Hormones help

[Jennyennidots]

Every month I turn into a hormonal mess. For years I thought I was stressed and/or had mental health problems. But I’ve been keeping a track and the penny has finally dropped that it is linked to hormones.

I become incredibly anxious, riddled with self-doubt, overthink everything and believe everyone hates me. Sometimes I cry on people and share these thoughts and I’m sure they think I’m a lunatic. Then after a few days I look back and cringe so hard. It’s affecting my self esteem and probably my relationships as well.

I need help! What can I do about this?? Are there any antidepressants that can just be taken when needed? What about vitamins or supplements of some kind? Please share anything you find that helps, I will give anything a go! Xxx

Sugar reduction works for me

Thank you @ @Neron, very interesting because I have a tendency to binge snacks at that time of the month... could explain a lot if it makes it worse!

Following. I get terrible PMS. Verging on PMDD. I prioritise sleep. Also I track my cycles on the calendar and I'm super aware of when I might start to feel low (usually around 10 days before my period for me), knowing why I feel that way helps a lot. I also usually book a massage for that week (pre covid)

Sounds like PMDD. I have it (and endo, adeno and fibroids). Do you ever feel like you are sabotaging your life in the luteal phase of your cycle? Do you question your relationship?

Sorry you get this too @ItscoldinAlaska and @mynewusernameisthis

Oh yes, I totally self sabotage. I convince myself all my friends hate me and my family are drifting away from me. I think I’m rubbish at my job, believe everyone thinks I’m a joke and I should quit before things get worse. I have trouble sleeping and cry a lot, sometimes at work. Problems are magnified X100.

I wake up to reality a few days into my period and feel like an absolute lunatic.

@Jennyennidots I am a self confessed sugar fiend, but it definitely helps with my hormone management. I have pcos and endo, so whilst I really crave sugar around my period, it makes things so much worse if I eat it.
Doesn't mean I don't have it, just definitely not as much, and I try and go for a few days a week completely sugar free

I would definitely encourage you to look at CBT which I found very helpful, and to talk to your GP. For me, it is like a form of depression for 10 days every month.

@mynewusernameisthis Oh I totally feel the same. The embarrassing thing is that I know all about CBT, I am actually trained in it.

I’ve had a very confusing few yeats thinking that I need to get therapy, but then when I got the ball rolling... I felt better again! It all went away and I told myself I was being overdramatic and I couldn’t possibly have depression. But then I would have another episode, and on it went! Some months were worse than others, but I can’t believe it has taken so long for me to realise that it was linked to hormones. I do try to use CBT techniques, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could try as my brain is such a mess it can do with any extra help it can get...

It is so weird isn't it? It's like a light is switched as soon as I start bleeding the suicidal thoughts, wanting to leave my DP, thinking I'm a terrible mother just stop. It's like there is a gremlin that enters your brain and decides to mess up your life.

The GP has put me on Norestherione as I didn't want SSRI's. It's an hormonal treatment. Only been taking it for 10 days so my next period will be the test.

Aw op I am also trained in it! different when you do it for yourself I found. Mostly - sleep, eat well, routine, knowing your cycle inside out, I warn those close to me when I'm in that zone where I might get like that. Reflexology. Massage.

Yes you can be prescribed antidepressants for part of your cycle. Your GP will expect you to try self hep methods first.

Have a chat with them and take it from there.

But yes definitely see your GP to be guided through ideas to try before medication. Like I said I don't think I have PMDD but I feel like I am pretty close to it

I could have written this. The apps Hormone Horoscopes and Clue are invaluable to justify why I'm feeling so crazy.

I'm yet to figure out how to stop eating everything and anything in week 3/4 other than having a little tiny bit of marijuana which of course will hail me as a disgrace but frankly, those attitudes can get stuffed

Sorry, I managed to delete a while sentence there!

The cravings are extremely difficult to containers.

My terrible mood however is settled with a wee smoke, or if accessible, a THC sweet.

*whole

*contain

@Ingridla Thanks so much, I just downloaded hormone horoscopes! Spookily accurate, I think it’s going to be so helpful!! Thanks!

Yes there are antidepressants that you can take, the doctor offered them to me. She said Prozac just taken in the week leading up to your period can work well (but I didn't try them myself)

This is the first time I have heard of anyone else having the same experience as me. I could have written your post. I’m not alone.

You’re definitely not alone @Stickystickystick!
I felt alone for such a long time, until I was explaining to a friend that my anxieties and misery come and go, and when I said the word “mood swings” a light bulb pinged in my head! I started googling and it’s relatively common.
In my teens and 20s I never had this problem, ‘pms’ to me meant painful cramps.
In my 30s the cramps have disappeared and I thought I didn’t get pms any more! How wrong I was!

You likely have PMS. There is a treatment pathway here from the Royal College of Gynaecology www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/patients/patient-information-leaflets/gynaecology/pi-managing-premenstrual-syndrome-pms.pdf

Take your tracking notes to your GP, and ask for help. If they are no use, ask to be referred. You can start on the initial steps right away (vitamin B6 and magnesium). Its a serious illness and you don't deserve to suffer.

This was me. I'm 45 so I asked for the pill or HRT to control it but my rather excellent GP asked me to try Escitalopram. I was very resistant as I wouldn't say I was depressed plus I was given Fluoxetine for PND years ago and didn't like it. She explained Escitalopram can specifically be used to control PMS caused by hormone imbalances. I'm glad I trusted her because it's changed my life! I was at the point where I feared I would be arrested because I was going so mad the week before my period, indulging in dangerous and illegal behaviour which was very out of character for me because I'm usually very mild mannered. Within the first month of taking the Escitalopram I suffered zero hormonal mood swings. It's so much better for my family too. I never want to come off it.

I haven't RTFT but have you looked into agnus castus? It's a herbal remedy and it's really helped me to balance my hormones in the past - some women sweat by it. I am incredibly sensitive to hormonal changes and at times in my life, I could have written your post. It's hell to live with and so badly understood. I hope you find something that helps, but please don't give up or write it off!

(By councidence, I posted about agnus castus in the conception board today. I'm hoping it'll help me to conceive my second baby - it's known to boost fertility so maybe take extra precautions if you do end up trying it for PMS!)

*swear by it, not sweat (although it's also used to treat peri/menopause, so I'm sure some women do sweat by it as well 😅)