Best Ways To Handle PMSing Colleagues

When you go through PMS or premenstrual syndrome, you have a rush of hormones in your system. This initiates a set of negative symptoms, which can occur in a cycle just before every period.

There is a wide range of women who suffer from this syndrome, usually between the age of 20 and 40. This can make your home and work life difficult because of the mood swings. This is a genetic problem though the symptoms may be totally different from others in your family.

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The cause of the PMS is not known and studies have shown that it could be related to the brain becoming overly sensitive to the change in the normal hormone levels in the body. You have a higher risk of PMS if you have high BMI and less exercise or if you have hormonal method of contraception.

There are many symptoms of PMS. It can be categorised into psychological, physical and behavioural. You can find yourself relating to other people in your work place with the same symptoms. Dealing with PMSing colleagues is not easy and lot of care needs to be taken.

By knowing the basics of PMS, you would be able to understand what your colleague is going through and treat them accordingly. Following are a few tips that you can consider while dealing with PMSing colleagues.

PMSing Colleague | Mood Swings | PMS Problems

Smart Snacks
If you see her disturbed, offer a good snack like a chocolate bar or a bag of chips. This will help in diverting her attention as the salt or the sugar rush will help put her in a good mood. Or, give them some nuts, fruit juice or dark chocolate which will give them natural energy. This will also help them eat healthy instead of the junk.

Productive breaks
While dealing with PMSing colleagues, be a little more concerned of their feelings and look out for them. Suggest tea or soup breaks instead of coffee. Caffeine is not suggested for a PMSing colleague. Tea or soup can be rejuvenating. Also a 10-minute walk after lunch can help them change their mood.

Don’t overreact
Reacting to her behaviour will only worsen the situation. When she has her mood swings at office, try to put yourself in her shoes and understand what she is going through. Also try not to read between the lines and you should not take the situation seriously. Also try to understand that she is not being herself during this period.

Lighten the mood
While dealing with PMSing colleagues, the best thing to do is changing their minds or diverting their attention. When you feel that they are going through their mood swings, try to lighten the situation with a joke, which will do the trick. Making her laugh will allow her to cool her mind off from the situation.

Office Exercise
Regular exercise plays a very important role in PMS. If you feel that she doesn’t work out, encourage her to do some exercise which will make her feel better. Try to motivate her to do some simple exercises during office hours itself. If you really want to help her, you can read up on some effective office exercises.

Story first published: Saturday, August 30, 2014, 11:52 [IST]
Read more about: work menstruation