Tell me about your mood before your period arrives

[PaddleBoardingMomma]

I'm mid 30s and thought the pms weep/irritated cycle were something I left behind in my teens but bloody hell, seems to be ramping up again as I get older!

I snap at everyone, I feel miserable and bloated, and what's with the bizarre dreams/nightmares? The of course AF arrives and I'm hit with horrid cramps for a day or two then it's like a light switch has been flipped and I'm back to normal.

What about you lot, what's it like for you? Any advice for taking the edge off that doesn't involve meds?

Just bloody hungry

For years (after I had my second child) I hardly had one because of my contraception, but I could always tell when it was that time because I would be extremely irritable, tired and I was like a ravenous beast. After my third I still get all this symptoms, add to it multiple ulcers the week before and black to a really heavy period for a week. Pain in the arse.

Really tearful.

I’m approaching 40 at the speed of light and 3-5 days before my period I could quite happily shoot myself I feel so depressed. Like a black hole has opened up at my feet and at any moment I could just fall in. As soon as the bitch makes her appearance my mood is back to normal and I’m fine. It’s awful 😞

I'm 42 and mine has never changed from hungry and a very short temper.

Same here and I’m 39.

Anxiety, tearfulness. You can imagine, my “week before” was last week and I was an emotional wreck from Thursday.

Night sweats and bizarre dreams too! Reminds me of when I was taking my IVF drugs.

Everyone is usually a cunt.

Grumpy, hungry and clumsy!

Mine used to be absolutely awful. Murderously irritable, paranoid, weepy, brain fog, bloated, bad skin. The full package. To the point I could barely function.

I have been on mirena for 15+ years and haven’t had a period since (apart from when I was TTC). It’s been a lifesaver. I have totally lost touch with my cycle but I wouldn’t go back to it for love nor money.

A feel a bit headachey, exhausted and a bit clumsy. Some months I’m ok but others it knocks me for six and I just want to stay in bed. I also feel irrational anger about little things like losing my car keys.

Literally nothing! I don't realise I'm due my period until it starts. I think as a teen I used to have trouble though.

NO! FUCK OFF!

Bursts into tears

I'm sorry....

Sort of that really. I put it down to peri-menopause.

MURDEROUS! 47 and suspect I'm in the throws of perimenopause.

Angry, irritable, easily offended, tearful, bloated and I have weird and extremely vivid dreams.

Back to really heavy periods, not black

I hate the world, especially my poor husband, and have very little patience with anyone.
Nothing helps.

I spend a day or two absolutely hating everyone. I seethe with anger over every little thing they do, I ruminate obsessively on their past transgressions and convince myself I don't want them in my life anymore. I have started massive arguments when I don't realise my period is due.

Then the day my period starts, I'm absolutely fine.

Hungry. Short tempered.

I don't know how doable this is or if it's even the reason, but I changed my whole diet at the start of lockdown - removed all processed foods and started eating only whole foods and fresh fruit and veg. I also started exercising for the first time in my life.

I don't know if it's coincidence but my periods have been ridiculously easy and painless the last few years, and the old days of crying and depression before every one are distant history.

I'm sure I read somewhere that beetroot the week before a period could help with period pain somehow, so I have that with lunch every day for a few weeks beforehand too.

I'm past menopausal age now but I remember it all like it was yesterday.

The week before, greasy hair, acne, bloated feeling, sweet tooth, clothes felt tight and everything and everyone around me annoyed me. Felt like everyone hated me and was often tearful.
Then the cramps would come but with that came the feeling of normality. It sometimes felt like a physical rush. It was a lovely sensation.

I think back and remember that when I was on a weight loss diet, the effects were much less. Never figured out why.

I was always like this right up till menopause.

How I managed to not kill anyone during those times, I'll never know!

😐

I put it down to peri-menopause.

I'm in my 50s, still have regular periods but I think my PMT is better than it was. When I was younger DH and I would have a horrible fight every month then the next day my period would start and I'd think 'Oh!'. Now some months I am fine and feel much less emotionally tender before my period.

I spend 5 days wanting to die, divorce DH and happily never see my kids again.

Then poof, gone and I feel normal again.

I've been very close to leaving many times.

It got worse after 3rd child.

Tearful before then the day AF arrives (today) I’m very irritable and short tempered. Just had to apologise to my child for having no patience. Every 2nd or 3rd month I suffer from aura migraines as well which is usually before a heavy period with cramps and wanting to eat everything in sight. I also get PMT type symptoms when i ovulate as well so I’m a delight to live with twice a month

Hungry, irritable, tearful (age 44)

@NarrowHippedVixen

I don't know how doable this is or if it's even the reason, but I changed my whole diet at the start of lockdown - removed all processed foods and started eating only whole foods and fresh fruit and veg. I also started exercising for the first time in my life.

I don't know if it's coincidence but my periods have been ridiculously easy and painless the last few years, and the old days of crying and depression before every one are distant history.

I'm sure I read somewhere that beetroot the week before a period could help with period pain somehow, so I have that with lunch every day for a few weeks beforehand too.

Oh this is super interesting, I'm always looking for some incentives and reasons to eat healthier and this is a really good reason... also fair play for changing your diet and sticking to it!