The menstrual gap in mental health
We often talk about the physical symptoms of periods, but the psychological impact of menstruation often gets left out of the conversation.
By Elizabeth Whitehead for Harpers Bazaar
Although there’s been a movement to dismantle menstrual taboos, the emotional distress associated with periods still carries a stigma. Historically, menstruation has held deep-seated associations with ‘irrationality’ and ‘hysteria’, and to this day, PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) is still somewhat of a punchline. When a man describes a woman as ‘PMSing’ the implication is often that he is the one who is suffering— not her. This attitude only serves to normalise emotional turmoil and diminish the important relationship between the menstrual cycle and mental health.
Read the full article here.