Im 32. I've typically been a fairly level person. Sure, I'd get a little tired and irritated during my period, but nothing too big. But since the birth of my fourth daughter (now 19 months), my period and the weeks prior to, have turned me into a crazy lady. Two weeks before my period, i get tired. i mean exhausted, fall asleep on the couch tired. thats new for me. usually i can go all day. The week before my period I want to run away and hide in a cave. I don't want to do anything or talk to anyone. I REALLY don't want to clean or cook. A terrible situation for a homeschooling housewife. And then during my period I Turn into Godzilla. Crashing through the house, yelling at everyone over the tiniest things. I feel like I'm losing my mind. This has never been me and yet I feel out of control in my moodiness. My husband is such a good man and so patient. Is this just stress or hormones. Is this just typical Pms that I'm going through? Should I see the doc? Any experienced mood swingers out there?
Turns out I'm pregnant.
Some Moms on here suggested I get my thyroid checked for some symptoms I'm having. I just had my third child Nov. 30. I've got an appointment Friday morning to get labs drawn and have my levels checked.
Also, do you take BC? I feel how you describe when I'm not on BC, but BC allows my PMS symptoms to subside.
Just read your post on feeling guilty. I would suggest that your issue has nothing or very little to do with your hormones. You are overwhelmed momma. You have so much on your plate and you are trying to be supermom. It doesn't work that way. You are exhausted and stressed and frustrated and even angry (though that may be getting stuffed enough to show up as depression and/or explosions).
It may be time to reevatuate the idea that you need to "do it all right." Doing things right may look completely different from what you are thinking. I would suspect that you think right is doing it all perfectly and all by yourself. How about doing it right is providing your children with the healthiest mom possible instead. A healthy mom cares for herself, she lets go of the unimportant things, she knows when to ask for and accept help, she shows her children how to love themselves by how she loves herself, she puts herself on the top of the list, she becomes realistic rather than idealistic, and she understands that self-care, saying no, and having boundaries is the most important thing ever.
Guilt is a treacherous emotion. It is deceptive. We think that guilt will make us do things right. All guilt does it make us feel really bad and causes us to be sick. Instead of guilt, get curious about what is really truly necessary and let go of the "shoulds." Guilt is not serving you, it is really causing you a lot of chaos. Instead just say: "Yep, I'm not perfect, I'm not able to get it all done, I'm overwhelmed and tired. Okay. So what choices do I have that will support me in feeling better and allowing me to be more available to my little ones?"
Those little ones are going to grow faster than you can imagine. Take the time now to create the best environment for you to be the best you (not the perfect you because that is just crazy making). Because the best you is what your girls need more than a stressed out you striving for perfection.
Be gentle with yourself. Take good care of yourself. Treat yourself to some tender loving care and you will be amazed how much calmer you become both emotionally and physically. A great book is Cheryl Richardson's "The Art of Extreme Self-Care."
Your hormones are definitely out of whack. I would suggest going the natural way to boost your hormone function first rather than take synthetic hormones. The one I can think of off the top of my head is Kana, it works pretty well.
How old are you? Many different considerations come with that answer. Late 30s, I got early onset menopausal symptoms, big mood swings.
Ask your doc, for your family's sake.
Are you still nursing or did you just wean the baby? Sometimes you can have crazy hormone swings during and for a few months after weaning.
If not, I think you should talk to your doc.
I would suggest that your hormones are messed up. I'd have your OB/GYN take a test on your hormones and see what they're doing. After 19 months, they should have settled down by now. It sounds like something if off-kilter. The exhaustion could be your adrenals are slightly depressed. This sounds like more than PMS--and I've suffered from PMS since my first period.
