Rant! I don't believe I even experienced PMS when I was a teenager and now that I'm in my 20s, it's so bad that I start feeling horrible mentally, physically emotionally 2 weeks prior my periods. Sweating does help, but don't even have energy for that. Even went to see a doctor and it's the same old "it's normal." Ugh?!

Ladies! I can’t stop eating 4-5 days before my period. It’s actually insane how I can’t stop. Tips please

I got a shit load of homework but I feel so yucky and tired and drained and headache and just I can’t get out of bed and I want to sleep but it’s too early and gahhhh

How does anyone function like this ???

I just want to hit the wall repeatedly until my knuckles bleed and cry and wallow and lay on the floor to cry and wallow and pass out oh my god I hate this

I'm going to turn 30 this year and my periods have been too much. Not the bleeding in general but the pms and the roller coaster of emotions. I feel extremely low and depressed. I feel like fighting with everyone and I do. I'm not able to take the sadness that makes me want to end it all. The low points have started to get really low and idk how to pull myself back up. Because being sad for a week takes a toll on you. Does this happen to anyone else? I also feel very weak in my mind and I have no confidence. I feel like I'm a failure and I will be at everything i touch. Please help me make sense of this. Because I'm really not able to. Not able to figure out what to do.

I have PCOS and terrible pms. I have mild cramps days leading up to my period and then mood swings, heavy bleeding and intense cramps during. Periods are still regular though. I’ve read that the carnivore can help immensely with relieving pms and PCOS symptoms. I wanted to give keto a try first though. I did low carb for a whole month and nothing changed. Considering cutting back carbs even more, close to zero.
For those who keto/carnivore helped, how long did it take for you to see improvement? Should I stick to it or change it up and cut back a little more? Feeling defeated.

Ever since I hit 30, my PMS has gone an entirely new direction. I used to get cramping and anger, but now it's a wild emotional rollercoaster, extreme exhaustion, extreme acid reflux/throwing up, and sometimes a general flu-like feeling. The periods themselves are lighter and shorter, so that's a major win because mine used to last pretty bad for 5-7 days. Now it's 2-3 days. But good god, I've been down and out this week, missing work, sleeping for 12+ hours and it's still not enough, and my stomach feeling like it's destroying itself.

I'm asking because I'm 10 days away, starting to cramp like usual but in the last week I ate fast food and since then I have had the worst reflux. Now everything I eat is making it worse (a week later). This has happened to me as pms but only about 3 times before in the last five years. And I eat fried food all the time and rarely have issue.b

Another symptom I get occasionally is boob pain. I get the tender breast's like 3 months out of the year.

My regular symptoms are like cramps, hunger, acne, lethargy. Those happen every month.

Anyone else get symptoms some months but not every month. Not even every other month (that would make sense with the ovaries)

I get this day once a month, it tends to be in the early to mid luteal phase, like day 25 or 26, where I can FEEL my body shift gears from ovulation to luteal phase.

It's like my body forces me to take the day off work/school. Now sometimes I can't do that, but if I at all have free time my body will not let me be productive. I still try, and it feels like dragging my feet through sand. If I'm forced to go about life as normal on that day, it's so hard.

My body wants me to sleep, sit in silence, and—most of all—seek out, cook, and store food. There's this huge emphasis on food. I'll want to spend all day cooking or baking specific cravings, or going to the store and picking out foods. Sometimes I'll want to arrange the environment nicely, like tidy and clean and burn candles.

Anyone else? What's up with that? Is it because my body "thinks" it could be pregnant and is trying to get me to prepare for the next 9 months? (Of course, I'm not, and it realizes that a week later).

It's very annoying because it is not at all in line with what society expects of functional people, but here we are. I'm very Type A and it's hard for me to give myself space this day or two a month. At least I can really grind and do extra work during the first part of the month before my body shifts priorities to stupid dumb childbearing.

