My 14-year-old daughter, who started menstruating last year, gets moody and irritable two days before her periods and remains disturbed throughout the phase. How should I explain to her so she can manage her moods better?
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Hello Anna, thank you for sharing your concern. Mothers must come forward to seek information on such matters that can significantly affect their daughter’s state of mind during periods.
First, I would like to share with you the physiological backdrop of menstruation. In the initial years, most young girls suffer from Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). This occurs due to the cyclical changes in the hormones called progesterone and estrogen.
The hormonal fluctuation leads to physiological shifts that impact mood and behavior.
The most common symptoms of PMS are cramps, or dysmenorrhea, which are triggered by the contractions of the uterine walls as they expel the discarded blood lining. This loss of blood is accompanied by discomfort, fatigue, irritability, and lethargy.
With time, the hormonal imbalances stabilize, and the body adjusts to them. However, many girls and women can have severe PMS.
I would advise you to have a gentle, reassuring talk with your daughter about the effects of menstruation, particularly of her symptoms and distress. Help her to understand the changes in her body and how they impact her. Assure her that she can always talk to you about what she is experiencing. This will make her feel that she is not alone in her situation.
Is she eating the proper foods?
An effective way to minimize PMS is through diet. Ensure your daughter eats whole grains, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits every day, so her levels of iron, potassium, B complex vitamins are replenished. This will help her to deal better with PMS. Include vitamin B6 also in her daily routine during the periods.
Whenever possible, your daughter should soak in some sunshine to build up her reserves of Vitamin D.
Another way she can ease her cramps is to use a hot water bag and take it easy during the heavy-flow days.
Along with proper diet and nutrition, please provide her plenty of love, assurance and emotional support and encourage other family members to do the same. It will help her transition through the days with confidence and calm.
Psychologists also suggest that young girls be encouraged to keep a menstruation journal to channel their thoughts. This journaling can be a valuable way of understanding their own emotions and responses and modifying them accordingly.
Hello Anna, thank you for sharing your concern. Mothers must come forward to seek information on such matters that can significantly affect their daughter’s state of mind during periods.
First, I would like to share with you the physiological backdrop of menstruation. In the initial years, most young girls suffer from Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS). This occurs due to the cyclical changes in the hormones called progesterone and estrogen.
The hormonal fluctuation leads to physiological shifts that impact mood and behavior.
The most common symptoms of PMS are cramps, or dysmenorrhea, which are triggered by the contractions of the uterine walls as they expel the discarded blood lining. This loss of blood is accompanied by discomfort, fatigue, irritability, and lethargy.
With time, the hormonal imbalances stabilize, and the body adjusts to them. However, many girls and women can have severe PMS.
I would advise you to have a gentle, reassuring talk with your daughter about the effects of menstruation, particularly of her symptoms and distress. Help her to understand the changes in her body and how they impact her. Assure her that she can always talk to you about what she is experiencing. This will make her feel that she is not alone in her situation.
Is she eating the proper foods?
An effective way to minimize PMS is through diet. Ensure your daughter eats whole grains, legumes, fresh vegetables and fruits every day, so her levels of iron, potassium, B complex vitamins are replenished. This will help her to deal better with PMS. Include vitamin B6 also in her daily routine during the periods.
Whenever possible, your daughter should soak in some sunshine to build up her reserves of Vitamin D.
Another way she can ease her cramps is to use a hot water bag and take it easy during the heavy-flow days.
Along with proper diet and nutrition, please provide her plenty of love, assurance and emotional support and encourage other family members to do the same. It will help her transition through the days with confidence and calm.
Psychologists also suggest that young girls be encouraged to keep a menstruation journal to channel their thoughts. This journaling can be a valuable way of understanding their own emotions and responses and modifying them accordingly.