As a sufferer of PMS, I have had moments that have completely changed my life while not understanding that those choices at the moment influenced hormones. With age has come an understanding of those moments and keeping track of my cycle can mean I don’t make important choices while under their influence but as we all know timings are not always accurate, so an understanding of your mindset becomes important.
Hormones can cause a significant impact on a woman's well-being and quality of life, so it is important to build our understanding of ourselves and our mindsets so that we understand those moments for what they are. As an adult, we all know that hormones can cause depression, anxiety, and often misery during the time of the month that we all love. But can you remember when it first started?
Hormones in teenagers can bring startling changes for them as they change with their hormones, there can even be phases of not feeling like themselves. The shock alone of having your first monthly can cause a traumatic situation often catching teenagers off guard and in situations they do not want to have to talk about.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (
PMDD) is a severe form of PMS and not something that is discussed often, therefore, the extreme emotional and behavioural changes that can be seen can leave teenagers feeling out of control and emotionally unrecognizable, if you are struggling, please reach out for medical support.
From a positive psychological research view, Both PMS and PMDD are strongly associated with psychological distress and physical health, so when working as a coach with teenagers, these would aim to support young clients who are struggling with PMS or PMDD. Within today’s world, it's not just clients with PMS and PMDD that are struggling with psychological distress, I see every day our teenagers living in a stress-filled world filled with what they “should be“ or “should do” and that is without the peer pressure that I am sure we all remember from those `years!
One way we can support teenagers is with positive psychology coaching.
Cultivating Positive Emotions
Engaging in activities that bring joy, laughter, and happiness can help counteract the negative emotions that often accompany PMS and PMDD. Some such activities are exercise or engaging in hobbies! These can boost mood and increase overall well-being. Another way is Taking time for self-care and
engaging in activities that bring positivity and joy can help alleviate the emotional symptoms of PMS and PMDD.
Practising Gratitude
Practising gratitude is another powerful technique in positive psychology that can help women with PMS and PMDD. One way to do this is to keep a gratitude journal and write down things you are grateful for each day, doing this can shift focus away from negative symptoms and help reframe the mindset towards positivity.
Building Social Support
Building a strong social support system is crucial for managing PMS and PMDD. Spending time with loved ones, talking to friends or family members about the challenges of PMS and
PMDD, and seeking emotional support can be beneficial. Social support can help teenagers feel understood, validated, and less alone in their struggles. Building Positive relationships and social connections is essential for promoting mental health and well-being, alongside cultivating a safe space to express yourself and your emotions.
Practising Self-Compassion
Practising self-compassion is a key aspect of positive psychology that can be particularly helpful for women with PMS and PMDD. Recognizing that PMS and PMDD are real conditions and being kind to oneself during difficult times is important. Avoiding self-criticism and engaging in self-compassionate self-talk can help women navigate the challenges of PMS and PMDD with greater resilience and acceptance.
Focusing on Strengths
Another principle of positive psychology is focusing on strengths and building on them. Identifying and utilizing one's strengths, such as resilience, perseverance, and problem-solving skills, can help women better cope with the challenges of PMS and PMDD. By leveraging their strengths, women can feel empowered and capable of dealing with the symptoms of PMS and PMDD positively and proactively.
I find often that it is not just the mindset supports that are needed, while struggling areas such as diet and self-care become secondary support, taking care of ourselves in challenging times is vital to building a stronger self and empowering our mindset becomes easier when empowering the body. I often ask teenagers how they are eating, drinking or sleeping all of which are the basics of self-care.
My secondary tip is to look at the other things in our lives that can change the balance of hormones such as vitamins in our diets and what we are putting into our bodies, this could be making sure that there is not a deficiency in areas such as magnesium which supports sleep or using other natural supplements such as the hapihormones patch from hapihealth. This transdermal vitamin patch is completely natural, and each ingredient has been carefully chosen to help support our hormones. They are particularly helpful for those moments of anxiety and needing support within our bodies.
In conclusion, positive psychology offers valuable strategies for managing the emotional symptoms of PMS and PMDD. By cultivating positive emotions, practising gratitude, building social support, practising self-compassion, and focusing on strengths, women can improve their mental well-being and effectively cope with the challenges of PMS and PMDD.
Women and Teenagers can all use the Integration of positive psychology techniques into their daily routines. This can lead to improved emotional resilience, greater overall well-being, and a more positive outlook on life, even in the face of PMS and PMDD. So, let's embrace the power of positive psychology and empower ourselves to live our best lives, despite the challenges of PMS and PMDD!
For more positive psychology or coaching support for you or your teenagers please reach out to @trulylistening.co.uk
Tracy Kearns
www.trulylistening.co.uk
