How do YOU keep emotions at bay when.......

.....it's your TOM?  Ladies, I need advice.  I don't really have any family to talk to, so hopefully you can help.  I had my first TOM when I was 11 years old.  They have always been sporadic, (4 days on, 2 months off, 6 days on, 1 week off)....that sort of thing.  I noticed over the past 5 years they have become more regular, and I have my TOM about once a month like normal women.  BUT....I become SO EXTREMELY EMOTIONAL for about a week before, and a week after.  It sucks!!! 

I just need to know if there is anything besides prescription drugs that I can try to make these symptoms subside.  I have a fairly normal, content life, but when these emotions come, you'd think someone killed my dog.  That's how sad I get.  I was relaxing last night and a commercial with that cute little fabric softener bear "Snuggle" came on, and I cried because the family looked so happy.  I mean, come on!!!

When that happens next time, ask yourself if the same thing will make you cry next week. If the answer is no and you know it, just the recognition of that should help a little bit. Or, have a piece of chocolate.

make it dark chocolate, the more cocoa solids the better. its great for stress and relaxation, so it may help you too. Perhaps also, a little more sleep? i get very tired and cranky around TOTM

When it first started happening a couple of years ago, I wondered if I might be depressed.  Eventually I saw a pattern starting, and now I recognize it.  The problem is that I feel almost non-funtional during these emotional periods (pardon the pun).  I tear up at work and I find that unacceptable.  I also can't have chocolate.  I need to be able to find ways to help myself that don't involve food. 

I am pretty good at the whole sleep thing.  I can sleep and sleep and sleep.  I do have a pretty busy life, but I still manage. 

You need to seek out 'good mood foods' for that time of the month.  It's one of nature's bitterest ironies that the sugary refined carbohydrates, alcohol and caffeine some women crave at the TOTM are exactly the foodstuffs that are going to tip them over the edge.... 

To elevate your mood naturally try some of the following....  

• Foods rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids.  Cold-pressed olive/other oils, oily fish, nuts
• Regular intake of complex carbohydrates to keep blood-sugars stable.... wholemeal bread, wholegrains, pulses/legumes, brown rice, wholewheat pasta, porridge oats, high-fibre cereals
• Foods with B vitamins, folic acid, iron, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, zinc and calcium..... dairy products, dark green vegetables, red meats, whole eggs, wholegrains, soya milk, fresh fruit, herbs, dates, spring onions
• Natural relaxers.... camomile tea, green tea, lettuce, celery
• A daily multivitamin with iron
• Daily exercise, preferably outdoors..
• Plenty of water
• Regular meals and snacks
• Plenty of sleep 

Of course, if these don't help then you should talk to your doctor.  

Original Post by gi-jane:

You need to seek out 'good mood foods' for that time of the month.  It's one of nature's bitterest ironies that the sugary refined carbohydrates, alcohol and caffeine some women crave at the TOTM are exactly the foodstuffs that are going to tip them over the edge.... 

To elevate your mood naturally try some of the following....  

• Foods rich in omega 3 essential fatty acids.  Cold-pressed olive/other oils, oily fish, nuts
• Complex carbohydrates to keep blood-sugars stable.... wholemeal bread, wholegrains, pulses/legumes, brown rice, wholewheat pasta, porridge oats, high-fibre cereals
• Foods with B vitamins, folic acid, iron, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, zinc and calcium..... dairy products, dark green vegetables, red meats, whole eggs, grains, soya milk, fresh fruit, herbs, dates, spring onions
• Natural relaxers.... camomile tea, green tea, lettuce, celery
• A daily multivitamin with iron
• Gentle exercise, preferably outdoors..
• Plenty of sleep 

Of course, if these don't help then you should talk to your doctor.  

 This is great GI!  I know I should be drinking less coffee too.  I drink an equivalent of about 3 cups of coffee per day.  I use Equal or Splenda and powdered creamer.  Otherwise, I drink water.  I don't really like anything carbonated, so I'm clear on the soda front. 

I can see myself eating all the things on your lists, but what are Porridge oats?  I've heard of Porridge, but I've been under the impression it's not very tasty?

I found some suggestions for natural PMS remedies.

It really depends on the person, but I've found that a small bit of dark chocolate, some deep breathing and stretching (or better yet yoga), and a cup of really good tea help stabilize my mood during TOM.

And, if you have the opportunity and the time, a nice hot aromatherapy bath can work wonders.

Good luck!

This has already been mentioned by santonacci but one of the things that helps me when I have a PMS 'episode' hatha yoga stretching and breathing exercises. If I feel like crying/flipping out at work I go outside and sit and go through the deep breathing. The fresh air and removing myself from my mind/situation usually really helps. And I drink lots and lots of water.

Well, I think starting tomorrow I am going to make a conscious effort to drink green tea in the morning instead of coffee.  Gotta start somwhere, right?  When I get home tonight, I think I'll put on some classical music, light a few candles, and try some bbreathing excercises.  I'm sure that will help!

