OCD can be related to menstrual cycle through various factors such as compulsive behaviors, intrusive thoughts and hormonal influences.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) makes you worry a lot and do things repeatedly to make you feel better. These worries can get extreme during the menstrual cycle. It’s a two-way process: during the menstrual cycle, mood swings can affect OCD, by making it worse. At the same time, OCD can also make it harder to deal with period stress. For example, you worry a lot about cleanliness because of OCD. You might feel more stressed during your menstrual cycle for the same reason.
How OCD May Affect Periods?
- Hormonal fluctuation: Hormonal changes during menstrual cycle can worsen OCD symptoms. Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels can also increase stress and anxiety, which triggers obsessions and compulsion.
- Increased Stress: If you have OCD, then one may understand the stress that entails living with this condition. During the menstrual cycle, the amount of stress doubles due to hormonal shifts and increased stress levels.
- Pregnancy and childbirth: Changes in lifestyle during pregnancy can severely impact OCD symptoms. Specifically, the postpartum period tends to be challenging for new mothers and can be triggering their symptoms as well.
- Compulsive behaviour: Typical OCD behaviour such as repeatedly checking for blood flow, avoiding certain activities, stressing over tiny things and getting severe anxiety are all the symptoms that can affect menstrual cycle.
- Body image concerns: During your menstrual cycle, it’s common to experience acne and bloating. These changes could worsen their worries related to body image. Body image worries can be related to both OCD, and menstruation.
The symptoms of OCD and menstruation have been found to influence each other. Fluctuations in hormones during menstruation can lead to extreme stress. Different situations impact different people differently. It is all subject to individual’s body response. Hence, it is better to consult a medical professional to better comprehend the changes happening inside the body and ways to manage it.
Lifestyle factors also play a significant role in managing both OCD and the menstrual cycle. Moreover, try to adopt a healthy routine and eat a balanced diet. Make sure to exercise regularly and have adequate sleep to improve your overall health to avoid any health issues.