Mental Health News

The Japanese have recently made mental health news with their recently released study that links PMS with depression.   Millions of women experience anxiety and depression around the world and have made the link themselves between their periods and their mental health issues.

It has been found by a study in the magazine, BioPsychoSocial Medicine that PMS is tied to a decrease in the autonomic nervous system activity that occurs in the late luteal phase right before a woman’s period.  This decrease in activity may be a cause of or just another symptom of the PMS that plagues so many women.

Of course this decrease in nervous system activity is also extremely likely to result in some symptoms like anxiety and depression.

This study does also bring some good mental health news.  It provides physicians with a relatively non-invasive method to distinguish women with PMS from those with a non-hormonal disorder.

Many women find PMS to be nothing more than a mild monthly annoyance, however there are millions of women who find that their symptoms are major disruptions in their lives.  There is still no definite conclusion as to the underlying cause of PMS and its severity in some women.

Though mental health news has learned that taking oral contraceptives or SSRIs can reduce the severity of PMS symptoms to some degree.   If you are having major PMS symptoms such as the following each month you should seek medical attention for advice on treatment.

Common PMS Symptoms
Source: Women to Women http://www.womentowomen.com/menstruation/pmssymptoms.aspx

irritability
depression
anxiety
angry outbursts
confusion or fuzzy thinking
tearfulness
fatigue
insomnia
changes in libido
overeating
cravings, especially for salty or sweet foods
alcohol intolerance
acne
hives
abdominal and pelvic cramps
bloating
weight gain
headaches
menstrual migraines
breast swelling and pain
edema
asthma
sinus problems
sore throat
worsening of chronic conditions like arthritis and ulcers
difficulty with coordination
being more prone to accidents
dizziness
decreased balance
heart pounding
nausea
fainting
urinary problems