Are you tired of suffering from PMS anxiety? This is different than some of the other emotional symptoms that are associated with PMS (premenstrual syndrome) such as depression and rage.

PMS associated anxiety does not get the coverage or publicity that the PMS associated depression and rage get but this anxiety can be debilitating and lead to panic attacks.

So what are the physical causes of this anxiety and how can it be remedied?

Are there medications or natural remedies for this anxiety?

Does the woman’s diet have anything to do with how much anxiety she experiences during her menstrual cycle or whether or not it escalates or how much it might escalate?

Another question is when does this anxiety caused by the menstrual cycle actually occur? Is it only during the pre-menstrual stage of the cycle or does it also occurs before, during and after?

The different stages of menstruation are:

Pre Menstrual Stage: This stage runs a couple weeks prior to the period stage. Women experience a myriad of symptoms in this stage including: cramping and back pain, migraine headaches, mood swings and possibly rages, panic attacks, and nausea.

Stage 1: Follicular stage is the one that produces the really heavy numbers of female hormones in the form of estrogen. This estrogen build up adds to or causes panic attacks, mood swings, rages, bloating and a lot of discomfort.

Stage 2: Luteal stage is the stage in which ovulation takes place and the system is flooded with progesterone and this causes the estrogen levels to subside.

Period: In this stage the built up uterine lining is shed, along with water and blood. Bloating recedes in this stage as does most moodiness including most panic attacks.

Post-Menopausal: This is the stage immediately following the cessation of bleeding.

Given these menstrual cycle stages, what are the panic attacks linked to and due to? Are there other associated symptoms such as fatigue or insomnia?

What Are The Causes and Associated Symptoms

Almost 85 % of all women suffer from some type of pre-menstrual syndrome and most of them either have anxiety of depression associated with it. The hormone imbalance that women suffer during their menstrual cycle affects the moodiness, stress, anxiety and the brain chemicals of the women involved. If you already suffer from an anxiety disorder it is likely to get worse during your period. If on the other hand you do not suffer from an anxiety disorder than you could develop very high anxiety during your period – enough to actually cause panic attacks.

Or you might only experience these attacks and anxiety during your menstrual cycle. Other women will never experience any anxiety at all.

Insomnia followed by fatigue is a very usual associated symptom from PMS anxiety. This is because the anxiety and panic attacks tend to keep women awake at night or a severe panic attack can wake a sleeping woman. This is followed by mild to severe fatigue depending upon how often the woman is kept awake or awoken by this anxiety.

Although we are all aware that a primary cause of all the symptoms that occur in the pre-period stages are hormonal changes and swings; there is no one reason for this type of anxiety.  The changes in the estrogen and progesterone levels during the pre-period portions of the menstrual cycle are enough by themselves to cause extreme anxiety for many women. Combine that with the associated symptoms that these hormone changes also cause – namely changes in your energy, your digestive system and your appetite, abdominal and/or back cramping, and uncomfortable bloating – and your chances of developing some serious anxiety are fairly good.

UCLA Study Shows Brain Changes

 A recent clinical study conducted by UCLA (University of California, Los Angles) showed actually changes to brain chemicals during menstruation that can cause anxiety.

“A new UCLA study shows that changes in certain brain receptors can affect seizures and anxiety during the menstrual cycle–findings that could lead to novel therapies for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD, formerly known as PMS) and other central nervous system symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle.”

“This may provide novel therapeutic targets for curing PMDD (PMS) or catamenial epilepsy, a form of epilepsy in women that is exacerbated during certain stages of the menstrual cycle, or other mental or neurological disorders related to changes in steroid hormone levels,” Mody, the study’s lead researcher, said.” (“Ovarian Cycle-Linked Changes in GABAA Receptors Mediating Tonic Inhibition Alter Seizure Susceptibility and Anxiety” is published in Nature Neuroscience.)

Remedies, Supplements, and Natural Treatments

There are a wide variety of potential remedies for this anxiety and the often accompanying panic attacks. There are herbal and natural remedies, medications, and dietary ideas.

Medical: Birth Control Medication or Hysterectomy are the two prominent medical cures though women wishing to have children will not be interested in these options. There are also medical drug options in the form of prescription anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals. These drugs are certainly indicated for severe panic attack sufferers.

Herbal and Natural:

Vitex – this plant increase the formation of progesterone which we know has the effect of bringing down the estrogen levels. Since it is those high estrogen levels that can cause PMS anxiety, bringing those levels down could cure it.

Chamomile Tea – regardless of the cause of your anxiety, chamomile tea is one of the most reputable and most successful herbs when it comes to causing relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety. Most regular grocery stores now carry chamomile tea or you can find it at a health food store or coop.

Flower Essences – there are many flower essences that will help with PMS anxiety.  Flower essences are oils, barks, and extracts from specific flowers that are then combined to form an essence that assist in a variety of issues, of which anxiety is only one. Most people are now familiar with the Bach Flower Essences and which you can get at health food stores and coops. Be sure to get the mixture intended specifically for anxiety and panic attacks and menstrual cycle disorders.

Kava Kava –the roots of this plant are an excellent natural cure for getting rid of anxiety caused by the menstrual cycle hormone changes. It is vital that if you use Kava Kava you follow the directions explicitly as it can have dangerous side effects.

Dietary and Other:

• Vitamins should be considered in respect to treating or preventing anxiety. It is particularly true that the Vitamin B complex is highly effective in relaxing and recovering from menstrual cycle anxiety and panic attacks. Vitamin E and zinc are also effective at inducing relaxation and treating anxiety. You should also make sure you take a multiple vitamin and mineral supplement in order to insure that you have no dietary insufficiencies that would add to the anxiety. Calcium and magnesium are vital here just as they have been with all pms issues.

• Caffeine should be avoided entirely in all its forms including chocolate as it is a stimulant and will only add to any anxiety the woman is feeling.

• Meditation is always a good choice as it is in and of itself a relaxing activity. You cannot meditate and be anxious at the same time. Therefore meditation is an excellent antidote to panic and anxiety induced by hormonal changes and imbalances.

• Warm Bath is a traditional response to anxiety and this is because it really does work.

• Hypnosis is a controversial method for dealing with PMS anxiety.  There are clinical studies that show that hypnotic therapy is effective but there are as many skeptics as there are believers.

• Exercise is one of the most recommended and most effective relaxation tools. It also increases the body’s own endorphin levels – which are natural feel good inducers.

• Healthy diet including vegetables, grains, soy, fruits and excluding red meats and saturated fats. Sugar should also be avoided as well as processed and refined foods if possible. You need to have essential fatty acids as they will help to reduce anxiety.

• Massage has been increasing in favor over the years as a tool for inducing relaxation and eliminating anxiety.

There are many ways to deal with PMS anxiety and we have provided you with a myriad of options. Whether you put your faith in medical and pharmaceutical answers, or you go the route of natural and alternative options, all that really matters is that you get the relief you need. Extreme anxiety and panic attacks can render the sufferer immobile and unable to carry on with the basic functions of life.

For that reason it is essential that if you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks related to your menstrual cycle, it is imperative that you find techniques, tools or medications that work for you. Don’t let your brain’s physical response to the hormonal changes that take place during your menstrual cycle, take over and control your life. There are enough solutions here for you to take control of your life back by overcoming or curing your menstrual cycle anxiety and or panic attacks.