PMS Got You Down? 5 Ways To Feel Better Fast
PMS can range from a mild inconvenience to full-blown nightmare for some women.
When you start to feel gloomy, grumpy or unhappy in your body, it can be difficult to know what to do.
That’s why we’ve pulled together 5 easy tips for you to use when PMS gets you down. These tips can help to boost your mood and relieve any pain or discomfort you might experience during PMS.
5 Ways To Feel Better When PMS Hits
Take a nap
Obviously this can depend on when PMS first strikes. But even taking a quick 20-minute nap when you get home from work can help you to feel refreshed.
Having a quick nap can help by:
Boosting your mood
Improving your cognitive performance so you can stay focused at work or your studies
Reducing fatigue
Counteracting sensitivity to pain if you had a poor night’s sleep
If you do want to take a longer nap, it’s best to do so in the early afternoon. That way, it’s less likely to affect your ability to sleep that night.
Show your tummy some love
If it’s your tummy that has you feeling down, a bit of self-care can go a long way. You can easily give yourself a gentle self-massage at home that will relieve some of the discomfort.
Our head myotherapist Rhianna suggests:
Make clockwise circular motions around any areas that are painful or tender to touch
Start with light pressure, then work down to a pressure that is comfortable
Use an oil with a scent you love. If you use an essential oil, make sure you dilute it in a carrier oil such as almond oil. You can also use a topical option such as Salt Lab Magnesium Oil Spray.
Add some gentle movement in
You might feel tempted to sink into the couch with your favourite Netflix series. But it’s a good idea to incorporate some gentle movement, even if you’re sore or cramping.
Exercise is beneficial for reducing pain on a number of levels. It can increase pain tolerance, reduce pain perception and boost feel-good chemicals in the body. This means it can also boost your overall mood.
Not sure what to do? Go for a gentle walk around the block or do some at-home yoga. Even just a full-body stretch can help to boost circulation and help you to feel better.
Eat some dark chocolate
This one comes with a stamp of approval from Rhianna’s nutritionist bestie Samantha Gemmell. She says:
Dark chocolate is a source of phenylethylamine, or PEA. PEA acts as a brain chemical and helps us to feel better, which is good news if you have the PMS blues. It’s a good source of minerals such as magnesium and iron that are depleted during the menstrual cycle.
In fact, there is even research to show that dark chocolate can ease menstrual pain. So there’s another good reason to start on that block of chocolate when you’ve got the pre-period blahs!
We’ll take Sam’s word for it - eat up!
Get a massage
PMS is the perfect time to take care of your body and mind with a massage.
It’s not just about treating yourself - massage can help to boost your feel-good brain chemicals and reduce stress hormones. Massage and myotherapy can have other benefits for PMS such as pain relief.
Looking for the ultimate self-care option when PMS has you feeling down? The Wellness Nest Woman appointment is for you.
Imagine 90 minutes of bliss using a combination of relaxation, remedial massage and myotherapy approaches. Rhianna combines myotherapy with supportive care techniques such as essential oils, crystals, cupping and dry needling.
To book a Wellness Nest Woman appointment, head to our booking page and select Rhianna as your practitioner.