Most of my relationships have been severely hurt by the coming of the monthly "friend." While it's true, I welcome the start of a new cycle happily, the toll on my heart always seems way too high. After several long term relationships with girlfriends who all suffered from terrible PMS, I have learned that almost every approach backfires.
I have tried leaving my girlfriend alone during this period of time. I have tried staying very close and giving her the princess treatment. I have tried wine. I have tried talking through it. Everything that has worked, only worked once in a while. I have learned that each PMS is unique.
The first thing I learned, which has helped my awareness is to mark "PMS day" on my calendar. The day one week before the friend is due. This has helped me to avoid being blind sided by a sudden surge of negative emotions which is almost inevitable. This understanding is only a minor relief.
This year, my girlfriend agreed to start taking multi-vitamins which contain vitamin B-complex, iron, and 400mg's of Folic Acid. I am here to share, this is the only magic bullet I found in my struggles with PMS. It has made a HUGE difference in the amount of tension and irritability. The difference is so profound that 24-hours after the multi-vitamin is taken, the full brunt of the symptoms come rushing back in like a flood. For this reason, I would recommend taking 600mg's of folic acid as some women's multi-vitamins have.
It is extremely important that you fully commit to taking these vitamins daily starting from 8-days before the period, and ending on the day the period ends -at the minimum. Skipping days and or waiting for symptoms causes this method to backfire. My girlfriend, who 100% agreed to take vitamins (because she felt "embarrassed" by her own behavior) became too stuborn to take them while she felt PMS symptoms. When she takes them regualarily, we never have a problem with that.