Nelson's Guide to PMS
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a class that us guys could take to really understand PMS, one of the world's most confusing and mysterious things in the world? We just don't understand the inner workings of the premenstrual syndrome. Well, here is a small guide based on my experience and limited knowledge I've accumulated over the years to possibly help a guy deal with PMS.
- USE A CALENDAR - a little knowledge of the biological workings of PMS can go a long way. Most women run between a 28 to 32 day menstrual cycle, which means they go through "that time of the month," literally every month if we figure that a month averages 30 days. Most women are cyclical which means that once they are on a specific cycle, barring undue stresses or physical problems in her life, she'll be "regular." This means you can usually figure out when PMS will strike and when it won't. So, keep a calendar handy and mark down the days she has her period (PMS happens BEFORE the first day of a woman's period). After a few months, you should be able to pinpoint what her cycle is.
- BE UNDERSTANDING - since PMS happens anywhere from 2 to 14 days prior to a woman's first period day, this is where life for a guy can be most difficult if she exhibits typical symptoms of PMS like irritability, anxiety, cramps, being overly emotional (ie: crying), food cravings, difficulty in concentrating, depression, fatigue, headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, anger, and insomnia. Be aware that you shouldn't take what happens during this time too personally.
- PAMPER, PAMPER, PAMPER - pamper your woman during the PMS time. She'll appreciate you more if you can be supportive. Give her lots of love and hugs. Sometimes the best is to just hug and not say a word.
- BE AWARE - once you've figured out the cycle, you then have a better idea of when a better time to bring up different subjects may be. If the woman has exhibited signs of being overly emotional during PMS, you may want to hold off on seeing a sad movie or perhaps not visiting your parents who may not be quite as supportive of your relationship as you'd like them to be.
- BE PREPARED - don't be surprised if the PMS woman asks you the unanswerable question, "do you think I look fat?" This is instant death for any guy who has been asked this question. If you say NO, she'll really not believe you, and if you say YES, you are obviously in deep doo-doo. You'll have to decide what the lesser of the two evils will be. I don't recommend ignoring the woman though - so you may want to say "no" but follow it up with lots of hugs and compliments to reassure her that she is the most beautiful woman in your life (and MEAN IT!)
- COMMUNICATE - be open and able to talk about PMS. There are medications and homeopathic remedies that can quell some of the PMS symptoms or even get rid of them all together. Let the woman know that you are aware of her cycle and that you are not treating PMS as a taboo subject. She'll feel good knowing that you've taken the time to understand her better and this should help to breed even better communications for you as a couple.