How PMS and Hormones Affect Your Sobriety
As women we are blessed with PMS and hormones and all the lovely side effects and the plethora of emotions that come with these gifts. I am sure you can sense my sarcasm but this influx of emotions around your time of the month is no joke.
Let’s dive into whats is going on during this time. PMS is actually a blanket term that describes a myriad of symptoms brought on by a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. These symptoms can vary in intensity and duration, but the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists estimates 85 percent of menstruating women experience at least one physical, mental and cognitive symptom.
Interestingly enough, many experts also believe that, for women in recovery, the brain becomes highly sensitive to PMS symptoms. And it’s that increased level of sensitivity that can ultimately lead some women to relapse.
Experts believe that PMS symptoms can create a hormonal imbalance within a woman’s brain. Just before ovulation, progesterone and estrogen hormone levels spike. If there is no fertilization (pregnancy), those levels quickly drop. This rise and fall of hormones is believed to lower levels of neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, which leads to feelings of depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, thousands of women reach for alcohol in an attempt to regulate these feelings.
PMS can make each and every emotion feel as if it has been painfully amplified. For some, combination of mood swings and physical pain culminates in the belief that you simply cannot cope. You can and you will, you got this!
Here are healthier coping skills that can help you overcome the PMS symptoms instead of reaching for the bottle.
Theres an app for that: My number one tip is to download a period tracker app on your phone. You can set notifications to when you are expected to get your special friend and you can mentally prepare for mood swings. When you know your time of the month is approaching you are less likely to be blind sided by these intense feelings.
Link with Sober Girls: Reach out to your fellow Sober Girl Community. Find Sober Girls near you with our private groups. In these groups you can connect with like minded women for love and support when you are feeling all the feels.
Eat the damn chocolate! Hot tip, opt for dark chocolate. This form of chocolate contains more serotonin-boosting cocoa than any other chocolate. Get that serotonin girl!
Write it all out: Sometimes the feelings are too much and its hard to articulate. It may feel like you are drowning in your emotions and its too hard to reach out to others. My go to is to write it out. I use my Level Up Bundle that is full of prompts to help me work through my feelings.
Change and confront your relationship with alcohol. Join like-minded women in intimate groups and break up with booze for good! Through accountability, and support without judgment, join A Sober Girls Guide Group Coaching.