Periods and Mental Health
Esha Chopra
Even without the hormonal imbalances, being on your period is difficult. From the amount of blood to the pain, it can be a challenge to continue on with your day when you’re menstruating. In fact, research shows that “over 90% of people who have their period also have symptoms throughout their menstrual cycle” (Broster 2020). These symptoms vary from headaches, abdominal pain and nausea, and are experienced differently by everybody.
These symptoms can impede one’s ability to be productive which, in turn, can cause stress and anxiety. This stress has an impact on the pain levels and length of a person’s cycle. Studies have shown that “when you’re stressed you might find that you miss one or more of your periods” (Broster 2020). This stress and anxiety can severely impact one’s health, showing how interconnected the menstrual cycle and mental health are. For these reasons, mental health and menstruation can’t be looked at through separate lenses because they both affect one another and exist in tandem.
Although the reasons are still relatively unknown, researchers have found that instances of depression, anxiety and overall feelings of sadness occur during one’s menstrual cycle due to hormonal changes in the body (Weinberger 2018). If someone already suffers from a mental illness or multiple mental illnesses, the symptoms and signs can be elevated when menstruating (Weinberger 2018). It is important to understand your body and mind’s specific needs so that you are able to care for yourself in the best possible way while menstruating. Your mind and body don’t each exist in a monolith, they affect one another and each individual is affected differently.
When on your period, it is crucial to manage stress and take care of your mental health. Whether this is through sleep, meditation, relaxation, journaling, exercising or other coping mechanisms, mental health should always be a priority, especially when you are on your period.
References
Broster, A. (2020, July 09). How Your Mental Health & Menstrual Cycle Are Linked. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicebroster/2020/07/09/how-your-mental-health--menstrual-cycle-are-linked/?sh=3bc4af66370e
Weinberger, W. B., Weinberger, J., Jessica Weinberger As a marketing professional and award-winning freelance writer in Minneapolis, Campese, W. B., Campese, L., Laderer, W. B., & Laderer, A. (2020, January 22). The Truth About Periods and Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.talkspace.com/blog/periods-pmdd-mental-health/
