How to Use Stress Management to Manage PMS

When premenstrual syndrome (PMS) rears its ugly head, stress can seem unmanageable. This is due to weakened emotional defenses. Women often feel a loss of control as a result of aggravated hormone levels. Searching for alternative methods of stress management can result in the discovery of positive and healthy ways to manage emotions on difficult PMS days.

Instructions

Explore Options for PMS-Related Stress Management

• 1

  Listen to music to change your mindset. Music is a powerful anecdote for a bad mood. Counteract feelings of depression and elevate your energy level by listening to lively rhythms.

• 2

  Try to manage stress by getting an extra hour of sleep to prevent feelings of burnout. Women report that PMS produces mild to extreme levels of exhaustion.

• 3

  Opt for physical manipulation, such as massage, to relieve PMS muscle aches, stiffness and soreness. Working out the stiffness provides immediate relief of pain and may work to release stress-producing toxins.

• 4

  Meditate to relieve p.m.S stress. Meditation offers an environment in which you can free yourself from distraction and delve into deeper clarity of mind.

• 5

  Use aromatherapy to relax your mind and body. Calming botanicals, such as lavender, have been used for centuries, offering the potential for natural relief from headaches, anxiety and insomnia.

• 6

  Learn simple breathing exercises to channel away negativity and stress.

• 7

  Strike up a conversation with yourself. Use positive self-talk as a stress management tool that can be modified to manage PMS symptoms. Visit TopTen.org and read articles about self-talk to better understand how to make your own positive suggestions (see Resources below).

• 8

  Meet with a life-skills coach if you are on a tight budget, but need professional assistance with stress relief. Life coaches tend to charge lower hourly rates than psychologists and can often provide relevant coping tips.

• 9

  Schedule an acupuncture appointment to deal with PMS-related stress. Acupuncture may provide help with not just emotional distress, but also physical discomfort. Read about acupuncture for PMS at Acupuncture.com (see Resources below).