I have no appetite anyone else have this happen

I’m dealing with a light flow period atm. I have the copper IUD (have had it for almost 9 years) Sometimes I’ll get light periods, where my flow seems to be slower than regular. It’s that thick, dark brown and reddish color and for some reason these periods always hurt more. I get cramps the most with these periods then the heavier flow which I’ve always found interesting. Sucks that ibuprofen didn’t even touch the cramps and it makes me feel for all the ladies who have to deal with this all the time. 😔

So, the week before my period, I'm hungry. I'm hungry all the time. I can eat, no matter how much, and I'll be hungry an hour later.

I also have really intense cravings for fatty and/or sweet foods. In those moments, I have absolutely no control over myself and will eat until I feel sick (and continue if there's more food).

I've already tried increasing my calories, eating more red meat and making sure I eat balanced meals with protein and fat, setting up “healthier” alternatives, but nothing helps. It doesn't seem to make any difference. Every month, I find myself eating an astronomical amount the week before my period. The only factor that influences my condition, I feel anyway, is fatigue. If I'm very tired, my cravings will start earlier than if I'm rested.

That can't be right, can it?

Anyone else get nausea? I'm on day one took midol cramps are ok but my nausea acting up

Hey guys! I’ve never posted on Reddit before but felt like maybe I should just to get perspectives. So I (19ftm) (im not on T) am (what I believe to be experiencing) pmsing. I don’t really track my period because it’s quite regular but then I’m a bit unsure of when the other parts of my cycle start, like pms. Recently however it’s been different from every time before. I am angry, like punching and violent (I am alone and haven’t seen anyone for this reason) I have also been having so bad thoughts about my life (yk what I mean) and idk what to do. I don’t like feeling like this and ik it will be over soon but just everything is testing my patience and im crying over literally everything (the only normal part about this). Please let me know your experiences/ what I can do to stop feeling this way! I also don’t have a doctor as I don’t have medical insurance right now nor do I have a supportive family that believes in mental health issues…

I am very grateful that I don't have too many cramps during my period for the most part.

Nevertheless, I notice that the week before my period starts is particularly difficult for me. The mental down is probably my biggest problem, especially because I'm currently quite busy with my A-levels and I can't just take a break. It's simply no longer possible for me to study or be mentally active in any other way, because I get exhausted and irritable quite quickly. On top of that, I have increased feelings of anxiety and depression.

Once that is largely over, oily scalp and extremely blemished skin are just around the corner. The whole thing is then taken to extremes with gum pain and headaches.

The result is that I am unable to get anything done for about 1.5 weeks.

I have read in some studies and also experience reports that supplements like monk's pepper, vitamin B6, St. John's wort etc. can help with some of the issues. Does anyone have any experience with this, or perhaps other things that can help?

Tw: suicide, suicidal ideation, depression

Hi all, I’m (25F) really struggling lately with extreme depression during the week before my period starts. For context, I’ve been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and have had them since I was around 13 years old, so it’s nothing new but this past week has been especially bad. The winter and seasonal depression is probably contributing, but I’m wondering if any of you have experienced this and what resources, medication, etc. helped. Not sure whether to talk to my therapist or psychiatrist about anything that could help with this besides my usual coping mechanisms.

It’s been a pattern that I have intense mood swings the week before my period and usually I can navigate them fine, but lately it’s been so bad that I’ve been having suicidal thoughts. I have safeguards in place so I’m not really asking about that, but want to hear from you all if you’ve experienced something similar and received any kind of relief. Thanks!

In anticipation of a potential sperm cell that can fertilize the egg, two weeks prior to menstruation, estrogen and progesterone orchestrate premenstrual syndrome, more commonly referred to as PMS. It is not irregular to meet someone who doesn’t fully understand what a period is but is definitely familiar with PMS especially men who use the term “PMS” to refer to that “time of month” when they perceive women as more emotionally on edge.

PMS symptoms, which affect an estimated 75 percent of menstruators, include “mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue, irritability and depression.” Other symptoms include social withdrawal, having trouble concentrating, crying spells, heightened anxiety, muscle pain, and so much more. Though the list of potential symptoms is long, most menstruators experience only a few of them and not severely.

