It's that time of the month when the people around me should put on their blast helmets, body armor and walk on tip toe. I'm a ticking time bomb and anything can set me off. I'm a total psycho.

I always think that I'll be able to handle it but it gets the best of me every damn time. And it's freaking exhausting! And that's just the psych part of it all. I also get very bloated and sluggish. I probably gain about 3-4 pounds during this time.

So, I decided to do some research and find some kind of solution. And here some tips that I'd like to share with you:

VITAMINS AND MINERALS. Calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and vitamin B6 greatly help ease PMS symptoms.

A WARM BATH. A warm bath can help to soothe the body and the mind. It helps increase blood flow to stiff and sore muscles, and to help eliminate back pain and cramps.

SLEEP. Sleep helps the body to renew its energy and rebuild essential cells and tissues. A well-rested person will find that both physical and emotional PMS symptoms are much less intense.

WATCH YOUR DIET. It is thought to have a major impact on the severity of PMS symptoms.

* Reduce your salt intake during the last weeks of your cycle as this will help combat bloating.
* Limit your alcohol consumption to reduce PMS depression. Alcohol is a depressant and will only make you feel worse.
* Try to avoid coffee, tea, chocolate, and anything else that contains caffeine. Caffeine has been linked to mood swings.
* Increase your carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates increase serotonin levels in the brain, which are responsible for boosting mood.
* Satisfy your cravings! If your body is telling you to eat something, it is probably because it is craving a nutritional component contained in that particular food.

RELIEVE STRESS. Stress compounds PMS symptoms, making mood swings, depression, and fatigue worse. Try to do moderate exercise 3 times a week. This helps to relieve some stress and also works to balance out hormones. Meditation is also a good way to center yourself and forget about all of your worries.

And READ. Learn as much as you can about your PMS symptoms because when you know what you're up against, the better you'll be able to deal with it.

Ooh... and one more thing: MAKE A SHIRT with this printed on it: