How do you manage the period mood sink?

[Qsandmore]

I have PTSD, I manage fine on a daily basis and don’t take or need medication, I have a psychologist. Just for clarity.

But today I have shouted at the kids all the way to school, yes they were naughty, yes they needed to be talked to but not yelled at. Or hear how I feel useless as a mother. I have a stressful full time job, no help from useless ex (he barely sees them gives me no money), house is getting me down. But generally I give them lovely happy times and tell them how much I love them, how amazing they are, do loads of activities and nice days out etc.

Anyway rambling, the point, after losing my shit this morning it’s just clicked in im due on my period, every single bloody month I have 1-2 days where I just don’t cope. Get shouty, hate everyone and everything and want to kill myself (I won’t), I don’t want to speak to anyone today which is hard when I’m supposed to be working!

It’s hormonal, I know it is, used to be bad but maneagble before the PTSD but now I sink fast and low and just don’t see it coming.

Does anyone know anything about how to manage it? Anything you can take or do to balance it? Anything before I destroy my poor kids happiness I feel fucking awful today like I’m going to destroy their tiny little minds!

I have no advice, sorry, but I wanted to say it's similar in my house.

I don't have PTSD or any other mental health issues other than depression which is magnified when I'm due on.

Usually I can cope when my children are upset or angry or naughty but in the week leading up to my period I fall to pieces and get incredibly angry very easily over relatively minor things.

My mil recommended evening primrose oil but I tried it and it did nothing. My gp wouldn't give me anything for the monthly dip - in fact he brushed me off and I didn't try again. Possibly I should because, like you, I'm worried that I'm fucking up my children's lives and leading them down a path of mental health issues and feelings of insecurity and attachment problems.

I try to be aware that I'm getting snappy and what the date is. I force myself to keep my mouth shut for those 5 days when I know I'm a raging bitch. I ignore people and sort of try to retreat into myself.

I started sertraline and was advised to do 4 half hr exercise sessions a week. Did 3 this week and one was on the day my period came. I didn't even notice I was due. So the exercise, even though I've never been a fan, made a massive difference to my mood.

Do you have a period tracker app on your phone? I have one and it’s really helped me to understand my monthly cycle, including monitoring moods. It also warns me when pms is coming up, which I still can’t predict myself even after 30 years of periods!

Well worth it.

Could you the pill?

I'm on cerazette and it has absolutely changed my life for the better.