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Angstige gevoelens voor je menstruatie, dit doe je eraan

Anxious feelings before your period, here's what you can do about it

by Viv Support in Blog

Many of you indicate that you sometimes experience feelings of anxiety. Often, the cause of this is hormonal, but that link is not always made immediately. For example, in the days before we get our period, we can experience a rollercoaster of feelings and emotions. This can be due to an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and progesterone . Before you get your period, your estrogen level drops, and sometimes the ratio between your estrogens and progesterone is disrupted, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms that may cause you to feel anxious or more depressed.

Unfortunately, I hear this every day from women who approach me. Often, they just say that being a woman is no fun and that this is all just part of the deal. But... That really doesn't have to be the case!

Okay, it is perfectly fine to have a slump or a bad day every now and then; we are all human. But when anxious feelings start to take over and you are really suffering from them, that is incredibly annoying. I can help you get these hormones back in balance. And you will see: fortunately, something can be done about those anxious feelings!

In this blog, I give you 7 natural tips to help you reduce or completely prevent anxious feelings.

1. The right diet helps to lower estrogen and progesterone

Examples of good foods include: Regularly eating cruciferous vegetables such as boiled or steamed broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Because these help support your estrogen metabolism.

In any case, I recommend eating plenty of vegetables for the vitamins and minerals, but also for the fiber, as this helps reduce excess estrogen.

It is also important to eat foods rich in B6, such as eggs, fish, oats, and legumes, to support both estrogen and progesterone levels. But also consider vitamin C, which is a useful nutrient for optimal progesterone levels and for supporting the adrenal glands. You can find it in leafy greens, kale, kiwis, and lemons.

2. Being in nature helps with stress

Spending time in nature can reduce feelings of anxiety. Even just 20 minutes in nature can drastically lower your stress levels and help you create a positive mental outlook.

3. Supplementation: magnesium

Magnesium is an important mineral for us that is involved in many physical and mental processes. Our body consumes a lot of magnesium, especially during busy periods. This makes daily support often desirable. Foods rich in magnesium include very dark chocolate, avocado, leafy greens, nuts, and seeds. Most people do not get enough magnesium through their diet, and therefore supplementation may be necessary.

4. Social contacts during anxious feelings

The hormone oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, is a powerful chemical that is released, among other things, when we have skin-to-skin contact. So, for example, when giving a nice hug. We also produce it when we have sexual intercourse, or when we feel happy in our social circles. Having positive connections with people is very important for us women and leads to more oxytocin.

Oxytocin triggers serotonin, and this makes us feel happy. So my advice is: Cuddle away with your loved one and/or children or pet. That lowers our stress level.

5. Stress intensifies anxious feelings

Of course, this is easier said than done. Stress and anxiety are connected. So, if you can reduce your anxiety, you automatically do the same with your stress level. Anything you do to minimize the production of stress hormones will also make anxiety less of an issue. Yoga, mindfulness, or good communication with people you love can lower your stress.

6. A good sleep routine helps to reduce those anxious feelings

Speaking of sleep: most of us will experience more anxious feelings if we haven't slept enough. During the night, cortisol is supposed to decrease while melatonin increases. Protecting your circadian rhythm is incredibly powerful for creating balanced hormones. Sleeping well and enough (preferably 8 hours) is a must to keep those anxious feelings under control.

7. Adaptogenic herbs for anxious feelings

Adaptogens are a group of herbs known for their ability to reduce stress and improve adrenal function. Our adrenal and ovarian functions are closely interconnected.

When your body experiences stress, the brain can send a signal to the glands to produce stress hormones and lower progesterone production. This is an adaptive mechanism designed to help you survive, but it can also lead to feelings of anxiety about your period.

Examples of effective adaptogenic herbs are: Rhodiola , Ashwagandha, Schisandra , Tulsi , Reishi mushroom, Cordyceps, and Maca.

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