with me, especially during those days of the month!

Unlike women who get through their monthly periods easily with few or no concerns, I experience a host of physical and emotional premenstrual syndrome symptoms. From experiencing bloating in my stomach to unmanageable mood swings, PMS pain disrupts my life in major ways. One minute I’m fine, the next I’m crying. The list of complaints is long when I’m PMSing! I can blurt out on anyone coming close to my vicinity. I act irrationally and say something hurtful to the other person. All thanks to my raging hormones – I have lost friends, broken relationships, walked away from opportunities and spent so much energy containing volumes of negative and hurtful thoughts.

It was in my mid-twenties that I started to recognize the pattern with my moods. It became evident that the effect of my menstrual cycle both physically and mentally had increased. I was suffering from a myriad of premenstrual syndrome symptoms including breasts so sore they woke me up at night, cravings that meant I would binge eat, reduced productivity at work due to my poor memory and lack of concentration. Those were the ‘dark days’. I trusted no one and accused my loving husband of all sorts of crimes that were figments of my paranoid imagination.

At this point of time, my husband thought of consulting a doctor. He took me to a GP. The doctor put me on oral contraception as part of PMS treatment that eased physical symptoms like stomach cramps and breast tenderness but didn’t resolve my behavioral issues. The week before each period was still a nightmare for me.

On the recommendation of one of my family friends, I consulted a homeopath for PMS treatment. I’m glad I opted for homeopathy treatment instead of taking more pills or having surgery. Apart from the very occasional blip, my PMS has stabilized - I am a nicer and a much happier person now.

Homeopathic medicines helped maintain my emotional, mental, physiological, and immune response and gave me long-lasting results. Along with the treatment, the doctor advised me to make a few lifestyle changes which proved beneficial for my overall health and well-being.

Here are those tips:

• Avoid alcohol and caffeine as it can worsen PMS pain by contributing to breast tenderness, nervous tension, and anxiety
• Start eating an anti-inflammatory diet (tomatoes, nuts like almonds and walnuts, green leafy vegetables). Eliminate polyunsaturated and trans-fats. They promote inflammation that can worsen premenstrual syndrome symptoms
• Get plenty of omega-3s (from salmon, sardines and other cold water fish, freshly ground flaxseed, and walnuts). They help ease menstrual cramps
• Limit your intake of salt and sugar as they contribute to the fluid retention and bloating that can occur with PMS pain
• Get at least 30 minutes a day of exercise such as walking, bicycling or swimming to improve mood, relieve stress and ease premenstrual syndrome symptoms in general.