How Menstruation Affects Mental Health

For every girl attaining maturity, and start of menstruation is a rite of passage. While being considered a huge sign of maturity and an important aspect of development for women, we are also taught to be as discreet about. Almost like we should be ashamed of it. We were always told to hide our sanitary pads as we take it to the washroom and talking publicly about our ‘chums’ is frowned upon.

However, in today’s world it is extremely important to broach this subject. The number of disorders linked with menstruation is on a constant rise. Diseases like PCOS and PMDD are becoming increasingly common. As much as these disorders require physical treatment, they also come with a number of psychological symptoms that are often brushed aside.

Menstruation

The dictionary defines menstruation as the monthly discharge of blood and mucosal tissue in non-pregnant women. On the outside it is seen as just this physiological process, but the entire cycle consists of a complex change in the level of various hormones in the body. These hormones don’t just play a physiological role but also influence certain psychological aspects as well.

The main hormones that play a role in menstruation are- Oestrogen, progesterone and follicle stimulating hormone. Oestrogen plays a role in influencing neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. Imbalances in these neurotransmitters play a role in mental illnesses like depression, anxiety and even schizophrenia. Progesterone on the other hand plays a role on the amygdala – the emotional epicentre of the brain. One research found that progesterone increases amygdala’s reactivity causing women, who took part in the research, to stress over small or even seeming inconsequential events.

This is not to mention the physical symptoms of the period itself, like cramps and nausea, that affect a woman’s functioning in their own way. There are other syndromes and disorders that are linked to the menstrual cycle and considering how common they are becoming it becomes all the more important to understand the.

PMS and PMDD

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a condition that affects almost 90% of women all over the world. These are signs or symptoms that present themselves before the occurrence of periods. These symptoms are both physical and emotional. While the physical symptoms can include cramps and nausea, the emotional symptoms include, restlessness, irritability, sadness, anxiety and extreme moodiness. These symptoms usually end after the end of the period.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is as extension of PMS that consists of extreme symptoms or signs of PMS that hinder day to day activities. PMDD affects 3%- 4% of menstruation women.

These two syndromes or disorders are only few of the many disorders linked to the menstrual cycle, I address the two only because they are the most common. Another aspect that is important to look into is how the menstrual cycle affect pre-existing or newly developed illnesses, especially mental illness.

Mental Illnesses and Periods

We understand that hormones effect mental health. The question arises how does the menstrual cycle influence existing mental illnesses. The menstrual cycle and the hormones that are involved in the cycle have shown to aggravate the symptoms involved in mood disorders, depression and anxiety.

A prime example of how mental illnesses can be affected by a physical disorder is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS). It is a disorder that comprises of hormonal imbalances linked to infertility, irregular periods, obesity and excessive facial hair. It has also been found to have links to anxiety, depression and eating disorders. In the case of PCOS there may not, necessarily, be a direct link between the disorder and mental illness, they may be subjected to a number of burdens and criticisms due to the physical manifestations of the disease. This is due to unrealistic expectations that society has created for how a woman must look in the world. Anyone who doesn’t fit that cookie cutter version of ‘women’ are looked down upon.

Broaching the subject has always been hard for women. For as long as we could remember we have always been told to keep quiet about and at any point if someone did bring it up outside of the doctor’s office it was often brushed aside as it being “part of womanhood”. Even on days when we go through extreme irritability and those, god forbidden cramps we are told to hide it and just deal with on the precedent that “every woman goes through this”.

Other than being on the receiving end of a PMS or period joke, we as women have never been encouraged to explore the symptoms that we feel as a result of the menstrual cycle. As women we must educate ourselves. Every woman is subject to different forms of symptoms and signs and the more we learn to be aware of them, the more likely are we to be able to address them.

We are in a new era; it’s a new decade and it is high time that we as women acknowledge what we go through so we can make our lives a little easier. We have to take care of our health and exercise in order to manage the symptoms of PMS. If we do feel symptoms that are physically or emotionally distressing, we have to seek help from a gynaecologist and psychologist to see the best way to manage these symptoms so they do not hinder are day to day functioning. At a personal we have to make the necessary changes to empower ourselves.

At an individual level we can be a little more understanding of those around us. The women in our own life who seem to be going through a tough time need our support and understanding. Almost every girl is subject to some form of PMS while some are not, thus it becomes all the more important to be all the more patient and understanding to one another.

On a societal level we have to acknowledge that having periods and the symptoms that come with it is a normality. We have to learn to sensitise not only ourselves but those around us. We need to make it part of the education system so young boys are sensitised and young girls are prepared for what is to come and recognise the various symptoms that are linked to the menstrual cycle.

There is no doubt that menstruation is a regularity and the symptoms and problems that accompany it is normal as well. This does not mean that we disregard them, rather it means that we understand them and take the necessary steps to make sure that that get in the way of our dreams and aspirations.