PMS: Another Viewpoint

PMS or pre menstrual syndrome, is not a condition to be taken lightly, as any woman experiencing the symptoms knows only too well. It seems to be the lot of some women to experience significant levels of discomfort from PMS, but perhaps more than is necessary.

First up, this article is not about medical treatment for the symptoms of PMS, nor is it a psychologist's analysis of why some suffer more intense symptoms than others. All we would like to do is offer a few thoughts that may help you adjust your thinking and thereby find some relief from your symptoms.

Every stage of life presents us with its own challenges, and this women's only business of PMS is simply one of those times. Some women approach their period with dread and expect it to be painful, to activate crushing headaches, cramps, moodiness and all the other side effects you can think of. If you expect pain, do you think that might actually accelerate the delivery of pain to you?

Of course you will. Now for a change of pace. Did you know that whatever you fight against, will fight back? Whatever you resist, persists? When you expect all the classical PMS symptoms, your expectation will attract the experience of them. So what can you do to minimize the symptoms and maintain your equilibrium each month?

Start by isolating, in your mind, each little discomfort. To reduce the sense of overwhelming discomfort of PMS, if you have developed a headache, for instance, go into the pain. Feel what the pain is in its very essence. Don't resist it, just feel it. Is it in the front of your head, or the side or the back? Is it deep inside or just under the skull? Look into the headache and feel it without fighting it.

When you do this you actually achieve a certain distancing from the overwhelm of the pain. You can isolate it to a specific area in the body. The whole body does not need to be in overwhelm. Is your toe hurting, or your hand, your shoulder? Isolate the discomfort to one place and let the rest of your body get on with life.

That said, be kind and loving to your body too. Lie down and take some rest if you feel you need to. Be gentle and treat yourself with kind and loving consideration. If you suffer chronic PMS, yes, seek medical assistance if you wish, but always be ever so gentle with yourself. Surprisingly, most women survive the PMS symptoms quite easily!

Try thinking happy thoughts rather than entering into dread as the days count down each month. Keep yourself well occupied, do something that makes you happy, better still, go do something kind for someone else. Not only will this distract your mind from your own problems, you will enjoy feel-good emotions and be happy.

Finally, they say laughter is good for you, and this is so true. Find lots to laugh about; not just for those few days, but everyday. Laugh aloud and feel the happiness flood through you. You may experience PMS symptoms to some extent, but try these few ideas to create good feelings. Happy feelings make life a great deal sweeter than those engendered when all you expect each month is pain and gloom.

So love who you are. Enjoy life as much as you can. Distract yourself with happy thoughts and get those feel-good vibes flowing. PMS may still be a part of life but you don't have to submit to overwhelm, life's too fantastic for that, and you're too wonderful too.