9 psychological causes of painful periods

For some reason, it is believed that painful menstruation is the norm. But in reality this is not so. The normal condition of a woman during menstruation is characterized by mild pain or slight discomfort. Light, pulling, short-term pain indicates contractions of the uterus, getting rid of the “outdated” inner layer of the mucous membrane – the endometrium. A new endometrium is formed every month, during pregnancy it will serve as a bed for a fertilized egg.

If a woman regularly suffers from unbearable, severe pain, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, fainting and other symptoms that disrupt performance and the usual comfort of life, this may be dysmenorrhea. This is the official diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases. He describes a condition with severe pain during menstruation, when it is impossible not to drink painkillers. At the same time, from the point of view of the state of gynecological health, a woman can be all right.

I love the phrase “The body has no other language than pain to show us that something is wrong.” At the same time, in today’s realities, only one can hear from everywhere: “Do not endure pain.” Modern pharmacology offers us a huge selection of painkillers. But they only drown out the pain, and its root cause remains. And often it lies in the field of psychology.

Let’s make it clear right away that in this article we won’t touch on the classic medical cases of pain, such as pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or the presence of a helix in a woman’s uterus. Everything that we will talk about below concerns those situations when the woman’s health is all right, but once a month she regularly suffers from pain.

Psychological Causes of Painful Menstruation

1. Imprinting

This is an unconscious transfer of the behavior model of a significant adult onto oneself. For example, if a girl from childhood saw how her mother or older sister suffered during “these days”, then a huge percentage of the likelihood that her critical days will also be painful. We cannot learn what we do not see examples. Conversely, the example of adults definitely becomes our own experience. If you have discovered such a pattern in yourself, it would be good to go through serious psychological work on separation from parental suggestions.

2. Gender negation

Blood is a powerful symbol of the family (hence, for example, the well-established verbal constructions “kindred by blood”, “my blood” and others). Pain during menstruation can be caused by internal resistance, unwillingness to belong to the family or be associated with its representatives (for example, a message to mother or father – “I am not like you”, “I do not want to be like you”).

3. Denial of one’s gender, femininity

Remember this: “We wanted a boy, but you turned out”? The unjustified expectations of the parents of a child of the opposite sex are not always heard openly. Sometimes even seemingly harmless family jokes can be a projection of a deep internal conflict. Hence the subconscious: “I did not live up to the expectations of my parents”, “to be a better, safer man”, “I am a woman, and it hurts me to face this.”

4. First negative experience

Of course, in the modern world, with the availability of any information, this happens less and less, but it happens. For example, if a girl was not ready for the first experience of menstruation, she was frightened. And the mother was not there or she could not properly prepare and calm her daughter. Then this negative first experience can act as a trigger (unconscious memory, “switching on” a physical reaction) throughout adulthood.

5. Reluctance to get pregnant (sometimes unconscious)

The hypothalamus, which is also responsible for the regulation of sex hormones, releases a whole “cocktail” into the blood, which generally affects the functioning of the female body.

6. There is also the opposite situation – the manic “I want to get pregnant”

And then a woman with fear every month expects menstruation. And if they do come, despite all her hopes, there may be self-punishment with pain (“again she could not get pregnant”, “an inferior woman”). All this breeds hatred for the process of menstruation.

7. Purification

The unique gift of a woman is that she can “clear herself” from fears, anxieties, stress at the physiological level in an environmentally friendly way. We cry – and it becomes easier for us, we talk – and let go of anxiety. It is the same with menstruation, which is a symbol of zeroing, cleansing of the body and soul.

You may have noticed: if the month was filled with stress, illness and worries, then menstruation will be more painful. But if a woman has a rest, went on vacation, feels great emotionally and physically, then the critical days will not be terrible at all.

8. Retention and fear of loss

Imagine two women. One, like a river, calm and light, lives life, as if singing a song. The second – although successful, but not flexible. It is important for her to keep everything in the world – her husband, a high standard of living, control in the family and office. Such people are afraid to let go, to lose. They try with all their might to keep the important things that they rely on in life. Here is the conflict that has gone into the body – the endometrium must come out, and the subconscious of the woman is trying to keep it at all costs. Just like she holds everything around her.

9. Psychological infantilism

This is immaturity, but not according to the passport, of course, but according to the internal readiness to interact with the world (for example, the feeling “I can’t make decisions, I can’t take responsibility – for my life, work, earnings, family”). It is important to evaluate all aspects of a woman’s life. For example, in social terms, she can be a successful and responsible leader, but in the family she can feel her own helplessness.

If this is about you, then think, what does adulthood mean for you? What are they like adults? Boring? Do they work at work not because they want to, but because they have to? Perhaps you have a perception of the adult world as unsafe? And in this case, every period is a reminder that you are no longer a little girl who can transfer responsibility for her life to someone else (parents, husband, boss). This breeds fear and rejection, which in turn cause pain.

If any of the points is about you, then it makes sense not only to think about it, but also to go further, to work it out with a psychologist. He will become a guide on the path of mental, and hence physical recovery.