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Original poster

If you have any mental health issues, does your period make things worse?

18 replies

lowbutlucky · 03/04/2023 22:40

Is it usual for the hormonal swings of periods to exacerbate anxiety or depression, or is that pmdd?

I feel really awful today at the end of my period, so incredibly flat.

OP posts:
abcchipmunk · 04/04/2023 02:16

yep! I suffer from anxiety and a few months ago I noticed a pattern that I was getting very panicky on the third day of my period every month. Now I’ve identified that this is the case it’s made it a bit easier to deal with as I know the anxiety I’m feeling is just hormones or whatever…
from what I know this is a pretty common thing. If you know that your mental issues may get worse around the time of your period maybe try to implement some self care in your routine — something simple that you can fit into a busy schedule like a walk or face mask! This helps me at least.
sending you love! It’s difficult when you particularly struggle with these kind of things. Recognising the issue and what makes it worse is the first step to healing though 😀

theblackradiator · 04/04/2023 02:20

yes I suffer with anxiety and I have found I am worse in the couple of days before my period starts and as soon as I get my period it eases.

Forgooodnesssakenow · 04/04/2023 03:47

Periods make everything worse! I have mild anxiety, not medicated by when I have pms it's a constant effort to get through for a couple of days. I'm also almost recovered from a back injury but yesterday was slike I was back at the start of that injury. Everything is heightened, I then got the monthly migraine I suffer with and hopefully once it's passed I'll be back to normal. I hope you feel better quickly too.

Cnidarian · 04/04/2023 04:36

Oh absolutely yes

Kay286 · 04/04/2023 05:05

Yes !! Im awful for this, last year it was feeling so incredibly low and flat around me period (missing friends and parents as I live abroad) booked a flight to cheer myself up and visit them … very rushed as my mood was so low and a few days later I felt fine 🤣

DoctorQuack · 04/04/2023 05:06

Yes, PMDD is a thing and I remember mental health getting worse from about 9 and my period started when I was 10.

Iguessyourestuckwithme · 04/04/2023 06:22

Yes.

I very probably have pmdd so I up my antidepressants on those weeks

WeWereInParis · 04/04/2023 06:30

Yes, I have anxiety and get panic attacks. Nowadays it's pretty well under control but the 4-5 days before my period starts are always bad.

InsertSomethingMotivationalHere · 04/04/2023 06:36

I don't suffer with my MH as a rule but every month without fail there is one day in my cycle where I am crippled with depression, self loathing and despair. I can literally feel the weight of it on my shoulders and the absolute sense of bleakness. I've learned to recognise it and reassure myself it'll be over the next day, but it is not fun.

PurBal · 04/04/2023 06:40

Do you have PMDD OP? My cycle definitely affects me (as does pregnancy 😔), anxiety and suicidal thoughts from ovulation to period. This is due to the rise in progesterone, once my period starts and oestrogen increases I feel better. I manage it with HRT to keep my oestrogen levels more constant.

PurBal · 04/04/2023 06:41

I don’t use HRT in pregnancy of course!

custardbear · 04/04/2023 06:43

My DD13 went on the pill and she'll take 3 packs back to back to avoid periods ... horrible issues otherwise

lljkk · 04/04/2023 07:09

When I was young, before mid 20s, yes, got better thank goodness.

124568910wrongway · 04/04/2023 07:14

PMDD is awful you need to see a GP lovely xx

spinspinspinthewheel · 04/04/2023 07:14

Yes for years, 4-5 days before my period starts. Deep deep depression and suicidal ideation. Never acted on as have kids but crushing, crushing despair

i saw someone on Instagram one day recommending vitamin B6 for pre period depression and being so desperate bought come immediately!

it has made a HUGE difference. If I take the B6 every day I DONT GET THE DEPRESSION OR WISHING I WAS DEAD. sorry for caps but it’s bloody unbelievable after all those years. Life changing.

if I forget to take I can feel the difference when the time comes around and the feelings come back but not as strong .

FangsForTheMemory · 04/04/2023 07:17

I used to get absolutely paranoid, felt that everyone hated me and live wasn’t worth living, the two days before my period. It was awful.

WashAsDelicates · 04/04/2023 07:52

Absolutely agree about Vit B6. Life-changing. I used to take a very large dose from about a week before I was due on until 4-5 days after I started.

Another thing that helped was exercise. At any other time, exercise made very little difference to my emotional or mental well-being. I might have fun and a laugh with friends, or get an endorphin rush, but it didn't change how I felt overall.

But if I exercised during my period and the week before my period, then I would be much more stable and feel much less distressed throughout that period - mentally, emotionally and physically.

It was harder to exercise then. I'm not a natural exerciser!

DoctorQuack · 04/04/2023 08:36

lljkk · 04/04/2023 07:09

When I was young, before mid 20s, yes, got better thank goodness.

Is it because you started contraceptives?

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