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Is it normal to cry during your period?
If you are one of the many women who feel more emotional during your period, then you’re not alone.
But while feeling sad, anxious, and even depressed during your period is cited as being completely normal, that does very little to explain why our body’s react in this way – what it means, and why it feels so out of our control when it happens.
What causes women to cry more while on their period?
Your period is just one part of the ongoing menstrual cycle, during which time you menstruate and ovulate and experience great hormonal shifts and changes. The week leading up to your period is when your hormones go into overdrive and experience the greatest upheaval, leaving you feeling more emotional as you approach menstruation.
This particular part of your cycle and the symptoms that come with it – including this heightened emotional state and other symptoms such as cramps – are widely known as PMS (premenstrual syndrome). While the root hormonal cause of this is not definitively understood, it is believed by scientists that the fluctuation in hormones occurs after ovulation, when the drop in both estrogen and progesterone reduce the body’s production of serotonin – which is responsible for monitoring and balancing your emotions.
Now we’ve got the science bit out of the way, what does this all mean for you and how can you monitor and support your mind and body through this monthly cycle?
The impact of the menstrual cycle on the body
Menstruation, and more specifically PMS, presents as both physical and emotional responses – not only giving you the cramps which are commonly linked to and associated with your monthly period, but also wreaking havoc on your emotions and hormones.
In terms of understanding the symptoms in their plainest sense, women tend to find that the experience some or all of the following as part of their cycle:
- Heightened emotions
- Cramps
- Bloating
- A change in appetite
- Trouble sleeping
It is worth noting in addition that women who have existing and underlying conditions can find that their symptoms worsen or are exacerbated both before and during their period. Some of the conditions which are most notably affected by this include bipolar disorder, eating disorders and anxiety disorders.
Tools and advice to help keep your emotions in check
Heightened emotions and often unexplained crying are completely normal side effects of your menstrual cycle. As such, there is no need to manage or conceal these symptoms.
Having said that, there are things you can do and small changes you can make to help manage your hormones and make you feel better – no matter what’s going on inside.
- Get plenty of sleep. When you are overtired, your body is more prone to crying as the serotonin levels drop even further, creating a vicious cycle of unrest and upset.
- Exercise. While the symptoms of PMS can leave you wanting to simply curl up and feel sorry for yourself, getting outside can boost endorphins and give your body a boost of positive energy that helps to fight the imbalance of emotions.
- Increase your intake of omega 3 – with fatty fish and supplements like the Cleanmarine for Women product, which combines an effective all-in-one boost of vitamins designed for women facing the monthly menstrual cycle.
- Avoid salty foods which can exacerbate water retention and make you feel more bloated.
- Open up and talk to others – and if you need extra support from a professional, don’t be afraid to reach out to your doctor or another healthcare professional.
For more advice on managing the symptoms of PMS, both physical and emotional, Cleanmarine has got your back. Our online blog is regularly updated with informative articles and guides related to women’s health.