Porridge oats are rolled oats or maybe you call it 'oatmeal'?  It can be pretty bland, admittedly, but with a little imagination you can jooshie it up a bit!!   Traditional scots will serve it seasoned with salt - they're tough in Scotland.  Or for us southern softies it's nice made up with a little milk as well as water, add some nuts and raisins, a little honey or cinnamon... fresh fruit.  And there are savoury options... I often use a few rolled oats with crushed beans to make veggie burgers or sprinkle them on top of a bake before crisping the top in the oven. 

Do you consider Birth control pills a prescription drug?  I take Yaz and it saved my life. It's very low dose, so I don't notice any other side effects--except the lack of Pre menstral/menstral symptoms.  In fact I take them continuously- meaning I don't stop to have a period except every six months or so.  (now i'm gonna get that bombardment of people saying "that's so bad for you" but I've done my reasearch. It's safe and it's the option I like best.)

 I agree with GI on all those good mood food, they really help. Im the same way when i have my period, youd think that id just seen a shooting or something. But i think everyone knows where youre coming from. One that that has really helped me is exercising. I start of with something pretty light, like going for a walk just to clear my mind. Thats usually in the first days when im starting to get a little pyscho with emotions. Its good to just take some time every day and take a walk somewhere to think about what in the world youre freaking out over. I find that im usually just letting my pms take too much control. My periods last for about 7 days, idk about yours, so when i get to the middle of it, i usually kick up my workouts bc by this time im getting anxious, and a harder work out will get out all that unbased anxiety or stress, which ever you might suffer from. I hope this is helpful in some way, and i hope you dont have to resort to taking something for your problems :)

lol I couldn't help but laugh, cause I get the same way!  I hate feeling those crazy high emotions.  I heard that citris helps a lot... try it!  I get citris suplements from Advocare.com and it helped me so much.  Now that I'm on birth control, I am a MESS and I know I am, and it sucks.  But some days I can be so totally emotional my husband just leaves the room.  And of course, it just makes everything worse for me... it's an ongoing circle.  Try the citris..  if it doesn't work, I'm sorry - just trying to help.

I've noticed that almost everytime I get into any kind of arguement that it's usually the week before my period.  Tracking your period so that you can be more aware of when those times are really helps me.  Also, just making sure that you're getting enough sleep and food and exercise during that time is beneficial.  I also like a hot bubble bath which is a perfect time to do a pedicure.  Everytime I look at my toes it makes me smile.

Getting rid of the coffee if it's one of your indulgences that you really enjoy might backfire.  You could certainly dump the artificial creamer and try some almond milk or soy milk, the vanilla flavor doesn't even need more sweetener.

On the oatmeal, making it steel cut oats and putting a bit of cinnamon, milk, and frozen raspberries makes it really good to me.

Wow, sngbrdchls77. I was amazed to read your post.

I've just come back from uni after an orchestral rehearsal (I'm studying music). It was a huge struggle to make myself leave my flat and the actual rehearsal was terrible! I was a zombie and I actually cried in the interval.

I've been scared lately that something is really wrong with me, but thinking about it, this could fit! I'm about a week out from TTOM and I was doing great a few days ago. I just can't believe the change was so drastic. I know what you mean about being non-functional and about needing to find a non-food related way of coping. I wish I could sleep through it, but I have problems with insomnia as well. :-/

But it's very comforting to know that I may not being going insane permanently.

Taking a B12 supplement always seems to help me but it's only tulry sufficient and works to its best ability in calming hormone related moods when taken with a B complex!

 

Original Post by theladyem:

Wow, sngbrdchls77. I was amazed to read your post.

I've just come back from uni after an orchestral rehearsal (I'm studying music). It was a huge struggle to make myself leave my flat and the actual rehearsal was terrible! I was a zombie and I actually cried in the interval.

I've been scared lately that something is really wrong with me, but thinking about it, this could fit! I'm about a week out from TTOM and I was doing great a few days ago. I just can't believe the change was so drastic. I know what you mean about being non-functional and about needing to find a non-food related way of coping. I wish I could sleep through it, but I have problems with insomnia as well. :-/

But it's very comforting to know that I may not being going insane permanently.

 You definitely aren't going insane Ladyem.  I started noticing a change in my PMS a few years ago.  I did notice that when I was on the Depoprovera birth control shot for about 2 yrs, I was pretty weepy, but that was ALL THE TIME.  On top of that, I was really super b**chy.  Everything irked me.  Everything.  So, I'm not on anything now.  I have thought about going on some type of BC, but I am sooooo amazingly bad about taking pills.  I even have one of those timer alarms on my pill case and I forget.  I have a cabinet full of wonderful supplements, I just need to take charge of them and MAKE myself take them.  It's strange how when it comes to ME, I don't ever finish what I started.

One of my friends was recently having some intense PMS and another friend who is a doctor reccomended that she up her omega-3s.  She took 3tbps. of cod liver oil a day, and the next month was much less emotional.

 

I went and exercised early this morning, and that helped like nothing else. Apart from the chemical release, just knowing I'd already achieved something today that I didn't feel like doing was enough to start my day on a high. It was like a reminder that I have the power to ignore these feelings that always seem so important at the time that I'm feeling them. And then they go away!

I'm a shocker for remembering my pill as well, but they help my acne, so I think it's worth it for me to try to keep taking them (as opposed to switching to another form of BC).