If you are experiencing depression during periods, let me tell you that you are not alone. This is a pretty common condition which many women face. One more fact which will make you feel relieved is that there is nothing much to worry about it, as once your periods are over, the associated depression and other symptoms will go away too. Of course, while you are in depression, it can make you and sometimes those close to you, quite miserable! That's why, if you can keep the depression in check, it would make life a lot easier for you. Causes The foremost of reasons why you are in anxiety around your periods is because of the changes in hormones that take place in the body. When a woman is menstruating, the estrogen levels in her body go up, while the levels of progesterone fall. Rise in estrogen makes the blood sugar levels of the body go down, making a woman feel depressed. On the other hand, due to the fall in progesterone levels, serotonin levels, which is the hormone that regulates a person's moods, come down too, resulting in depression. When all these changes are taking place inside a woman's body, if she takes an improper diet i.e. a diet which is deficient in calcium and carbohydrates, it can further aggravate her condition. Symptoms A woman who is under depression before her periods, may experience a number of symptoms such as changes in her appetite, restlessness, mood swings, changes in her sleeping pattern, irritability, fatigue, inability to concentrate, amongst others. If the symptoms are mild, then they are medically referred to as Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS). However, if a woman is facing severe depression during her periods and develops suicidal tendencies, she could be suffering from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a very serious condition, which should never be overlooked. Treatment If you are experiencing mild symptoms, then by taking various preventive measures such as a balanced diet which is rich in calcium and carbohydrates, completely giving up caffeine a week before periods and exercising everyday, will ensure that all the associated symptoms of PMS, including depression, are greatly reduced. Undertaking any of the stress management techniques such as meditation and deep breathing exercises will help in combating depression too. However, if a woman is suffering from severe depression and PMDD, she should immediately seek medical help. The treatment for PMDD induced depression involves giving the woman medication such as antidepressants. Drugs that help in maintaining the estrogen levels in the body, such as Danazol, may be recommended too. Oral birth control pills have worked for some women as they keep the fluctuations in hormones under check, so the doctors might prescribe these to some women. Then there are progesterone suppositories, which regulate the levels of this hormone in the body, thus saving the woman from stress, anxiety and depression during her periods. A doctor will prescribe any of these treatments, depending on the suitability of the treatment on a woman's body. Along with the medical treatment, a woman should supplement her diet with foods that fight depression such as those containing vitamin B-6, magnesium, carbohydrates and calcium, as these are known to act as mood enhancers. It is estimated that as much as three-fourths of all women experience such symptoms, at one point or the other, during their lifetime. Thus, as I mentioned earlier, this condition is not something to worry over, unless and until it becomes so severe that it starts affecting your life. So, start with making the above suggested changes in your diet, exercise everyday and undertake meditation. If the depression symptoms still refuse to go, consult a doctor at the earliest.