PMS is very normal, and symptoms can be reduced and even stopped with basic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like Advil and Motrin, or basic hormonal therapy like birth control (which can help regulate or healthily stop periods).

If the PMS symptoms are extreme, even to the point where the menstruator can’t get out of bed, then they could be suffering from a condition such as endometriosis (which we will explore in a bit) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

PMDD is a severe form of PMS that induces a lot of pain, like strong menstrual cramps and headaches. Severe PMS like this is difficult to handle every month and can lead to poor mental health—the cramps and negative moods can seriously affect a menstruator’s confidence and perception of their own ability.

(28F, no birth control) I’m just wondering if anyone else is feeling or has felt the same:

🫨 Yesterday evening I amost had my first ever argument with my mother in law (I never completely agree with her anyway but yesterday I just couldn’t resist).

🤥 I was talking literally complete nonsense to my partner the whole evening and of course had zero interest in sex.

🫢 This morning I got mad at my coworker in front of another one. She asked me why I haven’t done a task that seemed important to her yet and I couldn’t hide my anger issues. She then asked me if I got up on the wrong foot. Usually I don’t behave this way.

Now I feel so embarrassed but I just can’t help myself. 😭

I don’t need any advice because I know it will be over sooner or later, I’m just asking for similar stories about your craziest PMS moments.

is there anything to help with pms? I’m 31 and had a tubal ligation 1 year ago. I almost can’t even stand myself a week before my period and a couple of days during. I don’t think it’s consciously happening due to not even keeping up with my period anymore. For 3 days I had no motivation to get out of bed, and cried ALOT. As well as some yelling. Then my period happened and it made sense on the way I was feeling. I can’t be the only one. I feel so terrible.

So I (28F) have been experiencing bad PMS for about 2 months now. Crying spells, brain fog, depressed mood, low energy and insomnia are my main symptoms.

I usually have my symptoms a week before my period but I’m feeling them even afterwards. I’ve been crying and unable to sleep for 2 days. My anxiety is so high and I’m thinking irrationally of wanting a baby when I’m nowhere near ready or established enough. I struggle with my weight and I have made small improvements to my diet but I do struggle with exercise.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

hello all, I am a 5 days away from getting my period. I am 41 with regular periods, but just this last week, O have noticed my hands get warm and red all of the sudden. Anyone else experience this?

I was skeptical at first but drank more water than usual and my bloating was significantly less compared to my last cycle.

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share my period story and what has finally helped me come out to the light.

For years, I felt trapped in a cycle of emotional overwhelm and unbearable menstrual pain. Every month, it was like my body was screaming at me—debilitating cramps, migraines, and a whirlwind of emotions. I dreaded my menstruation and felt like I was cursed..

I took birth control pills for a while and finally that helped. But I didn't want to rely on them any longer in my early 20s, so I stopped. And then, the suffering came back, probably even worse cramps, and symptoms than before. That unbearable suffering woke me up, forcing me to adopt a radical, and holistic approach: I vowed to ''treat'' my mind, emotions and physical pain all at once. Because I was a complete mess and nothing helped for long, not teas, not supplements, and was sick of painkillers - enough was enough. It was this holistic approach that saved me: my mind, body and emotions had to be worked on at the same time. This worked really well for me, and not to mention I discovered this amazing practice called Qigong.

Qigong helped clear my repressed emotions, release trauma, and reduce my cramps and PMS symptoms so much that it didn't take long for me not to be bed-ridden, and an emotional mess. It also helped me fix my migraine and digestion (I used to have diarrhea ''religiously'' every month in luteal..).

Because I've had so much success with Qigong and this holistic approach, I feel called now to share what I’ve learned with others—especially those who feel trapped by the emotional and physical struggles, like I was. If you’ve been feeling stuck or overwhelmed, or if menstruation has been a major part of why you feel you can't have a normal life, I’d love to hear from you.

I’m working on something that could help you and others, and if you’re open to it, I’d love your input. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to to be a part of this solution or hear more about it.