PMS

This thread is about menopause, but several times PMS was mentioned. PMS is an even more neglected subject than menopause, I think. And it can have such an important influence in relationships / families!

When I was a child I always was a little afraid for my mother's reactions, because sometimes she could become angry for very small things. In general she was a good mother, but I wasn't able to know in what mood she would be.
It was MUCH later she explained it to me, that it had to do with her periods. Then I could understand it, because I had PMS too, and I knew what it was because I read about it on the internet. But experiencing the inpredictable moods of my mother when I was a child already had its influence on our relationship (and probably more aspects).

Probably back in those days (50 / 60 years ago) doctors did not know much about those things. And even if someone knew about it, they would not talk about it with children. I did not even know what 'menstruation' was until I had it myself (at 11 y.o.). My parents thought that was the time to tell me about it. And they gave me a sex-education-booklet (for children). I think everything having to do with 'sex' wasn't a subject parents told their children much about. It was almost a taboo.

It makes sense for it to be a new thread.  I'm fortunate because I've never had this challenge.  My moods and self-regulation thereof have never been influenced by my monthly, and I'm so thankful because not everyone is so fortunate.

It might make sense to explain what PMS is so here is what Google said:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before a menstrual period. Symptoms can include breast tenderness, mood swings, and food cravings

Anne Miller wrote:It might make sense to explain what PMS is so here is what Google said:

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur before a menstrual period. Symptoms can include breast tenderness, mood swings, and food cravings

Thank you Anne. Originally I wrote a post in the thread on menopause, where PMS was already mentioned. Because it was late, bed-time, I didn't think of writing more in the new thread.