PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrome(PCOS) occurs when the ovaries produce an abnormal amount of androgens, male sex hormones in the female body. Most women with PCOS condition report episodes of depression and frequent mood swings and find it hard coping up with them.
Depression and PCOS - The link:
The primary reason for this is because of the hormonal imbalance in their body. With PCOS, women also gain weight, start seeing hair growth in unwanted areas like face and chest, face hair loss, get acne which all add to their woes and lead them to depression. Married women with PCOS experience difficulty in conceiving and this causes them lots of pressure from society.
PCOS is a lifestyle disorder and overcoming the symptoms of PCOS usually takes months of consistent effort and lots of patience. The symptoms of PCOS can be kept under check only with a healthy lifestyle, following a nutritious diet
While pcos and depression seem inseparable, here are 5 tried and tested ways to help women with PCOS overcome all mental health problems like anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
5 Effective Ways To Manage Stress While Battling PCOS
Get moving
Physical activity is an effective technique to combat stress and having a peaceful, healthy fitness routine aids in the management of PCOS. However, attempting to do a high-intensity workout while your body and mind are already anxious would not be beneficial and may cause you to feel much more uneasy. Try pilates, yoga, or a long walk in the fresh air instead. Also, hobbies like dancing, swimming, gardening, and spending time in nature help keep you active and relieves stress simultaneously. You can even consider taking an inositol supplement to keep your blood sugar level under control along with exercising.
Practice meditation
Meditation is a blissful way to keep your mind and body under control, far away from the negativity around us. When you meditate, your blood pressure gets lowered, heart rate improves, breathing gets rhythmic and brain waves are channelized. Hence, you feel more calm and poised while and after meditating. When you meditate regularly, you feel more cheerful from within and emotions like stress, depression, pcos mood swings, panic and anxiety attacks stay away from you.
Spend some quality “me-time”
Enjoying a “me-time” is never selfish as thought by most people. When you spend some time alone, keeping yourself engaged in things like watching your favorite show, cooking your favorite meal, listening to your favorite playlist can all help you in relieving stress and tension. Ensure that you spend this time to focus on your betterment.
Get enough good night sleep
Sleep disorders are common among PCOS patients. These disorders include daytime sleepiness, difficulty falling asleep, and sleep breathing disorders, which can significantly diminish the quality of sleep in women with PCOS. A sufficient amount of sleep at night reduces anxiety by enhancing your ability to process stress and react appropriately.
Connect with friends
Having someone you can talk to and who makes you feel supported is one of the most effective strategies to deal with stress and anxiety. You can also consider planning activities with loved ones to help boost your mood. While it is understandable that you do not feel like socializing during challenging times, doing so can definitely help relieve stress. You can even join online support groups where you can find other women who are experiencing similar physical and emotional breakdown.
