A general helpful attitude is a great attribute. A friend in need is a friend indeed! This is all the more true when it comes to helping someone on her period. But the question is: How to help someone on her period?
When a close friend – or family member – is on her period, she may need your help from getting some supplies, to fixing a quick hot drink or snack, to simply lifting her mood.
Helping younger, or even older, sisters:
The best time to display sisterly love is when your sister or cousin is on her period. This is the time to make her feel comfortable and help her get through the day. Some adolescents experience painful periods, in which case your support and care as a sister, cousin or friend becomes crucial. Ask her if she needs anything and offer it. Also, if she would like company be a cheerful companion or if she would want, as some do, to be left alone walk out after ensuring that she is sufficiently provided for.
Helping friends, classmates and colleagues:
In an educational or professional setting, you can help someone during her period by ensuring that she has what she needs. In case she was not expecting her period or it came ahead of time and she does not have her supplies, you can help by offering to get them. If you find her in an awkward situation, help in a way that would ease her embarrassment or discomfort.
You can help her in finishing her task, for example, or get her the supplies or things required to complete her work.
Also, offer her some food or drink, for which you may have to run to the canteen, mess or cafeteria for her.
Ensure she has the necessities:
Make sure she has her necessary items. If not, jump in. Buy, bring or visit the school nurse to get her the required supplies. If there are any bathroom supplies to be had, like toilet paper, soap etc, make sure to get those too. And last of all the underwear!
Help out in case of accidents:
If she finds herself in the unfortunate situation of not having an underwear, try your best to get it for her, even if you need to make a quick trip to a store. If she has had an accidental leak, look for a piece of clothing she can wrap around her waist. If she needs to change, you can help her get a plastic bag to put in her dirty clothes to take home. If at home, give her an extra pair of clothes to change. Make sure there is detergent for her to wash the dirty clothes.
Get medicine to relieve period pain:
Some people always or sometimes experience a very painful period. If your friend, sister, or colleague is going through a painful period, help her get medicine. You may need to run to a pharmacist, medicine cupboard at home, the school nurse or your purse – wherever you can find the medicine! And then bring water, juice or preferably a hot drink for a soothing effect.
Give a hot water bottle, hot pack or massage:
A painful period is sometimes the worst thing. To help your friend or sister relieve the pain, bring her hot water bottle. It is a good idea to keep one at home and the workplace. There are electric ones available, as well as the rubber water bottles. Alternatively, you can keep a hot pack handy. In case you need to help out, you can heat the hot pack in the microwave oven or on the stove in a pan of water. Dry it and give to your friend to place it under her back or on the tummy. Provide a blanket and tuck her in with the bottle.
A massage is more helpful for some people, so it would be best to give a back rub or massage the abdomen and legs. This will help relieve the abdominal cramps and soothe the leg muscles.
Offer food or drink:
Ask her if she needs to eat or drink. Make it available or go buy it for her. You can even prepare a snack or a hot drink. Some people have special cravings or are used to eating certain food items to lift their mood. Offer those, like a hot serving of fries, coffee, fried food, ice cream, or hot chocolate.
Look for a place for her to change, if in an unfamiliar place together:
If you happen to find yourselves in an unfamiliar place outside home, school or workplace, you may navigate the place on your own to guide your friend or sister to a restroom. If she needs to change, you may ask her to wait at a specific spot while you locate or find out where the bathroom is so she doesn’t have to make a long trip getting to the change room.
Run an errand for her:
Periods, especially painful ones, can be draining and exhausting, and one might slump on the bed, or slouch in the chair. So when she has called it a day, help her with chores and errands. Offer to make a trip to the grocers, pick or drop her things, pay a bill or grab her dream dress from the last day of sale at her favourite outlet.
Help alleviate her mood:
If your friend or companion is having a rough day particularly due to her period or an inconvenient circumstance, lift her mood. If you know her well, or even if you don’t, do little things that may make her feel better. You can watch a movie together or read a book. Grab a fast-food meal or just chat in a cozy, relaxing environment.
Do not disclose her privacy:
You may help a friend or colleague in time of need but never be tempted to disclose what may be their private matter after all. Talking to others about their accident or unfortunate experience is unwise. It will in effect undo the good you have done to her in her hour of need.
Written By: Amna Saadat Ali
