It happens. The boss gives us a head wash and we burst into tears. Or we see a scene of tenderness between a mother and her baby and the tears escape. Or again, we feel particularly sad and we just want to stay closed in on ourselves and maybe let off steam, crying. It happens to us women. They say, “What is it, are you on hormones?” or “Are you in precycle?”
“They are not jokes at all, but the truth – says the doctor Manuela Farrisgynecologist – Il period certainly affects hormone production in the female body: in particular, the progesterone during the second half of the cycle it turns into allopregnanolonewhich acts in the brain on the gabaergic systemwhich is responsible for the production of serotonin, also called the good mood hormone. It goes without saying that in the first half of the cycle, there are some emotional fluctuations different, if not opposite, with possible episodes of irritability, anger, sadness, anxiety e anhedonia (inability to enjoy activities that are generally considered pleasant, such as food or sex).
There premenstrual syndrome is theheterogeneous set of physical and psycho-behavioral disordersin the absence of organic or psychiatric pathologies, that recur repeatedly in the luteal phase of the cycle and which regress after menstruation and which interfere in a woman’s life. It affects approx between 20 and 30% of the female population in reproductive age and manifests itself with various symptoms, more or less mild.
“THE symptoms can result in headache, widespread swelling, insomnia, abdominal cramps, skin changes, weight gain, poor appetite, and even mood alterations – comments Farris – Everything is in diagnosing the severity of the syndrome: if the symptoms are mild we are in the ‘scope of a simple PMS, but if the symptoms increase in quantity and intensity, then we are faced with a Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder“.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is aaccentuation of the psychic picture of the premenstrual syndromecurrently classified in the DSM V among depressive disorders and present in a very small part of the female population of reproductive age (3%). “For there to be a diagnosis of Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, they need to show up more than 5 physical symptoms – behavioral of the 23 reported among those that characterize premenstrual syndrome, of which at least one of psychological origin – continues Farris – Not only: of these symptoms the psychological ones must cause the patient a significant distress, thus interfering in relationships and normal daily life. But beware: being a disorder related to menstruationit must occur in the week before the onset of the cycle, and then improve in the following days, until it disappears in the first weeks of the new menarche. They are certainly not exacerbations of other psychiatric symptomssuch as major depressive disorders, panic or personality disorders ».
In both cases, the consultation of a specialist doctor, such as the gynecologist, who will be able to recommend the best treatment, based on the patient’s clinical history. “In any case, I suggest one psychological support therapy, if the symptoms are highly disabling or not very bearable (restlessness, anxiety, irritability). To support or alternatively, we usually resort to contraceptive pill, which also has a hormonal regulating function; finally, it can be a great relief maintain a healthy lifestylewith healthy behaviors, such as avoiding alcohol and smoking, responsible for mood alterations and possibly engaging in physical activities compatible with one’s state of health “.
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Source: Vanity Fair
