Hello, Serenities! Today, I’m going to talk about PMS and anxiety — why this subject, you ask me? Because today has been a shit show concerning hormones and anxiety.
Before I tell you about the scientific explanation, I want to express how ridiculous I have felt these past days.
It’s the week before my periods, and I usually feel tired. I have one symptom of PMS, and that’s it. I have endometriosis, so I’m on the pill continuously, even during my periods, so they are short, and I’m not complaining. But this month, boy, this month is testing me. My breasts hurt, I’m pissed off at everything, I want to cry for nothing, I feel disgusting, I don’t feel comfortable, I’m bloated, constipated, hungry all day, tired, and migraine. Anyway, I’m ALL in.
On the first day of PMS, I cried because I was tired of myself. For more context, I have anxiety, and it touches pretty much everything in my life, including my social life. My boyfriend told me that his friend was inviting us for a casual Halloween evening, everything I love, so I should be ecstatic —no. My man knows what I need to know when we do this. He knows my questions and insecurities, so he will tell me everything I need to know before I ask them. This time, he did it again, which was impressive, but all I saw was that I was a burden. It’s not fair for him to go out with his friends is something easy for him, and it has become something difficult for him because of me because he has more factors to take in, and yes, I know that it’s part of being a couple and he doesn’t even mind or complain, he is perfect on that. It’s me who went into my head, and I started to bawl my eyes out, telling him he deserves better, someone who makes it easier for him. Right after that, I received my Kindle case — the wrong size, too big. I got pissed and cried. I stopped for a second and was like wait, what day are we? I looked at my pill and was like, “Ooooooh, I get it.” So, I got even more pissed at mother nature, I’m telling you, a shit show.
The next day, I was entirely and utterly constipated. It was a good day; I slept well (well, I beat), woke up early, and was productive until I couldn’t stand up straight, so much my stomach was hurting me. I went to the toilets and nothing. I started to feel the pain in my lower back, and it was hell. My stomach got big as if I was pregnant, and I knew it was my endometriosis. So, my amazing man made me a bath with dried leaves of lavender, thyme, and a bit of CBD to help me(and brought me my iPad and put on Gilmore Girls), of course with the water warm — almost burning, but I needed to bathe in the lava at this point. It helped the pain in my lower back, calmed me, and an hour later, my stomach became less bloated — thank god.
And today, it almost got the best of me. I woke up with a massive migraine, head spinning, and nausea; I could barely get up to take a painkiller, and I went back to sleep. My man woke up and asked me if I wanted coffee, and just me saying no to coffee was enough for him to know I was sick. He went to the kitchen for ten minutes to pour himself coffee and heat water for my tea. I got back to sleep. I slept three more hours, which is not me; I must get up once I’m awake. I wouldn’t say I like staying in bed and doing nothing. In the evening, it’s different, but in the morning, I can’t. So, he went to the drug store to ask for something to ease my pain and actually got back with meds that helped, and now I’m feeling better, but boy, oh boy, it’s a mess, and I’m not even on my periods yet... And I am not used to having all those symptoms simultaneously; it’s taking a toll on my energy. It’s nuts. But, I want to say with this first part of the article that I see you, hear you, and understand you. Before being with my boyfriend, I didn’t understand the importance of having the right partner during this month, but it makes all the difference to be understood and have someone to take care of you to help you feel better. I’m used to going through this alone ever since I left my parent’s house, and so having him taking care of me whenever my endometriosis is acting up or just my body doing its thing is impressive; in those moments, I want to cry tears of joy — and not just because of the hormones, even though a part of it is because of them. So if your partner is undermining you, telling you to quit being a drama queen, or telling you to suck it up, baby, I’m telling you, he’s not the one you want to have children with (if you want to at all), he’s not the one who’s going to take care of you if you get an illness, so please, chose someone that knows how to love you when you don’t have the energy to take care of you, to heal yourself.
Now, let’s go more into the scientific explanation as to why our hormones are linked to our anxiety.
Female hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone, play a significant role in influencing mood and anxiety. Fluctuations in these hormones can lead to changes in brain chemistry, which may increase vulnerability to anxiety in women at certain times of their lives. Here’s a breakdown of how different hormonal changes impact anxiety:
Menstrual Cycle
Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels regulate the menstrual cycle. These fluctuations can affect neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, both of which play a role in mood regulation and anxiety.
Follicular Phase (Day 1 to ovulation): During the first half of the cycle, estrogen levels gradually increase. Estrogen generally stabilizes and calms mood by enhancing the activity of serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to feelings of well-being.
Luteal Phase (Post-Ovulation): After ovulation, progesterone levels rise. Progesterone has both calming and anxiety-inducing effects. It stimulates GABA receptors, promoting relaxation, but in some women, it can also trigger irritability or anxiety, especially if there’s a sensitivity to progesterone’s metabolites (like allopregnanolone), which affect mood.
Premenstrual Phase (PMS): In the late luteal phase, estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply if pregnancy does not occur. This hormonal shift is linked to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and, in more severe cases, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), where symptoms include heightened anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone levels rise dramatically, which can cause mood swings and anxiety, especially in the first and third trimesters. The rapid hormonal changes can trigger anxiety in some women, while others may feel calmer due to the sedative effects of high progesterone levels.
However, postpartum (after childbirth) sees a sudden drop in these hormones, which can contribute to postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression.
Perimenopause and Menopause
During perimenopause (the years leading up to menopause), hormone levels, particularly estrogen, begin to fluctuate and eventually decline. This can lead to:
Increased anxiety: The drop in estrogen affects serotonin and other neurotransmitters linked to mood. Some women experience higher levels of anxiety, panic attacks, or irritability during this time.
Sleep disturbances: Hormonal changes can also cause night sweats and sleep issues, which indirectly worsen anxiety.
Post-menopausal: After menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels stabilize at low levels, but for some women, this can lead to continued anxiety or depression, particularly if they have a history of mood disorders.
Thyroid Function
The thyroid gland also interacts with female hormones, especially during pregnancy or menopause. Imbalances in thyroid hormones (either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism) can lead to anxiety and mood disturbances.
Neurotransmitter Interactions
Estrogen promotes the production and effectiveness of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which regulate mood and anxiety. When estrogen drops, such as during the luteal phase or menopause, serotonin levels also drop, potentially leading to anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Progesterone interacts with GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces anxiety. Its effects can be either calming or, for some, destabilizing, depending on how an individual’s brain reacts to these hormone fluctuations.
In conclusion — PMS & anxiety is,
The relationship between female hormones and anxiety is complex and individualized. Women are more likely to experience anxiety during periods of hormonal fluctuation, such as during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, and menopause. While estrogen tends to have a stabilizing effect on mood, progesterone can be both calming and anxiety-inducing, depending on the timing and the individual’s sensitivity to it. Hormonal fluctuations can directly impact the neurotransmitters in the brain, making women more vulnerable to anxiety at specific points in their reproductive lives.
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