Do you feel awkward just before your period is about to start? Let’s figure out why this happens and what you can do to relieve your PMS.

Here’s what you can do about your premenstrual symptoms:

• Exercise. Physical activity can lift your mood and improve depression. It’s believed that endorphins — feel-good brain chemicals that are released during exercise — may help counteract some of the hormone changes that trigger severe PMS. “Exercising can also boost energy and help with cramps and bloating, which may help you feel better,” says Livoti. Aerobic exercise such as walking, running, bicycling, or swimming is recommended.

• Small, frequent meals. Eating small meals throughout the day rather than two or three big meals may also help ease PMS symptoms. A large meal, particularly one high in carbohydrates, can cause blood sugar swings, which could worsen PMS. Try to eat six small meals a day to keep your blood sugar levels steady.

• Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sweets. Staying away from coffee and other caffeinated drinks for two weeks before your period may make a difference in your mood because caffeine can increase anxiety, nervousness, and insomnia.

• Avoid sugary foods, candy, soda, etc, especially in the week before your period. This may help ease severe PMS symptoms by preventing mood swings associated with blood sugar fluctuations.

• Cutting down on alcohol may also be helpful because alcohol acts as a depressant.

• Stress management. Stress can make severe PMS symptoms worse, so finding ways to give stress the slip can help treat PMS. Try relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga. Individual or group therapy has also been found to be an effective PMS treatment for women with severe mood swings and debilitating emotional changes.

We hope, this will help. If the tips listed above do not seem to work and you still experience severe PMS that interferes with your daily activities, see your ob-gyn.