Periods and mental health are closely connected, and it’s normal to notice changes in how you feel before and during your period. Hormone shifts can affect your mood, energy, and sleep, sometimes making emotions feel stronger or harder to manage. This can show up as irritability, low mood, anxiety, or just feeling “not yourself.”
This resource is here to help you understand why these changes happen, what’s normal, and when it might help to get extra support. With the right information and some practical tips, you can feel more in control of your wellbeing throughout your cycle.
Let us know what resource works well for you. If you have any other suggestions for our self-help pages, please send them to ithrive@health-in-mind.org.uk.
Factsheets
These factsheets will help you understand more about periods and mental health.
Self-help tool: Periods and mental wellbeing from NHS Inform
Periods and mental health from Change Mental Health
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) from Mind
PMS (premenstrual syndrome) from The NHS
The impact of endometriosis on my mental health from Young Minds
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) from Rethink Mental Health
Tips and information
Here are some different tips and ideas on how to look after your wellbeing on your period:
How I look after my mental health during my period from YoungMinds
Period self-care from Bloody Brilliant (Although based in Wales, this organisation offers excellent, easy-to-use information)
How to work with your period, not against it from Healthline
Organisations
Here is a list of UK wide organisations related to menstrual health
Services
If you are looking for local support, please go to our service directory to find out what services and projects are available to you.