Are you aware of the link between emotional health and Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)? This article will help you understand what influences PMS. I will also discuss how we use homeopathy to support balance each month.
Research has shown that PMS and emotional dysregulation can be linked. Women who experience PMS have difficulty controlling their emotional state through all stages of the menstrual cycle. Here are the conclusions from two scientific studies that show the connection.
"According to our results, women with PMS appear to have a trait-like emotion dysregulation throughout the menstrual cycle."1
This study from Liu Q et al., used a electroencephalogram (EEG) stress evaluation test, a physiology stress evaluation test, and the positive affect and negative affect scale (PANAS) to evaluate the stress reactivity pattern and emotional state of women with PMS.
"The results demonstrated that, compared with controls, women suffering from PMS have a continuous abnormality in emotional state and stress reactivity, which was independent of the menstrual cycle."2
"Bringing the emotional body into better functioning is paramount to improve PMS."
Our passionate homeopaths love to support women's PMS symptoms bringing greater wholistic balance.
What is PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome is a group of physical and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s menstrual cycle. This includes mood, energy levels, and even concentration in the days leading up to a period. Symptoms can include emotions such as feeling anxious or worried, irritable or sad. In some cases it could even lead to feelings of extreme grief, despair and in my clinic, joylessness.
PMS is a sign that there is an emotional aspect we have suppressed or don't know how or have time to deal with. If this is not addressed then it can worsen with each period.
Intense emotions before the period worsen and affect areas of your life detrimentally. Relationships can be affected by the mood swings, for example. Instead of joyfully interacting with the world, we want to retreat and be by ourselves.
As it becomes more intense, conventional medication is sought to control it. These come with their own side effects. The underlying cause is not addressed and may suppress the emotional body further. In this case, painful periods may occur if they haven't already been an issue. Physical symptoms such as migraines may start to appear as hormonal imbalance progresses.
When you work alongside one of our expert homeopaths who prides themselves on the care of their clients, you will work towards being in control of your emotional body and be able to support your hormones. You will be able to live life on your terms instead of functioning at half strength every few weeks.
PMS is a sign that there is an emotional aspect we have suppressed or don't know how or have time to deal with.
If you have ever wanted to be free of the rollercoaster that is your menstrual cycle then keep reading. Understanding the connection between the ovaries and emotions will help to give you the key to hormonal health.
The Little Known Connection Between The Ovaries And The Emotions.
- Movement: The sacral chakra has a relationship with water. Water is representative of the emotions. When our sacral chakra is healthy and functioning, the hips are able to move freely. The emotions can flow freely and are not suppressed.
- Sensation: Pleasure is felt, there is emotional intelligence and desires and needs acknowleged. Healthy boundaries abound. We know how to nurture ourself and others
- Connection: Emotional intelligence, healthy boundaries and the ability to feel allows healthy connection. There is sacred sexuality and self respect.
A healthy, functioning second chakra has a steady rhythm. When this area has received damage, there will be a history of abuse, neglect and rejection. The second chakra will be affected if there has been emotional abuse, manipulation, or enmeshment. This will cause the rhythm to become unbalanced.
The energy centre will respond in one of two ways to trauma.
- It may become stagnant and sluggish leading to less passion, rigidity of body and attitudes, denial of pleasure, fear of sex and poor social skills.
- It may become hyper leading to excess. This might present as addiction to pleasure, sexual acting out, poor boundaries, very strong emotions that rule, or emotional dependency.
This centre develops between the age of 6 months to 2 years old. Experiences and belief systems developed during this time may impact the female menstrual cycle later on. When life triggers our unconscious patterning and our old wounds, we might suppress our emotional responses or be ruled by strong emotional ups and downs. It really depends what survival mechanisms you developed as a child.
I often give this analogy to my clients. I ask them to think about the second chakra as a kangaroo pouch. This is where we will store any emotions that we don't know what to do with or don't have time to deal with. Anything we don't want to feel and process will get 'stored in our pouch'. As the monthly hormones fluctuate they will be ready to be released.
Any PMS symptoms that show up before our menstrual flow will reflect our emotional health. Whether that is unprocessed old trauma or just an incredibly stressful month....or both. As women, it is our natural barometer to the health of our emotional body.
How Does This Relate To The Ovaries and PMS
The major glands are the physical representation of the chakras in the body. For the second chakra the ovaries are the physical correspondence. The luteal phase occurs right before our menstrual flow with ovarian hormonal fluctuations. This is where the defiencies or excessiveness of the second chakra can show up
During the luteal phase, if the egg is not fertilized, then the progesterone levels start to drop as the corpus luteum on the ovary shrivels. This signals the endometrium that it is not needed for pregnancy and prepares us for our period.
Progesterone is a pretty cool little hormone. When levels are high, it actually has a calming effect on us, easing stress and helping us sleep. It is also considered a neuro-steroid. It helps our nervous system work properly which includes the brain.
Brain development after birth is influenced by our experiences. The foundations of neural structure for emotional functioning are laid down in early childhood.
Progesterone stimulates the nerves in the brain to function. It also increases feelings of wellbeing. Levels of progesterone decrease before our menstrual flow. If there are less than optimal neurological patterns then emotional balance is difficult.
"However, experiences in the early years of childhood affect the development of brain architecture in a way that later experiences do not"
Brain Development and the Role of Experience in the Early Years - PMC
Any foundational emotional neurological pathway that is a result of trauma in early childhood will contribute to the tendency to be emotionally dysregulated. This dysregulation will be independent of what stage we are at in our menstrual cycle. As progesterone decreases before our menstrual flow starts, the neurosteroid effect of that hormone also lessens. This leaves our emotional responses heightened, hypersensitive and less controlled, showing our unhealed wounds in all their glory.... otherwise known as PMS.
How Can Homeopathy Support Premenstrual Syndrome
If you resonated with this and you suffer from PMS each month, you'll be pleased to know that our team of homeopaths are very experienced in supporting women's hormonal balance.
Each one of the Healing Haven Homeopaths deeply understand how to use homeopathic remedies to support women during any phase of the menstrual cycle. And most especially to support their emotional balance. Our remedies support our clients to hold their balance during stressful triggering events. As they begin to be able to hold their centre more often, they can respond to these events in a healthier manner which helps to repattern the entrenched patterns of trauma.
Would like to speak to one of our homeopaths further to see how we can support your journey to a happier and healthier self? If so, contact us using the form below and we will book you in for a free 30 min consultation. We will get an overview of your symptoms and will be able to talk to you about how to best work with us.
Don't let PMS and emotional dysregulation cause you to lose days every month. Let us help you towards joy and healthy functioning.
Look forward to chatting with you!