S.O.S for PMS by Mary M. Byers

Please welcome Mary M. Byers to Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted author of S.O.S. for PMS: Practical Help for Moms (and who doesn’t need practical help)

If you struggle with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) each month, you’re not alone. According to WebMD, up to 85% of women experience symptoms ranging from backaches and headaches to irritability, depression, feeling overwhelmed and outright rage. For moms the emotional symptoms can be the most troubling because what affects you also affects your family. The good news is that there is help. Follow these tips to reduce the chances that you’ll turn into Dr. Jekyll and Mrs. Hyde each month.

Chart your symptoms for three months. Use a blank calendar page to note the beginning and end of your menstrual cycle and jot down your symptoms prior to, and during your period.  Do this for three months or longer so you can see your personal pattern emerge. The longer you do it, the better your information will be.
Recognize that knowledge is power. Use what you’ve learned about your cycle to change your PMS response. Schedule more lightly on your toughest days. Ask for help from friends or your spouse when you know your patience will be at its lowest. Don’t make decisions when you’re feeling overwhelmed or depressed.
Identify your triggers. If grocery shopping with your kids when you have PMS makes you crazy, don’t do it. If meal time is difficult for you when you are irritable or feeling blue, ask to be excused

(and let your hubby make pancakes!).  If acting as homework proctor stresses you when you have PMS, ask an older child or your spouse to step in. Though you may feel you’re shirking your responsibilities, it makes more sense to have an alternate plan than it does to set a bad example by having a meltdown in front of your children every month.

Use free coping techniques first. Minor adjustments in nutrition, exercise, stress levels, and sleep patterns can make a big difference in reducing the severity of PMS. Take a personal inventory, decide where you need to focus your efforts, and then begin making changes a little at a time.

See your doctor if symptoms persist. If the above tips don’t help, take your symptom chart to your physician and ask for help. Though diagnosing PMS can be tricky, it will be easier for your physician to work with you if she has your history and a list of your symptoms. Medication may be an option for you. If so, know that dosages can be set low and some prescriptions can be used on an “as needed” basis.

Remain committed. Though it’s not easy to change your response to PMS each month, it is possible. Don’t lose heart if you blow up this month and slide into depression next month. Most likely you’ll gain control a little at a time. It’s important to be kind to yourself as you work to change your personal PMS response. Kindness, more than anything, has the ability to change you from the inside out.

Mary M. Byers is popular women’s conference speaker and the author of The S.O.S. for PMS: Practical Help and Relief for Moms.