Why do you feel nervous and shake on your period?

Answer 1

Feeling nervous or "shaky" does NOT mean you have seizures, as a previous reply indicated.

Many teens and young women can experience a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms before and/or during a period. All females are different, so your symptoms may differ from other females, but generally speaking, the various symptoms are common. The symptoms arise from changes in hormone levels, amount of blood lost, your nutritional and fluid intake, exercise, and in part, your genes. If your mom, sisters, and mother's sisters have or had problems during periods, you are at greater risk of also having similar problems.

The main problem with the symptoms you describe is that first, often, physicians attribute everything to an "emotional" cause. Second, the symptom of "nervous" and "shaky" can relate to many different things, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly what may be causing you to feel this way. For example, if you've had a lot of stress, have not been getting enough rest, and drink a lot of caffeine from coffee, tea, soda, or high-power caffeine drinks, you would likely feel much more "nervous" than someone who is not doing those things. However, feeling "shaky" and "nervous" could also mean your blood sugar is not at an optimum level. Conversely, if you are bleeding a lot, you could be slightly anemic which could make you feel "shaky" and weak.

My suggestions would include trying an experiment for a few months. During this time, limit your caffeine intake, eat balanced means, and limit how much sugary products you eat or drink. Get rest, including a short afternoon nap of 30 minutes. Ask your doctor to do a Complete Blood Count (CBC) blood test to see the reading of hemoglobin and hematocrit. These should be normal in a healthy young woman.

Keep a simple diary of your symptoms AND your periods-- when it starts, how many days, and when blood flow stops. Your notes might just be one or a few words on a calendar, such as: tired, shaky, upset stomach. Or, feel bloated, breasts tender, headache, feel nervous. Write on your calendar any big or important dates that might have you nervous or worried, such as, math test, or job interview. Include problems, like: argument w/ bf, or worried about money. The written info will help you see if there is a pattern to what you are experiencing.

If the cause is a hormonal shift or another physical cause, simple bloodwork and your daily diary will help you and your physician figure out your pattern. However, you may find simple changes in fluids, foods, and rest may improve your symptoms a lot.

If there is an "emotional cause", some antidepressants can help menstrual symptoms. Make sure to discuss all options with your doctor and be aware of potential side effects.