Letβs face it, everyone has trouble on their periods. Even if you tell yourself your periods arenβt as bad as other peoples, it still doesnβt mean they are an enjoyable experience. Cramps, mood swings and the general flow of blood just arenβt pleasant. Period.
Sure, there are ways you can combat period problems, but until youβve figured out the key to fixing your period problems, youβll probably find yourself cursing mother nature.
However, periods arenβt talked about openly in many places. There is a stigma around periods, theyβre often seen as βdirtyβ, which simply isnβt true. Worst of all, not talking about, and normalizing, periods, can lead to health issues being undiagnosed or simply dismissed[1].
Itβs important that we open up the period conversation, normalizing it for men and women alike. To start these conversations, weβre sharing 5 common experiences that everyone who menstruates can relate to (and maybe even giggle at).
You're in β¦
Check your inbox. Day one is on its way.
Your ADHD Hormone & Brain Sync Guide is heading to your inbox now β look for it from Dr. Brighten in the next few minutes.
New Book Β· Out October 6, 2026
The full system behind the guide
These five days are the doorway. ADHD and Women is the whole map β the ADHD-Hormone Profile and what to do across every hormonal transition.
Pre-Order ADHD and WomenIn this article:
1. When Your Hot Water Bottle is Your Best Friend
The little comforts make all the difference on your period. If you find a hot water bottle is your bestie during your period, know you are not alone. The warmth soothes cramps and just generally makes you feel better.
Weβve all been there, just wanting to go home to our hot water bottle during our period.
2. When Everything Makes You Cry
During your period, you may have low levels of serotonin[2], this can cause you to cry at just about anything and everything.
No matter how good your poker face normally is, a few days before and the first few days of your period might find you crying at the smallest thing.
Find yourself running for a box of tissues when the commercial for supporting a local animal shelter comes on? Youβre not the only one!
3. Having to Plan Your Clothing Based on Your Flow
Youβve got a hot new outfit planned, but your uterus has plans of its own. It seems like every time you reach for your white jeans youβve got your period shouting, βHey girl, hey!β The threat of leakage is real.
Black jeans or better yet, yoga pants, it is on those heavy flow days.
4. When Chocolate Is The Only Thing That Helps
Period cravings are real. Your body is losing a lot of important minerals during your bleed, so cravings are your body crying out for what needs replacing.
It may be a clichΓ©, but if you find yourself grabbing the chocolate on your period, you’re not the only one! Eating chocolate is known for inducing “happy hormones”, a much-needed pick me up for your period.
And if you choose the right chocolate it can actually be beneficial[3]. Did you know that dark, cocoa-rich chocolate contains magnesium? This is a mineral you’re generally missing out on during your period, so a little bit of chocolate can help you fix that.
5. The Realisation That Period Products Commercials Lie
You know the onesβ¦ Those commercials that show a woman doing all sorts of sports and running through a spring meadow during her period, with absolutely no issues because her pad has wings. Yeah rightβ¦
The reality is that most women slow down, need more rest, and arenβt out looking for a meadow to gallop through. Itβs totally normal to need to rest moreβI mean, you are shedding the lining of your uterus that took almost a month to build.
While weβre on the subject of ridiculously inaccurate advertising, how about we stop pretending period blood is blue? One minute youβre watching a TV show where zombies are munching away on the living in a goary, bloody scene, but the next youβre seeing blue liquid being poured over a pad. Heaven forbid we acknowledge that women bleed blood.
If you find yourself in any of these comics, donβt panic. You certainly are not alone. While weβve all been told periods are designed to make us miserable and hijack our lives, it doesnβt have to be that way. Simple steps, such as eating the right foods or taking supplements can help to alleviate these problems.
Can you relate to these comics? Let me know in the comments below!
References
- https://www.lifestyle.com.au/health/why-we-need-to-talk-about-periods.aspx β©οΈ
- https://www.healthline.com/health/womens-health/crying-during-period#why-it-happens β©οΈ
- https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/periods/4-ways-chocolate-can-help-ease-your-period-symptoms/ β©οΈ
About The Author
