TresSugar

Dear Poll: Are You a Moody Person?

DearSugar — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:00:00 -0700

Most people I'm close to are good at keeping an even temperament even in the midst of something negative. However, there are certainly a few people in my life who have very intense emotional reactions and tend to fluctuate moods depending on that emotion. Even though it can be hard to handle at times, I know that everyone is entitled to her own feelings and reactions to things. Sure, many women get a touch of this around the time of their periods, but in general, do you think that you're a moody person?

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You Asked: My Emotions Are Up and Down

DearSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:00:00 -0800

Dear Sugar,

I'm almost 21, attending a great college, and generally happy, and I have a great boyfriend who loves me very much, but I'm still so depressed. I will be happy one minute, and the next I'll be sad, angry, and crying uncontrollably. I have problems with anxiety, but I don't think that is the problem. I feel like I'm losing my mind. Please help me!

- A Mix of Emotions Melinda

To see DearSugar's answer read more.

Dear A Mix of Emotions Melinda,

It sounds like you’re really struggling right now. College can be a very confusing and difficult time even amidst all the good experiences, so I’m sure you’re not alone in feeling overwhelmed. If you’ve spoken with a therapist in the past about your anxiety, I recommend getting back in touch to ask for advice. Your student health center is also a great resourcem so set up an appointment ASAP.

In the meantime, you might want to start a journal and write down what you’re feeling before, during, and after you find yourself in one of your darker moments. Not only will it be a good opportunity to see if there’s something else going on subconsciously, but it will also be a good reference to bring with you to a therapy or psychiatry appointment. And though I do firmly recommend seeking professional help, you can find great forums for emotional support online, like the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, which offers both information and a supportive community for those suffering from mood disorders.

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PMS: Oh, it's Real!!!

DearSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 08:00:00 -0700

When I was growing up, I remember being in a bad mood and some stupid boy saying, "Oh, you must be on the rag!" That really pissed me off -- just because I'm not happy does not necessarily mean I have or am getting my period!!

With that said, right before I do get my period, I do feel crappy and not myself. It's not just a dumb joke between guys - it's completely REAL, but why does it happen?

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) happens because your body goes through a series of hormonal changes in the 2 weeks leading up to your period. The female hormone estrogen starts to rise after menstruation and it peaks around mid-cycle (ovulation). It then rapidly drops only to slowly rise and then fall again in the time before you finally get your period. These crazy changes can trigger disruptive symptoms that affect you emotionally and physically.

PMS affects all women differently, and its symptoms can vary from month to month. For most women, symptoms include mood swings, uncontrollable crying, depression or anxiety, and the over all feeling of being "out-of-control."

Want to know what else PMS causes? Then read more

You can also experience headaches or migraines, dizziness, abdominal pains, backache, constipation, fluid retention (that's my fave right there), acne, breast tenderness, weight gain, heart palpitations, painful joints, cravings for certain foods like chocolate, or fatigue. Fun stuff huh!

The severity of your symptoms may be hereditary, and some women experience symptoms that completely disrupt their ability to function. If that rings a bell, take Dear's tips below.

Dear's Tips: Going on the Pill may help to regulate your hormone levels, and because you're not ovulating, your symptoms may become greatly alleviated. Monophasic birth control, like the Nuvaring or Seasonale may be a better option since they deliver an equal amount of hormones to you each day.

Mood-swinging supervisor

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:00:00 -0700

My supervisor has the most terrible mood-swings of anyone I have ever met. She can be so mean, sour, glaring, snappy, and hateful at any given moment. She can make the toughest woman cry, and our male bosses cringe at her behavior. However in only a moment, she will change. She will be sweetness and light, showing you photographs, or telling you about her weekend, or her family.

Click here to

Sometimes I am so afraid of going into her office that I have to mentally prepare myself by taking deep breaths and praying. When I go in there, she'll be laughing and in a really great mood. Alternately, there are some small issues that my coworkers and I think are not too significant, yet she'll fly off the handle and make a mountain out of them. A small mistake can become a major professional flaw to her. I try to keep an even tone and offer to help her whenever I can. I simply try to be as nice as possible and stay out of her way.

We have all accepted that this is her behavior. We are doing everything we can professionally to deal with this problem, but patience is a must. In the mean time, how do we deal with this emotional rollercoaster without losing our minds? Any advice would be welcome!

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be involved in more GROUP THERAPY, click here]

You Asked: I Can't Control My Mood Swings

DearSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:00:00 -0700

Dear Sugar,

I have been dating this great man - he is 44 and I'm 35 - with whom I recently moved in. Things have been great, except for some personal issues I'm encountering. Often when I come home from work or sometimes completely out of the blue, I become an emotional wreck! I cry for no reason, and I know he just doesn't understand what's going on. I often end up fighting with my daughter and getting angry with my son. I was in a 14-year marriage that was very hard on me, so I don't know why I can't be happy now that things are so much better. Other than my strange mood swings, everything feels right for once. I feel terrible about the way I'm acting, but it almost seems like I have no control over this. What can I do before I hurt my relationships?

