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What Are the Symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?
Looking at the lists below, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the many ways PMS can affect you physically and emotionally. Relax. Most women have just a few of these symptoms, and you only have to worry about those that pertain to you. What’s more, there’s a wide range of treatments available – from simple lifestyle changes to prescription medications.
The symptoms of PMS can be summarized under two separate categories: physical and emotional. Consulting the lists below could be very useful in starting a discussion next time you talk with your healthcare provider.
Level with your loved ones
The ups and downs you experience before your period are very real. But other people may not realize your mood swings have a biological base. That’s why it’s important to confide in those who matter and tell them how you’re feeling. If you’ve been hard to live with, it’s okay to explain why a little patience is necessary. And sometimes love means having to say you’re sorry. The symptoms of PMS are tough, but you don’t have to go through them alone.
If you experience an extreme version of any of the above symptoms, especially the emotional ones, and if they significantly interfere with your quality of life, you may have a condition other than PMS. Doctors call this condition PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
