Verity - sharing the truth about PCOS

Stress can make your PCOS symptoms worse: the stress hormones released make your body pump out more testosterone, which can cause more insulin resistance, weight gain, depression, loss of sex drive, irregular periods and bad skin. In the long term, it can increase your risk of diabetes and heart disease – so managing your stress levels is an important part of getting to grips with your PCOS.

Stress is as much about how you see things as what is actually going on. When you have all the time in the world and get caught up in a traffic jam, you are more likely to stay calm; in that same traffic jam and running late for work, you can feel your blood pressure rocketing. The situation has stayed the same – it’s your perception of it that has altered.

So what can you do about your stress levels? First of all, try to identify the underlying reasons. You might assume your stress all due to your PCOS, when in fact it could be an overly-demanding job or a problematic relationship. If there are practical solutions, such as changing jobs or talking to your partner more, explore these; whereas if the stress is down to something you can’t do anything about or which is likely to resolve itself eventually (like a traffic accident causing that jam), then try to forget it. Breathe deeply and slowly, relax your muscles and calm yourself down by breathing deeply and slowly in and out.

• Improve your work/life balance and make sure there is always some ‘me time’ in your day – a ten-minute bath with essential oils and a face pack; a lunchtime walk in the park to get you away from the work environment; a power-nap or chat with a friend on the phone when the baby is asleep
• Get moving – exercise is a very powerful tool for reducing stress levels and boosting ‘feel-good’ endorphins
• Have some fun – laughter is a great tension diffuser
• Get enough sleep – being tired can make you more sensitive to stressful situations
• Improve your diet – cut down on caffeine (its effects actually mimic those of stress), smoking and drinking (the damage they do to your body can make the physical effects of stress worse)
• Use relaxing complementary therapies – acupuncture, reflexology, aromatherapy, massage, yoga, Alexander technique and meditation
• If you feel constantly stressed, talk to your doctor

Websites

• The International Stress Management Association
  http://www.isma.org.uk
• Mental Health Foundation
  http://www.mhf.org.uk