mood swings

I was doing my work and got distracted, as usual. So I ended up googling up stuffs in the internet. Due to the lack of energy and mood swings I am currently experiencing ( in which I believe is caused by doing my uni works) i decided to google PMS ( PreMenstrual Syndrome ), although I do not believe that is the reason for my mood swings, atleast not yet. But having these uneasy feelings and anxieties reminded me of PMS.

And i ended up with some facts I was not aware before.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Premenstrual syndrome(known as PMS) involves a variety of physical, mental, and behavioral symptoms tied to a woman’s menstrual cycle. By definition, symptoms occur during the days before a woman's period starts. They usually go away after the first day or two of flow.

PMS is a complex health concern. Up to 80% of women experience some symptoms of PMS. Scientists cannot agree on its cause or the best way to treat PMS.

• PMS usually occurs in women in their fourth and fifth decades of life (aged 30-49 years). For a small number of women, it can be severely incapacitating. A woman who has had a hysterectomy(removal of the uterus) may still experience PMS if at least one ovary remains.

• Because many different processes may contribute to PMS, methods of treatment vary widely and can include medical and alternative approaches. Surgery is a last resort.

• As many as 3-8% of women may have a more severe condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMS and PMDD are not the same. Women with PMDD become seriously depressed for a week or more before their periods. PMS is shorter, usually milder, and involves more physical symptoms. The two may occur together, or a woman may have one and not the other.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Symptoms

• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): A woman with PMS will have monthly cycles of symptoms in mood, behavior, and/or physical functioning. Though bothersome, these symptoms are usually not severe enough to interrupt a normal lifestyle. Most women who experience PMS symptoms cope with symptoms at home. A few may seek medical care for very severe symptoms. These symptoms affect the following:

• Mood - Anxiety, nervousness, mood swings, irritability, depression, forgetfulness, confusion, imsomnia, hostility

• Behavior - Cravings for sweets, increased eating, crying, poor concentration, sensitivity to noise, changes in alcohol tolerance

• Physical functions - Headache, heart pounding, fatigue, dizziness, weight gain, bloating, breast swelling and tenderness, constipation or diarrhea

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): This is a more severe condition than PMS. It is only diagnosed when symptoms are so bad that they make it hard for a woman to function normally. While the mood symptoms are similar to the mood symptoms of PMS, they are worse and cause more problems. The physical symptoms of PMS may or may not be present.

• Like PMS, the symptoms of PMDD start 7-14 days before a woman's period and go away once the period starts. Unlike PMS, PMDD can seriously affect a woman's daily activities. PMDD is diagnosed as a mental health disorder.

• A woman may have PMDD if she has 5 or more of the following symptoms during the premenstrual week and for most cycles during the past year:
  • Depression (feeling despair or hopelessness, not just sadness)
  • Anxiety (keyed up, on edge)
  • Severe mood swings (feeling suddenly sad or extremely sensitive to rejection)
  • Anger or irritability
  • Decreased interest in usual activities (work, school, friends, hobbies)
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Decreased energy
  • Appetite changes (overeating or cravings for certain foods)
  • Sleep problems (can’t sleep or wake up early, or oversleeping)
  • Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
  • Physical symptoms, such as bloating, breast tenderness or headaches

• If these symptoms do not occur in sync with the menstrual cycle, the woman may have some other medical or mental health condition.

• The symptoms of PMDD end with menopause, when menstruation stops and the levels of hormones that regulate menstruation no longer rise and fall each month.

hehe. emosi aku ah. Ok maybe it is not all brand new information, but it is still interesting. Women, since a long time ago, were often associated with mental illnesses and madness. It is still used to explain women's unusual behaviours. Men use it to put the blames on women, and women use it to disengage themselves from blames. See how that works?

Bah sudah. It's 22:25. sleep or work? we'll see. hehe.

toodles