People who experience this syndrome often have a difficult premenstrual period. Because this syndrome can sometimes cause women to feel depressed and have difficulty in their daily work. Perhaps there are many among our readers who also suffer from this problem. Most of the time, the psychological effects of this syndrome are overlooked, as it focuses on the physiological effects.
Clinical Psychologist Kemale Günhan, whom I consulted on the subject, also has a thesis titled ‘Relationship Satisfaction and Premenstrual Awareness Examining the Relationship between Premenstrual Syndrome’. The thesis is not open for publication, but don’t worry, you will be able to reach our expert from the social media account we have linked at the end of the article and ask about the details you are curious about. Here are Kemale Günhan’s answers…
The changes that women experience 3 to 5 days before the start of menstruation, that is, the menstrual period, are premenstrual experiences.
These changes may be related to the woman’s body, emotions or mental processes. physical changes; symptoms such as edema, swelling of the breasts, increased acne, pain in the joints and muscles. Emotional and mental symptoms include mood swings, forgetfulness, absent-mindedness, and a feeling of fatigue. Studies conducted both in the world and in our country show that 80% of women experience these changes without causing any distress.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS), on the other hand, includes the more distressing symptoms of these premenstrual experiences.
For example, while symptoms such as premenstrual appetite, bloating and fatigue are experienced naturally; Women who experience PMS may experience symptoms that are painful enough to reduce efficiency in their daily work. PMS can cause a woman to have trouble focusing on her work and school. In addition, withdrawal from the social area (isolation), feeling intense emotions in close relationships, and this can disrupt the relationship of the person with his environment.
PMS symptoms are experienced differently in every woman. Symptoms that occur in at least five forms (according to the fifth edition of the DSM-5) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, and that recur many times in a year, may not occur in the same way every month. In other words, some women experience intense physical symptoms, while some women experience more emotional fluctuations.
Ovulation is essential for the development of premenstrual symptoms.
Although no definitive conclusion has been reached as to what causes PMS, some theories suggest that it is caused by hormones and neurotransmitters (chemicals that communicate between neurons). It is thought that estrogen and progesterone, which are ovarian hormones in women, trigger the central nervous system and reveal the picture of PMS. This development of biological origin causes a decrease in serotonin in the female body, as well as mineral and vitamin deficiencies.
This syndrome can also lead to unfair labeling of women in society.
For example, if a woman in a romantic relationship has this experience and there is a problem in her relationship, when she wants to talk to the other party to solve that problem, her expressions may be evaluated as unwarranted complaints or emotional intensity, since the woman is in the premenstrual period. In addition, this syndrome sometimes causes the woman to ask for leave from her work or school, thus interrupting her performance. This time, it is being discussed whether these permissions are the right of women.
In fact, to give an interesting information; We know that in some countries, the woman involved in an accident or crime is tried by considering whether she is in the PMS period and receives reductions in punishment. In addition, there are studies showing that couples who approach each other with empathy can manage the psychological process created by this syndrome more gently.
In the research I conducted called “Examination of the Relationship between Relationship Satisfaction and Premenstrual Awareness and Premenstrual Syndrome”, it was observed that the severity of the syndrome experienced by women with high marital satisfaction was lower. In general, it seems that the effect of the syndrome decreases when the social environment naturally meets the physical and mental changes in the individual living in this situation and is open to cooperation. In other words, the relationships of people who experience this situation with their environment are very important.
It is difficult to recognize, explain and evaluate the experiences associated with PMS in societies where talking about sexual identity and sexuality invokes shame.
For example, in Asian and African countries, it has been observed that the symptoms of this syndrome are considered to be natural, and that it is experienced unnoticed, that no complaints or treatment is needed. It is seen that most of the women in our country do not apply to health institutions even though they experience this, and they overcome the problem by taking painkillers. In other words, we can say that the psychological aspect of the issue is ignored.
For example, there is a program we call PMS management. In this program, health teams consisting of psychologists, dietitians and gynecologists guide women, so that the severity of the syndrome can be significantly reduced. The woman is asked to do gentle exercises, to stay away from salt, carbohydrates and sugar, and to have positive and supportive relationships with those around her.
In addition, psychologically, it is among the suggestions that the person can express his feelings and thoughts more easily, take time to rest and take time for himself during pain and physical fatigue, and receive support from massage and aromatherapy. If individuals can benefit from these supports and behavioral changes to the extent that their living conditions allow, they will be healthier both psychologically and physically. Thus, they become able to manage this process easily.
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