How to Cope With Period Symptoms

A period, also known as menstruation, is the monthly bleeding that a teenage girl or woman experiences. It can range from a very light to very heavy flow. A period is part of a woman's menstrual cycle, which, on average, lasts approximately 28 days. Teenage girls sometimes have cycles that last from 21 to 45 days, while adult women may have a cycle that ranges from 21 to 35 days. During a period, you may experience a wide range of symptoms, like cramping in the lower abdomen, water retention in the legs and trunk, breast tenderness, dizziness, a decrease in energy levels, acne, changes in appetite, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, depression and decreased coordination. You do not have to suffer in silence, though. There are steps you can take to bring yourself comfort.

Things You'll Need

• Pain reliever
• Bubble bath
• Tampons or sanitary napkins
• Heating pad
• Muscle rub
• Tea, coffee or soda

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Instructions

• 1

  Take a pain reliever like Ibuprofen or Tylenol to help deal with any aches and pains you may be experiencing as a result of your period. If you experience migraines during your period, try taking a migraine-specific pain reliever.

• 2

  Take a warm bubble bath. If you are unsure about taking a bath because you use sanitary napkins instead of tampons, taking a shower will work, as well. If you do wear tampons, a bubble bath is perfectly safe. It will help you relax, as well as relieve your body's aches and pains.

• 3

  Place a heating pad on your lower abdomen. Wrap a towel around the heating pad to prevent your skin from overheating. If you don't have a heating pad, you can use a hot water bottle. You can also use a water or soda bottle filled with hot water. Placing it on your lower abdomen can relieve cramping pain.

• 4

  Rub muscle rub into your lower abdomen or use a pain-relief patch. Items like BenGay can be bought in a topical form or as a patch. These patches can be placed on your lower abdomen or lower back and may work for up to eight hours (and sometimes longer).

• 5

  Go for a walk, go swimming or perform some mild aerobics. Exercise can help relieve some menstrual pain and cramping. It can also help with any mood swings, depression and irritability you may be experiencing.

• 6

  Drink a cup of tea. Some teas, like chamomile, mint or ginger root, can give you a sense of well-being and lessen your pain from menstrual cramping.

• 7

  Cut back on your caffeine intake. High levels of caffeine can increase premenstrual and menstrual symptoms. However, caffeine is often recommended for headaches, especially migraines. Pain relievers are available for purchase that contain caffeine additives. If you take a pain reliever that does not have a caffeine additive, you can drink a cup of coffee or tea or a carbonated drink, like soda.

• 8

  Wash your face with a mild soap or acne wash. If you use an acne wash, make sure it's one that works on your skin and won't cause excessive drying.