I've always just said to people, "oh, i get emotional when on my period" or "i'm highly hormonal i think, depending on my cycle". I've noticed "hyper-emotionality" for some time now and really i just thought, well it's just one of those things. The first time I noticed this was back in college. My roommate, her boyfriend, and I were watching the movie Chocolat and throughout to the end of the movie, I was just crying and crying. My roommate was like.....oooookay.....! Even to myself I was wondering why it moved me soo much and the only answer that came to me was that I was on my period so maybe it's the hormones and that was that.
But lately it has gotten worser and worser still. I just noticed that I get seriously depressed, I recoil into myself, i feel overwhelmed and interrupted sleeping patters. I started to worry because it just seemed to envelope me somehow. The last time I wrote about a "dark cloud" was during this period. You just feel hopeless and helpless and continue to sink deeper and deeper still. Last month I realized it was intense and even had suicidal thoughts and that's when it really began to scare me. I could tell it was hormones wrecking a havoc on my mind but you just can't seem to get out of it. It starts maybe a week before your period is supposed to start, but once it does, it just goes away and dissolves. I've been going through this cycle, and I just started to worry myself. What is this thing? It was starting to feel serious and I had to frantically call some friends of mine to talk to them about how I was feeling before sink deeper and deeper.
As I'm writing this, I think I'm writing from just 1hour of sleep overnight. My mind was just rushing here and there and I couldn't get it to just slow down so I could sleep. Yesterday night I just felt so down and unlike myself and then this morning those thoughts came again and I thought....no, this isn't normal. So I get up and google and this is what I've found:
Twenty to fifty percent of women between the ages of 30 to 40 with regular
menstrual cycles experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as a regular
physiological occurrence every month. In more severe cases, affecting three to
five percent of menstruating women, this syndrome is labeled as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) . Patients
with severe PMDD are at risk for developing postpartum depression. Furthermore, women
successfully treated with antidepressants often show
breakthrough symptoms of depression in the premenstrual phase
of their menstrual cycle. All that is needed is a small increase in the dosage
of the antidepressant premenstrually.
PMDD Symptoms
Women with PMDD complain of irritability, anger, tension, marked depressed mood, and mood lability (crying spells for no reason, verbal outbursts, or tantrums ) to such a severity that quality of life is seriously compromised. In addition to these symptoms, some women complain of lethargy, sleep disturbance, limited concentration and a host of physical symptoms such as breast tenderness,
headaches, joint and muscle pain, bloating and weight gain.
The primary symptoms that distinguish premenstrual dysphoric disorder from other mood disorders (i.e., major depression) or menstrual conditions is the
onset and duration of PMDD symptoms -- with symptoms appearing during the week or so before and disappearing within a few days after the onset of menses -- and the level by which these symptoms disrupt daily living tasks. (This diminished
level of functioning is generally in great contrast with the same woman's
interactions and abilities at other times during the month.)
The symptoms of PMDD may resemble other conditions or medical problems, such as a thyroid condition, depression, or an anxiety disorder. Consult a physician for
diagnosis.
Over the course of a year, during most menstrual cycles, five or more of the following symptoms must be present:
1. depressed mood
2. anger or irritability
3. difficulty in concentrating
4. lack of interest in activities once enjoyed
5. moodiness
6. increased appetite
7. insomnia or hypersomnia
8. feeling overwhelmed or out of control
9. other physical symptoms
10. symptoms that disturb social, occupational, or physical functioning
11. symptoms that are not related to, or exaggerated by, another medical conditionWhat is the Difference Between PMS and PMDD?
The physical symptom list is identical for PMS and PMDD; while the emotional symptoms are similar, they are significantly more serious with PMDD. In PMDD, the criteria focus on the mood rather than the physical symptoms. With PMS, sadness or mild depression is not uncommon. With PMDD, however, significant depression and hopelessness may occur; in extreme cases, women may feel like killing themselves or others. Attributing suicidal or homicidal feelings to “it’s just PMS” is inappropriate; these feelings must be taken as seriously as they are in anyone else and should be promptly brought to the attention of mental health professionals.Women who have a history of depression are at increased risk for PMDD. Similarly, women who have had PMDD are at increased risk for depression after menopause. In simplest terms, the difference between PMS and PMDD can be likened to the difference between a mild headache and a migraine
This is exactly how it feels! I'm just so glad I googled this. They say to take Vitamin B Complex, Magnesium, and Vitamin C....so I'll be trying that for the next couple of months and let's see. Hopefully this will curb the PMS depressions.
Does anyone else go through this? I just thought it'd be important to post so any others who are out there can acknowledge or take note of this kind of thing so they know how to deal with it.
