PMS anxiety: what's real, what's hormonal
The week before your period, a small worry can feel enormous. A text left on read becomes a crisis. If that sounds familiar, you're not imagining it — and you're not alone.
Why it happens
In the late luteal phase, estrogen and progesterone fall sharply. These shifts affect serotonin and GABA, brain chemicals that help regulate mood and calm. For some women, the result is heightened anxiety, irritability or low mood.
“Your feelings are real. Their volume may just be turned up for a few days.”
What helps
Track your mood alongside your cycle so you can see the pattern coming. Lower caffeine, prioritise sleep, and move your body gently. Before reacting to something big, give it 48 hours — if it still matters after your period starts, it's worth addressing.
If symptoms are severe enough to disrupt work or relationships, it could be PMDD. Please speak to a doctor or therapist — effective support exists.
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