“Men calling women hormonal. Pretty much, it’s the number one hobby of mankind of all time. A man is allowed to call a woman hormonal just whenever a woman says or does something a man failed to predict.” Hannah Gadsby, Douglas
Research has shown above 150 symptoms for the perimenstrual syndrome. Yes, that’s how nuanced PMS is. Yet it’s either ignored as ‘imaginary’ or turned into a hormonal frenzy beyond human comprehension but a simultaneous good content for casual sexism. This article is a sneak-peak into some nuances of PMS as felt by menstruators.
The PMS Tracker
Days of extreme rush ending on lonely thoughts that make me cry inconsolably through a few sleepless nights—that’s my period alarm. PMS is one of the ways menstruators can predict the arrival of a period.
Nayanika Basu Roy says, “…I tend to have a cry, usually in the week before my date. It works as a pretty accurate signal of arrival.” S. Jose* says a few days/week before her period she feels like curling up in a corner along with slight abdominal pain. “That’s how I know my period is about to start,” she says.
The PMS Upheavals
“It doesn’t have to be sad. I could see a cute puppy and burst into tears.” S.Jose* writes.
I remember crying over a dead mosquito once. PMS causes stress and inexplicable emotional changes. Many face PMDD, a debilitating form of PMS. Hormonal changes during PMS leads to heightened sensitivity and an unmanageable rush.
Sona Mathew writes, “Sometimes I am so high that I feel like I am on drugs. Then I will suddenly switch to sadness. I could cry for hours without a break for no reason. Tears come out, and you just can’t control.”
The gendered conception around period as a ‘lady-thing’ contributes to gender dysphoria among non binary, trans people, and intersex persons. Diban says, “I hope to get rid of it. Some of my friends, also transmen, spiral out of control during this time as their cycle becomes mentally unbearable.”
Sohini writes, “Period exacerbates my depression, anxiety, and emotional instability as I feel more overwhelmed and less in control of my feelings.” PMS is also exceedingly difficult for people struggling with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and more. “I am diagnosed with PTSD. So my period isn’t regular, and when I have missed periods my stress, anxiety, fear levels become very high, and I become a total mess during my periods.” S.Jose* writes.
Vina J* writes “I’m already dealing with depression, anxiety, insomnia, eating disorders. I get panic attacks…so menstruation and PMS added to all of this is really hard to handle, but it’s been years now, I’m getting used to it.”
The PMS Pain
The physical pains of PMS also vary. It ranges from abdominal cramps to waist and leg pains. Riya* says, “My breasts become heavier, my abdomen and vaginal region pains.” Abdominal and vaginal cramps, swelling, tenderness, and soreness in breasts are among the common symptoms of PMS.
Primary dysmenorrhea is experienced by most menstruators, while people with cysts, PCOS, endometriosis/underlying conditions experience secondary dysmenorrhoea. Gangabhavani M shared with me in an interview, how she gets fever alongside body, leg, and abdominal pain. Her severity spikes if she misses hormone therapy. Ambalika writes, “My uterus is retroverted and thus blocks the passage making my cycle a nightmare to experience.”
The PMS Negativity
“There’s usually no positive emotions during periods. It is like a grey cloud is hanging over my head during those days,” writes S.Jose*. When negative emotions hold one hostage during PMS, it becomes extremely difficult to come out of it. Riya* says, “I feel the need for affection from people. I feel extremely sad and irritated at times and end up shouting on family members without intending to do so.”
“Since I stay alone“, Pausali says, “those days I emotionally feel quite lonely. I don’t feel like getting out of bed.” Aside from craving affection, one response read, “I love being left alone these days.”
The PMS Nightmare
Periods are a nightmare and also come with some. Many people tend to sleep a lot because of fatigue, cramps, and general discomfort. The fatigue also causes sleeping disorders.
“I generally tend to be upset and have depressing thoughts during that time, it’s really hard to get rid of them because I also have terrible dreams.” writes Vina J.*
Constantly fluctuating hormones meddle with the sleep pattern. Survey responses revealed sleeping issues, nightmares, and vivid dreams as a PMS experience for many. Urna writes, “I also sleep a lot more during this time, and have vivid, emotionally draining dreams.” These dreams are caused by and also end up adding to the stress.
The PMS Diet
PMS cravings often work as balms for emotional upheavals. Sohini Banerjee writes how she switched to period drinks and chocolates to reduce medicine dependency for cramps. Junk food cravings spike for many. Riya* craves “or good food and chocolate and ice cream, it helps me to stay calm and distract myself from my physical and emotional experiences.”
PMS induces different food cravings in people. Shrabana Chatterjee writes, “I have cravings for cold food like ice cream or shakes to help soothe the pain and my mind as well.” Some tend to eat more as Pausali Poddar writes, “Food cravings increase a lot, I almost have 5-6 meals a day then.” I cannot eat much because of nausea and am repelled by strong, fishy smells. If not hurting, I crave cold and light foods. Otherwise a savoury lover, my period-mind turns to sweets.