Science says: this is why you cry more during your menstruation
It's that time again: where just two weeks ago I felt like a woman of the world, that confidence has completely faded this week along with the music. I feel fat, ugly, pimples are starting to form on my chin that no one asked for, and I find myself caught in a mega crying fit over the slightest thing. Any man who would now ask, ‘Are you on your period or something?’ is not safe in his life, but the answer is of course ‘yes’. Right now, hormones are raging through my body at a chaotic pace, believing that the absence of my favorite KitKat in the supermarket is definitely worth a good cry. But why do you actually cry so much more during your period?
Hormones drop to freezing point
To understand this well, you first need to rewind two weeks back to the moment of your ovulation, to be precise. Your estrogen and progesterone levels are at their highest at that moment, making you feel your best. You have energy, feel attractive, and you actually look better at that moment. Research shows that women have slightly more symmetry in their faces during ovulation. The reason? To make them more attractive to the opposite sex, which ultimately triggers reproduction. What simple beings we are, huh?
After your ovulation, these hormone levels drop and take a large amount of serotonin (the substance that regulates your feeling of happiness) with them. Due to the lack of these substances, it becomes harder to relax, as serotonin also ensures a good night's sleep. This makes you tired, grumpy, and you cry more easily due to the stress this brings.
Comfort food
You also crave comfort food much more during your period, which contains far fewer nutrients than you need at that moment. Although a sugar and carbohydrate overload might feel good in the moment (a study by The Obesity Society even showed that eating carbohydrates can have a positive effect on your mood), the inevitable sugar crash that follows leads to even deeper feelings of depression. The same goes for alcohol: besides the fact that it can worsen your cramps, it also opens the door to feelings of sadness and irritation. Better to avoid it.
What can you do about it?
1. Eat foods rich in Omega-3, such as fatty fish. Don't like that? Then take supplements. It has been shown that Omega-3 can reduce depressive feelings.
2. I know, I don't want to hear this either, but exercising really seems to help. Besides the fact that it reduces your cramps and bloating, movement also produces endorphins, which help stabilize your mood.
3. Distracting yourself by meeting friends or planning a date with your couch and your favorite feel-good series is always a good idea. My personal favorite: New Girl.
4. Give yourself enough rest by establishing a good evening routine. Turn off your phone on time, take a warm shower before getting into bed, stay away from caffeine, and remember: this too shall pass. For the next three weeks, at least.
Source: Healthline
