Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is something that makes sense of all your mood swings, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, and any symptoms that you start to feel around your period, and they magically vanish once your period hits. PMS is associated with physical and emotional challenges, and it might affect your day-to-day life. As daunting as PMS sounds and feels, lifestyle modifications and treatments can minimize the symptoms so you can go conquer your days!
I have started to notice that around my period, I start feeling extra sad and stressed, and I feel overwhelmed by so many things that I just cannot get happy, no matter how hard I try. After the 2nd day of my period, I start feeling better.
Answered by Dr. Fatima Abbasi, MBBS on August 21, 2026
It is completely fine to feel this way. You are not alone in this. What you’re describing is a low, overwhelmed phase that goes away once the period is properly underway. Your experience is a relatively common and well-recognised pattern, and the timing you’ve noticed is the most informative part of your message.
Here’s the general picture for your better understanding. After ovulation, oestrogen and progesterone rise and then fall away in the days before a period starts. Those hormones interact with the brain chemistry involved in mood regulation, and some people are simply more sensitive to that shift than others. It isn’t that the hormone levels themselves are abnormal; rather, the response to the change is stronger. This is why the improvement tends to arrive a day or two into bleeding rather than the moment the period starts: it follows the hormonal shift, not the calendar. There can be two possibilities: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMS covers irritability, low mood, tearfulness, bloating, tender breasts, fatigue, etc. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is the more severe form, where the mood symptoms are intense enough to disrupt relationships, work, or daily functioning genuinely.
Evidence suggests that regular sleep, movement, and limiting alcohol and caffeine in the premenstrual phase can be very helpful in managing blues. However, if you feel like your day-to-day activities are getting affected and if you ever find yourself with thoughts of harming yourself (US: call or text 988; UK: call Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258; Australia: call Lifeline on 13 11 14), it is important to seek help from your doctor.