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.
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Instructions
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Explore Options for PMS-Related Stress Management
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Learn simple breathing exercises to channel away negativity and stress.
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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).
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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.
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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).
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Tips & Warnings
If you find that coping strategies do not provide enough relief from your discomfort, you may need to use chemical intervention. Consult with a psychiatrist for medication to manage stress.
