In most cases, anxiety issues for women appear for the first time during periods of hormonal changes, for example, menstruation. This change in the hormonal equation brings the body to some level of stress that sometimes leads to anxiety attacks or panic episodes, which occurs during pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS.
PMS is defined as the collection of physical and psychological symptoms including anxiety, irritability, fatigue, depression, headache, breast tenderness, and abdominal bloating that occur from 2 to 7 days before the onset of menstruation and may cease shortly after it starts. Women suffer this syndrome due to the fact that hormonal change, a kind of stress, triggers the “flight or fight response”. This response is the body’s own way of protecting itself from perceived danger or, in this case, physiological changes that threaten the normalcy of the body.
When the body perceives that it is under stress, the body releases cortisol, adrenaline, and other hormones. The rush of these hormones floods the body creating overwhelming physiological changes that are associated with anxiety, for example, rapid heartbeat, sweating, muscle tension, heightened emotions of fear and panic, and many others. These mental and physical sensations that many women experience are really flight or fight reactions that are not generally dangerous for the body. These are just normal responses. They can be very intense but are needed in order to maintain internal homeostasis in the body.
According to research, PMS can be managed through self-help therapy that includes eating regularly, losing weight if obese, reducing intake of salty, fatty foods, and caffeinated beverages, and limiting alcohol intake.
It is also advised to keep a daily record of symptoms over several cycles. You can then turn over this record to your doctor because it would help him make a diagnosis. At present, there are many treatments available for PMS. These include intake of antidepressants, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, diuretics, oral contraceptives and medroxyprogesterone acetate.
Taking any of these drugs should only be considered as the last treatment option. Only when the symptoms are unbearable and when no other natural remedies seem to alleviate the condition. But keep in mind, that none of these treatments has been shown to be uniformly effective. Relief of symptoms really varies from the severity of the PMS and from woman to woman. That is why it is necessary to consult with a health professional before undergoing any of these treatment options. Sometimes, drugs don’t even have to be involved in relieving the symptoms. All it would take are changes in the way you live. As mentioned, it could be self-help like being conscious of the food that you eat and becoming more active.
