Scene:
It’s 7:30 AM on a calm Sunday. Radhika and Aiswarya, two homemaker–professionals and old friends, are walking through a tree-lined park trail. Birds chirping, kids cycling nearby, and both of them in sneakers, finally taking time for themselves.

Radhika: (adjusting her smartwatch)
Aiswarya, do you ever feel totally fine one minute and on the edge the next? Like, my kids say something silly, and boom — I feel like exploding.

Aiswarya: (laughs gently)
Oh Radhika, I totally get you. I had a meltdown yesterday just because the rice cooker beeped late. It’s like I’m living on a fuse. And the guilt afterward… unbearable.

Radhika:
Same here. I was wondering if something’s wrong with me. I even thought, “Is this what burnout feels like?”

Aiswarya:
You know, I felt the same. But turns out, it’s not just emotions — there’s real science behind it. Mood swings, especially for women juggling home, work, kids — they’re often hormonal, and very much biological too.

Radhika:
Really? So it’s not just me being “too sensitive”?

Aiswarya:
Not at all. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuations, especially before periods, after childbirth, or during perimenopause, can lower serotonin — the happiness hormone. And guess what? That alone can make you feel overwhelmed, angry, or teary.

Radhika: (nodding)
That makes so much sense. Especially before my periods, I feel completely out of sync.

Aiswarya:
Also, if you’re low on iron, vitamin D, or B12, or not sleeping enough, it throws your emotional balance off. And chronic stress — that’s like fuel on fire.

Aiswarya:
I’ve started making small changes that really helped me cope:

• Morning walks like this one — they’ve been a game changer.
• I journal my moods and use an app to track my cycle.
• My doctor suggested Magnesium & B6 supplements after checking my levels.
• Most importantly, I’ve started talking openly — with my husband, with friends like you, and even to myself without judgment.

Radhika:
That’s brilliant. I always kept it bottled up, thinking I’m just being dramatic. But listening to you is reassuring.

Aiswarya:
Not at all. Mood swings are your body’s way of asking for care. We give so much to others — it’s time we listen to our own inner voice too.

Radhika: (smiling)
I’m going to start with what we’re doing right now — walking, and talking. And I think I’ll get a blood test too, just to check my levels.

Aiswarya:
Absolutely. This isn’t just “part of being a woman.” It’s biology. And the more we normalize it, the better for all of us.

Mood swings are often tied to hormonal changes and nutrient imbalances
They are valid, real, and deserve compassion and attention
Daily movement, healthy sleep, and honest conversations help
You’re not alone, and you’re not weak for feeling this way

As they finish their walk, Radhika looks lighter — not just from the steps, but from knowing she’s not walking this journey alone.

Radhika:
Let’s make this Sunday walk a ritual, Aiswarya. For our body and for our sanity.

Aiswarya: (grinning)
Deal. And maybe next Sunday, we’ll bring some herbal tea and mood-lifting playlists too!

References :
1. Career women’s mental wellbeing in the era of population decline: the effects of working environment and family environment on the mental wellbeing
2. Mental health linked with work life balance of working women
3. Emotional Labor in the Workplace: The Disproportionate Burden on Women
4.Mental health at work
5.Moods in everyday situations: Effects of menstrual cycle, work, and personality