We’ll take Advil with a side order of chocolate and Netflix please.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
We recently asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to how they survive monthly PMS symptoms and period cramps. Here’s what they said:
Please note that these aren’t medical recommendations. Be sure to check with your doctor before starting any kind of treatment.
“Eat all the chocolates, avoid all the humans.”
–Camila Aristizábal Arango, Facebook.
“Wine.”
Universal Pictures / Via pixgood.com
–Morgane Brun, Facebook.
Masturbate.
HBO / Via img.xtratime.org
“Masturbation is by FAR the best cure for cramps.” –Emily Cottone, Facebook.
“Weed and orgasms. Preferably in tandem.”
Columbia Pictures / Via thechive.com
–Siobhán Swords, Facebook.
Get some exercise.
“Go for a run! When I have cramps I always want to be lazy, but feel soo much better if I hit the gym and get some cardio in!” –Lauren Woolard, Facebook.
“Commiserate with other females.”
–Aly Noble, Facebook.
“Nutella straight from the jar. No regrets.”
–.
White chocolate and dark chocolate and hot chocolate and chocolate with cookie dough.
CBS / Via giphy.com
“Chocolate. Copious amounts of chocolate. I’m talking white chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hot chocolate, chocolate with nuts in it, chocolate with more chocolate in it, and my favourite, chocolate with cookie dough in it.” –Nekesa Mbadiwe, Facebook.
Pilates or yoga.
“Yoga/Pilates core stretches really help the tension build up in my stomach, and the shooting leg pain I get.” –.
Take a hot bath with Epsom Salt.
“Sometimes if it’s only moderate pain a hot bath with Epsom Salt provides some relief.” –Jessica Thomas, Facebook.
And lots of naps.
Sleep. –.
Wear Libra Hottie patches.
“Libra makes these amazing stick on heat patches called Hotties which provide amazing relief and last for 8-12 hours.” –.
Or pretty Kinesio tape.
“Kinetic tape. A vertical strip, applied under tension over your lower tummy.” –.
Apply Icy Hot to aching areas.
“I rub icy hot on my back and lower abdomen. Feels amazing!” –.
Cuddle with a heating pad.
http://instagram.com/p/zz3uM_QL2I
“Heating pads that are made for your back, that way they not only warm you but feel like they are hugging you.” –.
Or a puppy.
“The emotional stabilization of puppy cuddles and ugly crying at romantic comedies.” –Claire Parker, Facebook.
Use a massage ball on your tailbone.
“I like to put a massage ball under my tailbone when lying down. Basically, any form of pressure on my tailbone helps.” –Elpunkt Espunkt, Facebook.
Get an I.U.D.
http://instagram.com/p/1hGX6KiJxA
“I.U.D. ….No period, cramps, bloating, mood swings, acne, bloody tampons or pads for 5 years. Also no babies either.” –Beth Scott, Facebook.
Or a Nexplanon Implant.
“I got the nexplanon implant. As well as providing reliable contraception for the three years it’s in for, it can also stop periods in some people.” –Sarah Barr, Facebook.
Some people swear by Naproxen.
–.
Or Midol. All the Midol.
“Midol. ALL the Midol. Nobody ever got an award for getting through their period without painkillers.” –.
Eat breakfast-y foods.
“All the breakfast-y foods I’m craving; oatmeal with fruit, eggs with hash browns or a baked potato, a shake made with chocolate flavored protein powder, or a box of cereal. Yes, you heard me, a whole box of cereal – IDGAF, now get out, you’re in the way.” –Sarah Anderson, Facebook.
Mexican foods.
“HEATING PAD. Lots of water, chocolate, and mexican food.” –Bonnie Travis, Facebook.
Foods high in vitamin B.
http://instagram.com/p/2V3CMMrWcD
“During the week before eat lots of foods high in B vitamins and iron.” –.
Foods filled with iron.
“Upping my iron intake, especially during the week prior. I’m anemic so this may not apply to everyone, but since you’re literally losing blood it might help.” –Rachel Ellett, Facebook.
Get 27 recipes for insanely delicious pieces of meat .
And deliciously starchy carb foods.
“Copious amounts of Yorkshire Tea, starchy carbs, paracetamol, mefenamic acid, oxycodone, and if I don’t have a mirena iud fitted then I take tranexamic acid (to reduce bleeding).” –Lisa Porter, Facebook.
Drink lots of water.
Showtime / Via horsecollaborative.com
“Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!” –Julia Gray, Facebook.
And fresh fruit smoothies.
“Fresh fruit smoothies and a heck of a lot of ice cream!” –.
And cinnamon tea or Yarrow tea.
DreamWorks Pictures / Via excitingredbonelightning.com
“In Colombia they make cinnamon tea, you just boil cinnamon sticks in water and then drink it. It’s the remedy my Abuela made for me when I first started having cramps.” –.
“Best thing I’ve found so far is to have a couple of cups of really strong yarrow tea, it tastes disgusting but makes the cramps go away in about 30 minutes!” –.
Suck on a lemon.
http://instagram.com/p/1Bzn_pG7c0
“I suck on a lemon. The sourness from the lemon distracts your mind from your painful uterus and I’ve heard its pretty good for your skin. :)” –.
Isolate yourself from other human beings.
“Food, netflix and isolation from other human beings.” –Florencia Pinochet Ferrer, Facebook.
(With some frozen yogurt.)
“Frozen yogurt, tea, avoid caffeine (makes cramps worse), water and sleep.” –Adeline Piercy, Facebook.
Binge watch Star Trek…
“I watch Star Trek Into Darkness and cry more than usual.” –Dayna Morris, Facebook.
Harry Potter…
Warner Bros. Pictures / Via nebulos-day.tumblr.com
“Lock my bedroom door and marathon the harry potter movies… again.” –.
Or whatever else you like on Netflix.
“Netflix. All. Day. Long.” –Keira C Georgeson, Facebook.
And add tears. Lots of tears.
Fox / Via forums.thebump.com
“Tears.” –Elizabeth Grace, Facebook.
