Introduction

People who menstruate know how much hormones can affect their mood and energy levels. It’s normal to feel tired or a little moody right before your period (and during); it’s also normal to feel a lot more energetic when you’re ovulating. Some women have more extreme changes in their mood around their period. Have you ever felt very low, depressed, or even suicidal about once per month? This could be linked to your cycle.

What Is PMDD?

Taken from Mayo Clinic’s website: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe, sometimes disabling extension of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Although PMS and PMDD both have physical and emotional symptoms, PMDD causes extreme mood shifts that can disrupt daily life and damage relationships.

What Are The Signs Of PMDD?

Symptoms of PMDD vary by individual. They tend to appear a week or two before menstruation and go away within a few days of your period starting. In addition to PMS symptoms like cramping and bloating, you may have:

• Irritability.
• Feeling on edge, overwhelmed or tense.
• Anxiety and panic attacks.
• Depression and suicidal thoughts.
• Difficulty concentrating.
• Fatigue and low energy.
• Food cravings, binge eating or changes in appetite.
• Headaches.
• Insomnia.
• Mood swings.

For some people, symptoms of PMDD last until menopause.

What can PMDD be confused with?

Bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, regular depression (rather than hormone induced depression).

What Are The Risk Factors Of PMDD?

You may be more prone to PMDD if you have:

• PMS.
• Family history of PMS, PMDD or mood disorders.
• Personal history of trauma, abuse or other highly stressful events.

PMDD Awareness Is Suicide Awareness

Untreated PMDD can lead to depression and, in severe cases, suicide. The disorder can cause severe emotional distress and negatively affect relationships and careers.

Please never hesitate to reach out to a therapist, mental health worker, suicide hotline, or doctor. You can even go to an emergency center at the hospital if it’s after hours. All suicidal cases will be taken seriously.

What Are Some Natural Treatments For PMDD?

There are some ways to manage symptoms of PMDD that don’t involve medication. For example, you can practice yoga, try meditation or find other ways to improve your mood. Changing certain aspects of your diet may also bring relief. Additionally, support groups or resources may help you. Be sure to talk to your provider about all the treatment options available.

You should also track your cycle with a notebook or journal. Notice what you were doing during particularly bad or good months. These things can help you further prevent or alleviate symptoms of PMDD.

What Are Some Medical Treatments For PMDD?

Your healthcare provider may recommend one or more of these treatments to help manage PMDD:

• SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) to help manage your brain’s serotonin levels. Examples of SSRIs include sertraline, fluoxetine and paroxetine HCI.
• Hormonal birth control pills (YAZ is currently the only birth control pill approved for treatment of PMDD)
• Dietary changes such as cutting back on certain foods and caffeine. Vitamins such as B-6 and magnesium may also reduce your symptoms.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers to ease cramps, headaches, breast tenderness and other physical symptoms.
• Regular exercise to improve mood.
• Stress management tools, such as deep breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation

If you think you may have PMDD or you notice you often feel depressed around your period, it’s a good idea to track your cycle and notice when these mood changes happen and what types of things can trigger severe PMS symptoms. You can then speak to a doctor about your concerns and go from there. Whether you have PMDD or not, it’s important to take good care of yourself on those low energy/low mood days. It always gets better. ❤