Disorders in the nervous system are reflected in most aspects of our body and never in a positive way. Stress directly affects our hormones and, therefore, influences the menstrual cycle, altering its natural course. The main symptom that it produces is the delay of the rule, although not the only one. Below we reveal how nerves and stress affect menstruation.
Effects of nerves and stress on menstruation
- Tiredness and sleepiness throughout the day, even though we have slept the recommended hours.
- The pain in the lower abdomen in the premenstrual period is increased if we suffer from stress, the same happens with swelling, since we can say that there is a ‘second brain’ in our gut.
- Irregular cycles. Stress, nerves and anxiety can alter the cycle causing oligomenorrhea, which means having scant and infrequent menstruation, being able to spend 90 days between periods.
- Premenstrual Syndrome causes a series of physical and mental symptoms that are increased if we have stress or another emotional disorder.
- Amenorrhea, which consists of the absence of menstruation, either because we have not had it yet or because, once with it, we stop having it. Normally, stress causes the second type, which is called secondary amenorrhea.
How to deal with nerves and stress
- The more we worry because our menstruation does not arrive, the more impediments we will be putting for this to happen, we will be facing a whiting that bites its tail. The ovarian hormones follow instructions from the pituitary gland, located in the brain, which is why what happens in the nervous system influences our cycle.
- In these cases, the best thing we can do is practice exercise and some relaxation technique. Taking a walk, reading a book or listening to relaxing music will also be excellent companions, thus we will reduce stress, anxiety, premenstrual symptoms and we will feel much better with the world and with ourselves.
