--- title: "The two weeks nobody explains: how your hormones affect your feelings" description: "Do you often feel down, anxious, or irritable in the two weeks before your period? Discover what the luteal phase is and why you feel this way." url: https://myperiod.app/en/blog/hoe-je-hormonen-je-gevoelens-beinvloeden lang: en date: 2025-12-18 publisher: PERIOD. B.V., Amsterdam --- [Back to blog](https://myperiod.app/blog) [Your cycle](https://myperiod.app/blog/categorie/cyclus) · 3 min read # The two weeks nobody explains: how your hormones affect your feelings [Lees dit artikel in het Nederlands](https://myperiod.app/blog/hoe-je-hormonen-je-gevoelens-beinvloeden) PERIOD. team · December 18, 2025 Do you recognize this? One week you feel energetic, social, and on top of the world. The next week? You suddenly feel down, your fuse is shorter, and everything your partner does seems to irritate you. You wonder: "What's wrong with me?" **But what if I told you nothing is wrong with you?** What if that emotional rollercoaster isn't your fault, but a completely normal, biological part of your menstrual cycle? Welcome to the luteal phase, the two weeks nobody ever properly explained to you. ## 1. Your Body Is Biologically Different in the Luteal Phase Many women assume their body functions the same every day of the month. Nothing could be further from the truth. The luteal phase, which roughly runs from day 15 to 28, is characterized by a rise in the hormone progesterone. Progesterone has a complex influence on your brain. Research shows that progesterone affects emotional regulation in the brain and can contribute to the mood symptoms associated with PMS and PMDD. Fluctuations in progesterone can alter the activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. > "You're not too emotional. You're in your luteal phase. There's a difference." ## 2. What You Feel Is Not Who You Are This is perhaps the most important lesson: the feelings and thoughts you experience during the luteal phase do not define you as a person. You're not "negative," "mean," or "unreasonable." You're experiencing the effects of a hormonal shift. The realization that these feelings are temporary and cyclical is a game-changer. It allows you to look at yourself with compassion instead of criticism. Instead of thinking: "Why am I so difficult?", you can think: "Ah, my body is preparing for my period and needs more rest." ## 3. Align Your Life With Your Cycle (And Feel the Difference) In our society, we're expected to perform at the same level every day. But what if we worked with our bodies instead of against them? This is called 'cycle syncing'. - **Follicular & Ovulation Phase** (roughly days 1-14): Your estrogen peaks. You feel energetic, creative, and social. This is the perfect time to give presentations, brainstorm, network, and exercise intensely. - **Luteal Phase** (roughly days 15-28): Your progesterone rises and your energy drops. This is the ideal period for deep work, admin tasks, reflection, and gentler forms of movement like yoga or walking. By adjusting your schedule and expectations to your cycle, you prevent overextending yourself during the luteal phase. It's not "being lazy"; it's managing your energy smartly and sustainably. ## What's Next? The first step toward living in harmony with your cycle is awareness. This is exactly why we developed the PERIOD. app. The app doesn't just help you track your period, it also gives you daily insight into your phase. **Download PERIOD. ([App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/period-cycle-period-tracker/id6757947793) · [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.myperiod.android)) today and start discovering your unique cycle. It's time to understand yourself, not criticize yourself.** ### References - Sundström-Poromaa, I. (2020). Progesterone, Friend or foe? *ScienceDirect.* - Hidalgo-Lopez, E. & Pletzer, B. (2017). Interactive Effects of Dopamine Baseline Levels and Cycle Phase on Executive Functions. *Frontiers in Endocrinology.* - HelloClue. (2024). Can the menstrual cycle reshape your brain? - Handy, A. B. et al. (2022). Psychiatric Symptoms Across the Menstrual Cycle in Adult Women. *PMC NCBI.* - Pfender, E. et al. (2025). Sync or Swim: Navigating the Tides of Menstrual Cycle. *PMC NCBI.* - Hromatko, I. et al. (2023). A Mid-Cycle Rise in Positive and Drop in Negative Moods. *PMC NCBI.* Want to understand your cycle better? ## Keep reading [Best app for period and ovulation tracking (2026)Tracking your period and ovulation in one app: what an app can and cannot know, which measurements really help, and how Flo, Clue, Natural Cycles and PERIOD. approach it.Read more](https://myperiod.app/blog/best-app-period-and-ovulation-tracking)[Trying to conceive: when do you switch from a cycle app to a pregnancy app?Short answer: preferably never. The moment you switch is exactly when your cycle data is worth the most. What you lose, what you need, and how it fits in one app.Read more](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/van-cyclus-app-naar-zwangerschapsapp-wanneer-overstappen)[Cycle app on the pill: is tracking still worth it when you use contraception?Short answer: yes, but for a different reason than you think. On the pill you do not predict ovulation, but you do track complaints, bleeding and what happens when you stop.Read more](https://myperiod.app/en/blog/cyclus-app-met-de-pil-heeft-het-zin)