- Emotional Wreck Emeline

To see DearSugar's answer read more.

Dear Emotional Wreck Emeline,

Many things can affect a woman's mood and emotions, and most women suffer from some form of mood swings at some point in the course of their lives. However, if this has been going on for a while, and if they're affecting your personal life, it's definitely cause for concern. It's important to be sure that there isn't some emotional issue lurking just under the surface of your consciousness causing these feelings of sadness. Are you dealing with a lot of stress at work? Is it possible that starting a new life with your boyfriend is bringing up older issues from your previous marriage?

If you're having a difficult time processing this, make an appointment with a therapist. Because so many emotional issues can be related to fluctuating hormones, it's also a good idea to make an appointment with your regular physician or gynecologist to make sure that your body is working as it should. As far as your relationship is concerned, explain to your boyfriend that you're unsure why you've been feeling this way but that you're going to do everything you can to remedy it. And don't forget to let him know how he can help, too!

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Mood swings somebody help me...please

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 19:52:25 -0800

While I'm having my periods...I get terrible mood swings and anxiety attacks and take it out on my 4 year old daughter. Today I dunked her head into a bowl of porridge and poured it over her face because she had been eating for an hour and still had only eaten about two spoons and I was anxious that see was getting late for school.
I feel like a sh*t head, I'm a awful mother. Pls help me? I'm so alone with no one to talk to about this

Headline of the Day

GiggleSugar — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Shopping Sprees Linked to Periods

Good news, ladies! Now in addition to being able to blame sudden crying jags, overeating, and homicidal tendencies to PMS, we get to add compulsive shopping, too! (Sweet!) A recent study in England followed about 150 women along their monthly cycles. They found that in the "luteal phase" (why does that term give me the creeps?) women attempted to regulate intense mood swings due to hormonal changes by overspending, particularly on feminine "ornaments" like makeup, high heels, and jewelry. My favorite part of the study is the conclusion: women should avoid shopping the week before their period. Duh! Click here to read more.

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Pros and Cons of the NuvaRing

DearSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 07:30:00 -0800

When it comes to preventing pregnancy, many women opt for hormonal birth control because it's easy to use and extremely effective. Aside from the pill, the NuvaRing is one of the more popular options. If you're considering switching to this form of birth control, you'll want to know the pros and cons, so read more.

Pros

Cons

When used correctly, it's 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy. That means you can be spontaneous and have sex without worrying about getting pregnant.
It's simple to use because you only have to think about it twice a month.
Most women say they can't feel it once inserted.
Since it releases a steady amount of hormones, women will notice fewer mood swings than if they were on triphasic birth control pills (where the hormone levels change every week).
If you decide you want to have children, once you stop using the NuvaRing, ovulation should return within 13 to 28 days.

It doesn't protect against STIs.
If you are uncomfortable touching yourself, you may have an issue inserting and removing the NuvaRing.
Some guys complain that they can feel it during sex.
It can slip out while straining to go to the bathroom or during sex, so you have to check it frequently to make sure it's still inside you.
If you smoke while using the NuvaRing, the risk of serious cardiovascular side effects is increased.
The risk of blood clots may be greater with the type of progestin in NuvaRing.
Combination hormonal contraceptives, like the NuvaRing, that contain both estrogen and progestin, can worsen conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and problems with cholesterol.
Hormonal contraceptives may increase your risk of stroke.

Where Do You Stand? Sex on Your Period

DearSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 10:00:00 -0800

While it's true that our periods can be a total drag - mood swings, pimples, and cramps - I've heard women say they get extra horny during their time of the month - perhaps it's all those hormones pumping through their veins! Sure, it can be messy, and many men get grossed out by the idea of getting it on when Aunt Flo's in town, but tell me, where do you stand on having sex when you're on your period?

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Relationship Protocol: Does Your Significant Other Blame Your Period?

DearSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0700

Although our periods serve a fabulous purpose, they also comes with a plethora of nasty PMS symptoms: mood swings, volatile emotions, crabbiness, food cravings, bloating - the list goes on and on. And since our period, and everything that comes along with it, only affects us women, it can be an easy target of blame from men. I know from experience how infuriating it is to have your significant other blame your actions on your monthly friend when in fact, your period has absolutely nothing to do with it. I call those assumptions cheap shots! Does this happen in your relationship? Does your significant other ever blame your mood on your period, even when it's nowhere in sight?

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