One of the most difficult aspects of PMS and “that time of the month” can be figuring out how to deal with mood swings, in a healthy way, that will keep your loved ones from running the second they lay eyes on you. With that in mind, we here at womenonlife.com have come up with 10 of our favorite mood-swing busters.
No.1
Take a deep breath. When your temper is about to snap, or your find yourself fighting off an unexpected wave of tears, take a deep breath and count to ten.
No.2
Pick up a stress-relief, or a Vitamin B supplement from your local health-food store. Both supplements will provide you with a sense of calm, while Vitamin B will also give your brain an extra dose of mood-enhancement.
No.3
If you feel like you can no longer contain your emotions, take a break. Get outside and go for a ten-minute walk, or find a little space of sunshine and simply wallow in it. Clearing your head will help you approach life in a more balanced way.
No.4
Speaking of balance, taking some time each day to meditate or do meditative yoga, will give you the focus you need to stay calm throughout those days when unruly emotions seem to bubble up out of nowhere. If your not sure about using meditation as a way to deal with mood swings just give it a try. It can’t hurt, and if it simply doesn’t work, then cross it off the list and move on to the next item.
No.5
Go hide out on a tropical island somewhere. If nothing else helps to ease mood swings, getting away for a mini-vacation can do wonders. Don’t have time to explore Bora Bora? Hit up the local spa for a massage, or retreat to your home and strike up a tropical or foreign theme there. Giving yourself a dose of out-of-the-ordinary will pull your focus away from wildly swinging emotions and place it elsewhere.
No.6
Write a short note about every last aggravating and upsetting thing on your mind. Then after you’re finished venting, rip it up and toss it in the garbage. Simply unloading your frustrations (in a healthy way) can be great for dealing with mood swings.
No.7
Grab your friends and head out for the evening. Dancing, eating at a fine restaurant, or simply being with enjoyable company will do you a world of good. Don’t feel like interacting much with others? Go see the latest movie or play that’s been catching your eye for a while.
No.8
Put on some soothing music, lay down for a few minutes, and let yourself relax. Or, if it suits your mood better, blast those angry-girl jams and sing your emotions away. Just make sure the neighborhood cats aren’t lingering outside your window.
No.9
Be more forgiving and lenient with yourself during this time of the month. Instead of becoming frustrated because you can’t quite seem to get it together in a timely manner, give yourself extra time to work on projects. Hormones change and fluctuate throughout your cycle. Because of this, it makes sense to approach life in different ways based on where you stand that day.
No.10
Find your favorite comedian online, or join a laughing club (well ok maybe not, but it was worth a shot throwing that last one out there) – the point is that laughing can be a great antidote to mood-swings. As a bonus, laughing often will burn calories and make you look a little younger.
You may have your own ways for how to deal with mood swings and that’s great. Exploring all the options you can, will only add to your bag of tricks whenever mood swings come a knockin’ at your door.
I have found that mood swings may be a sign of pre-menopause. This can be a direct sign of hormonal imbalance.