We asked girls how they survive their periods

It is a fact of life that girls experience their period every month as the punishment for not being pregnant. Even though we dread those few days, we are also grateful because not getting your period would be much worse.

Every girl has their own coping techniques during this time whether it’s food, Netflix, or constant complaining. Here are some of the most common ones.

Chocolate

When a girl is on her period, any sort of comfort is needed. The best type of comfort always comes from food, specifically chocolate. As the sweet taste touches your tongue, it floods your mouth. And when you bite into it, the crisp flavor immediately ameliorates your mood. People say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but clearly it’s actually chocolate.

Out of control emotions 

Oh boy, do periods bring on the emotions. Every single woman endures a roller coaster of emotions during her period, especially the negative ones. Whether it is being furious for no reason at all or crying over nothing, your emotions are just all messed up. Social media may be a girl’s worst enemy during her period. As soon as you get emotional, you go and creep on all of your exes’ profiles, working yourself up into a frenzy over what, or who, they are doing. Yeah, periods suck.

Netflix and Chill… without the chill

Constantly binge watching TV shows is the best escape from responsibilities and the reminder that your body is currently putting you through hell. We usually turn to romantic shows, which often give us false hope for relationships, sending us right back into the emotional downward spiral we were in before.

I asked some women their own techniques and coping mechanisms for this fun time.

Swetha, University of Miami, Class of 2018

I usually like to lay in bed, watch Netflix and eat chocolate, specifically Hershey’s dark chocolate. And I enjoy creeping on pictures of gorgeous male celebrities… just kidding… or am I… Also, last semester, right before my physics final, of course I got my period. So even though I was dying of pain I still had to study. The only way I survived is by buying a huge bag of Hershey’s dark chocolate and M&Ms. I sat in the library stuffing my face with chocolate and studying physics notes. And I ended up acing the exam so yay, it all worked out!

Serena Shah, University of Miami, Class of 2020

Something I always do on my period is eat chocolate and dried mangos, lots of them! I tend to get a really bad sweet tooth. Also, I like to lay on the floor and shower early in the evening. Oh and I get really impatient on my period with anything and anyone.

Kelsey Xu, Emory University, Class of 2018

I kinda eat more than usual. Honestly I eat whatever is around me

Jess Hsu, Emory University, Class of 2019

I mostly eat dark chocolates and I complain a lot! I generally complain about cramps and the fact that men got off easy.

Sejal Waghray, Emory University, Class of 2019

Well I normally am a foodie, but on my period, I eat like super unhealthy. Some favorites are skinny pop, easy mac, cake – honestly anything – and I especially crave cookie dough. Obviously, when I am at home I can eat unhealthy foods outside of family meals, but at college I like buying cookie dough and even eating unhealthy meals in the dining hall. I also sleep a lot more on my period. Usually, I am not the type of person who sleeps a lot in general, but on my period I won’t wake up on hours I usually do. Eating and sleeping are the biggest differences I can tell.

Personally, I consume as much comfort food as I possibly can. Whether it is sitting around with an entire box of Nutella or getting Chipotle, I eat way more than I normally do. I definitely dress way more comfortably and lay in bed, trying to escape the world.

Even though all girls hate their periods, at least we are all suffering together!