Link Between Mental Health & Your Period

Understanding the Link Between Mental Health and Your Period

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For many teen girls, hormones, mood swings, and periods make us feel and act as if we are going crazy. Puberty is a time of big changes, both physically and emotionally, and understanding what’s happening in your body makes a difference. Knowing that the surge of hormones and other chemicals coursing through your body are causing you to feel and act differently can help keep you sane. The link between hormones, the chemicals your body produces, and mental health is a key piece of the puzzle, especially when it comes to your menstrual cycle.

What Are Hormones and Why Do They Matter?

Hormones are your body’s chemical messengers. They play an important role in regulating everything from your mood and energy levels to your sleep and appetite. However, during puberty, your body starts producing more of certain hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, which regulate your menstrual cycle. So, until the levels reach their optimal balance, you can struggle with mental and physical health.

As these hormone levels rise and fall during your cycle, they impact how you feel emotionally. You might have mood swings, anxiety, or sadness at different points in your cycle. Some of us tear up at the sight of a cute puppy, while others sail through the emotional highs and lows. Remind yourself that it’s not just in your head—there are real biological reasons for these emotional shifts.

Hormones and Mental Health

The fluctuation of oestrogen and progesterone has an impact on your brain chemistry and mental health.

  • Oestrogen: This hormone helps increase levels of serotonin, which stabilises your mood and promotes a feeling of well-being. When oestrogen levels are high, like in the follicular phase (first half of the cycle), you’re more likely to feel happy and energetic. When oestrogen drops, especially in the luteal phase (second half), you might feel anxious or sad.
  • Progesterone: Known as the “calming hormone,” it has a sedative effect, helping you to feel relaxed. On the flip side, if levels are too high, it can make you feel sluggish or even depressed. If you’ve ever felt unusually sad, anxious, or irritable in the days before your period, it’s probably because of these progesterone shifts.

Chemicals in Your Brain: The Role of Neurotransmitters

Aside from hormones, there are chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters which also play a role in regulating your mood. The two main ones linked to your period are serotonin and dopamine:

  • Serotonin: This neurotransmitter helps regulate mood, sleep, and appetite. Oestrogen increases serotonin production, which is why you may feel happier and more energised during the follicular phase. When oestrogen drops, so does serotonin, leading to feelings of irritability or sadness.
  • Dopamine: This is your brain’s “reward” chemical, linked to motivation and pleasure. Dopamine levels can fluctuate during your cycle, which is why you might crave certain foods or feel less motivated at different times.

Support Your Mental Health Throughout Your Cycle

Knowing how to manage the emotional ups and downs is important. Here are some tips for supporting your mental health throughout your cycle:

  • Track Your Cycle: In this way, you can start to notice patterns in your mood and energy levels. Use an app like Clue or Flo – or even an old-fashioned diary – to keep track of how you’re feeling during each phase.
  • Exercise Regularly: Exercise helps boost mood by increasing serotonin and dopamine levels. Even light activities like walking or yoga can help, especially in the days leading up to your period.
  • Practice Self-Care: Taking care of yourself, both physically and mentally, is crucial. Get enough sleep, eat balanced meals, and take time to relax and actively de-stress.
  • Talk About It: It’s important to talk openly about how you’re feeling, whether with friends, family, or a mental health professional. Hormonal changes are natural, but if you feel like your emotions are interfering with your daily life, it’s okay to ask for help. Your cycle is nothing to be ashamed of; in fact, be proud of being a woman!

Understanding the connection between your cycle and your state of mind can really help you to manage your mental and emotional wellbeing.

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One of the best ways to ensure you have peace of mind during that time of the month, is to make the switch to Komani reusable sanitary pads. They are also safer for your body (no dodgy chemicals) and kinder to the environment.

For more information on handling your period with dignity, contact Komani now.

play sports during your period

Embracing Your Period Power in Sports and Life

by news

Focusing on reusable sanitary pads for sport ahead of the 2024 Olympics.

Are you ready to discuss something that’s totally natural but sometimes feels a bit awkward? Yep, we’re talking about periods and why they absolutely shouldn’t stop you from living your best life – whether you’re aiming for Olympic gold or just crushing it in your everyday adventures!

Boipelo AwuahPeriods and Performance

There’s a myth that you shouldn’t exercise or play sports during your period. Well, that myth is busted! Not only is it perfectly acceptable to be active during your period, but it can actually make you feel better too. Exercise eases period pains, improves your mood, and gives you more energy. In other words, whether you’re dreaming of being the next Boipelo Awuah or just want to go to school, don’t let your period hold you back.

Fact: Your period is not your enemy. Like getting taller or learning new things, menstruation is just part of growing up and it doesn’t have to slow you down one bit!

That said, let’s get real for a second. Sometimes, your period does make you feel a bit off your game. When you have cramps or feel tired, listen to your body and give it what it needs.

Embracing Your Cycle

Think about your menstrual cycle like it’s your own personal training program. Throughout the month, your hormone levels change, which affects your energy and mood. By tracking your cycle, you will learn to work with these changes instead of against them. For example:

  • During your period, focus on gentle exercises or activities that make you feel good.
  • Mid-cycle is when you feel strongest, so go for those high-intensity workouts or important games.
  • Premenstrual phase is a great time for longer, steady activities because you should have more endurance then.

Every body is different, and that’s what makes you uniquely awesome.

Go for Gold

With the Summer Olympics 2024 happening in Paris from 26 July to 11 August, imagine all those female athletes from around the world, competing at the highest level. Guess what, though? Many of them will be menstruating during the games. Shocked? Don’t be! These incredible women have learned that their periods don’t have to hold them back, and neither should yours.

Your Secret Weapon: Reusable Pads

Let’s explore 4 ways Komani reusable sanitary pads make the days on your period even easier:

  1. Comfort: They’re soft and secure, perfect for when you’re doing cartwheels or just chilling with friends.
  2. Confidence: No more worries about leaks when you’re in the middle of a game or a class.
  3. Coverage: Just wear, wash, and reuse.
  4. Kind to Earth: Komani reusable pads reduce waste going into rivers and the sea.

How Do I Use Them During Sports?

Great question! Using cloth pads during sports is simple. Thanks to their clever design, they stay in place better than disposables, so you can run, jump, and play without worrying. Plus, they’re breathable, which means you stay comfortable even when you’re working up a sweat.

Here are some tips for using reusable pads during sports:

  • Choose the right absorbency for your flow.
  • Carry an extra pad in your sports bag for easy changing.
  • Rinse the pad with cold water after use (if possible) before putting it in your wet bag.
  • Wash them as soon as you get home to keep them fresh for next time.

Motivation from the Pros

Check out these incredible athletes who’ve rocked their performances while on their periods:

  • Fu Yuanhui, the Chinese swimmer who openly talked about competing on her period during the 2016 Olympics.
  • Kiran Gandhi, who ran the London Marathon while free bleeding to raise awareness about period stigma.
  • Heather Watson, the tennis player who spoke out about how her period affected her game, encouraging others to do the same.

These women remind us that periods are just a normal part of life and don’t define what we can achieve.

Spreading the Word

Now that you know periods don’t have to hold you back, spread the word! Talk to your friends, your teammates, even your sports coaches. The more we talk about periods openly, the less awkward and scary they become for everyone. With the right mindset and reusable pads, you can do anything – run a race, ace a test, or even go for Olympic gold.

If you would like the chance to have free Komani reusable sanitary pads donated to your school, head over to Facebook or Instagram and share our posts today! We can’t wait to show everyone what you’re made of.