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We’ve all been there, haven’t we? Here come the signals—if you’re “lucky,” you’ll only feel bloated. Most women feel at least some fatigue, moody blues, cravings, fatigue, sleep problems, or at the very worst—downright pain. Whatever your variety of PMS, you expect to feel rotten for a few days until your monthly period begins.
If it’s any comfort, you belong to a big club: up to 25 million women in the U.S. say they get premenstrual syndrome. Most have resigned themselves to feeling terrible every month—I mean, there’s nothing they can do about it, right?
Wrong. Those relentless symptoms of PMS, or its more serious version, PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder), are not normal, and there is relief for you—but first, you need to learn whether or not your symptoms are produced by a hormonal imbalance.
Here at Vibrant Way, we know that the symptoms of PMS and PMDD are real, and we take them seriously. But we also want you to look into the future, because what you’re feeling now could indicate how you’ll feel during perimenopause and menopause—and to realize that, regardless of your level of misery today, you can find natural, permanent relief and set the stage for a healthy, balanced, pain-free future!
How badly do you feel the week before your period? Most women feel slightly tense, fatigued, or emotionally low for a few days—but just slightly. That level of PMS is normal and serves a function. During this time of a woman’s cycle she is the most intuitive and is able to access deep emotions. In many cultures it is common for women to retreat for a few days during this time in order to honor the miraculous cycle of life.
It’s when your symptoms are worse—when they disrupt your personal or work life—that you should investigate what’s going on with your hormones. Clients tell me they feel “out of control” right before their periods, with deep fatigue, real pain, rising anger, and serious depression. Some even say they’re completely disabled.
This is no way to live, even for a few days! The medical community is finally catching on to that fact. However, a menstrual disorder still can’t be officially “diagnosed” until it disrupts your life, but at least it’s official now—your suffering isn’t normal!
At Vibrant Way, we know that whether or not your symptoms match the official “criteria,” there’s a much broader range of physical and psychological symptoms at play with PMS. The first thing we ask of clients is that they track all of their premenstrual feelings for a few months—physical and emotional—to see if they detect any patterns, or if any symptoms linger or get worse. We’re not looking for you to meet some rubber-stamp notion of PMS; we want to see how you feel during those days.
From the symptoms listed below, it’s easy to see how PMDD is sometimes confused with depression—but what sets it apart is that it occurs for a finite time each month. We define PMDD as at least five symptoms, including one core symptom, occurring every month.
Core symptoms of PMDD:
- Depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness or low self-esteem
- Anxiety, tension, feelings of being on edge
- Feeling suddenly sad, overly sensitive to rejection
- Persistent anger or irritability
Other symptoms of PMDD:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Less interest in usual activities
- Noticeable fatigue
- Change in appetite, overeating or cravings
- Sleep problems
- Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
- Physical symptoms, including headaches, breast tenderness or swelling, joint or muscle pain, bloating, weight gain
This might be an alarming list, but there’s no reason to be afraid of who you are while in the grips of PMS! Understand that this is your starting point—the place where you begin to really know yourself and your body. It’s where you begin to help yourself.
If you consult a conventional doctor about your PMS, chances are he’ll prescribe birth control pills as a temporary way of normalizing your estrogen and progesterone levels, which when they are out of balance can cause PMS symptoms. Progesterone, many women aren’t aware, has a calming effect.
But at Vibrant Way, we believe that if you normalize your progesterone levels in a natural way, such as combining our Women’s Empowerment Formula with a healthy diet and a bio-identical progesterone cream, you’ll see more lasting results.
We should add here that if your symptoms are more intense, you may need a prescription-strength bio-identical progesterone. You have options: custom-compounded formulas as well as brand-name natural progesterone products, such as Prometrium capsules, are solid choices. We encourage you to work with your clinician so that you can make a more informed decision.
Diet, too, will be important in treating your PMS. You’ll need to create a sound nutritional plan, including a high-quality vitamin-mineral supplement, and cut back on sugar, salt, alcohol, and caffeine. That’s the first step. Be sure to include a magnesium supplement—a cornerstone of the Women’s Empowerment Formula—because it will help reduce bloating, fluid retention and breast tenderness. Calcium supplements also help.
Get regular exercise, too, if it’s not already part of your daily life. We know it sounds like a cliché to say that—probably because exercise does help most women’s disorders!—but aerobic exercise is important if you want to eliminate the symptoms that make you miserable, especially during the second half of our cycles when endorphin (pain-killing) levels drop in our blood and brains.
And don’t overlook the chronic stress in your life, because it contributes to PMS. As our cortisol and adrenaline levels surge, we’re less able to cope with our hormonal shifts every month. Addressing your emotional health can help immensely.
At Vibrant Way, our approach to PMS is totally individualized, with many layers. Start slowly at first, with the natural PMS remedies listed below, and keep a journal of your symptoms. Work with a trusted healthcare practitioner to help you plan which supplements you might need to help give you emotional guidance. If your initial steps don’t seem to help, you may want to look into more advanced PMS and PMDD treatments.
- As we suggested earlier, track your symptoms along with your menstrual cycle for two or three months. Pay attention to your progress—do you feel better? Notice any obstacles? Write them down.
- Get a complete physical exam, including basic hormone testing to be sure your thyroid functions are up to par, and to screen for anemia, premature menopause and electrolyte balances. Ask for time to discuss your PMS symptoms.
- Eat whole foods, non-starchy vegetables and healthy proteins and fats. Reach for fruit instead of sugary snacks. Don’t skip meals—schedule them at regular times to be sure your blood sugar is balanced, which will support positive moods.
- Take a potent multivitamin-mineral, such as our Women’s Empowerment Formula, every day.
- Add a daily fish oil supplement, with at least 1000 mg of EPA/DHA, to get the most effective form of omega-3 fatty acids.
- Also add a high-quality calcium and magnesium supplement.
- If your monthly symptoms include cramps, try acupuncture! It also can help your system to detoxify.
- Make time to rest during the week before your period starts. Slow down, listen to your body, and don’t over-schedule.
- If unresolved issues from your past are causing you chronic stress—in addition to the current pressures in your life—look into getting some counseling and developing strategies for dealing with them.
We don’t believe any woman should suffer from PMS—it’s not natural! And it’s definitely not necessary. Our simple, natural approach can help immensely. And once you know how to handle your PMS, you’ll have nothing to fear from the hormonal transitions in your future!
Our Women’s Empowerment Program is a great way to balance your hormones!
Read what our clients are saying…
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