Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

why am i blogging about this??? cause I can dammit!!!! lol...also cause it maybe can help someone out there.

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 condition

What 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.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Pray also, not suggesting that its some useless attack, just cause...prayer changes things. All the best!

Oroma said...

how do i reach you?
-moving home soon. for some reason. im wondering why i haven't it in forerver now. at least for the winter. seriously it couldn't that bad. at least i will have family that will make it all feel at a home.

i like your blog.
i just a launched a magazine.called POPAFRICANA pls check it out when u find time
popafricana.com

thank you. keep writing!
xo

Rachel said...

Hi Lola,
I found your blog from googling myself. I am so happy to find I am not alone. I feel INSANE!! I am happy to know that I can take some herbal supplement
s to curb the intense emotional outbursts. My poor boyfriend has to deal with me every month like this, and I thank God he is understanding. I have found that my pmdd is getting worse. I to have had suicidal thoughts and extreme crying episodes. Good luck, and God bless...( I feel your pain)

O'Dee said...

Insightful stuff.

I get easily irritated n annoyed when im on my period. But I've learnt to cntrl how I feel.

Aspa ur comment on my blog.
Haven't attended the church in years, so u may not know me.

Anonymous said...

I'm 2 months into an injection that causes menopause - then the op for ovaries and womb out. I'm 36 and have suffered PMDD for 17 years. I've just had enough of it - plain and simple. Lost one career because of it. Praying is nonsense. Whoever said it obviously knows nothing about this subject. Okay, the history: Pill thru 20s (nightmare - i am progesterone intolerant), b vits, st john wort, etc, etc. Exercise, no caffeine or alcohol. 30s brought prozac which was 80% effective. Tried that Yasmin pill last year (Gynae script) what a bloody nightmare - stuck to the ceiling for 2 weeks! Then a Gynae lied to my face and put me on yet another Pill (he told me there was no progesterone in it... complete BS)... now on the inj. Hot flushes are not fun... but second month and no period this month. Mentally I feel great. I feel like me. But, no children for me. I realised I would not make a fit mother, and that ignores how many relationships have failed due to PMDD. Then there is the question - do you want to pass this misery on to a daughter? I certainly do not. Now, sounds like a whinge I know. But it is not. My advice to all is try the listed first and second line treatments. Look at Professor Studd's website - he doesn't say it is 'all in your head' and blame it as a psychological origin. It has it's origins in hormones, with psycholocial symptoms. Good luck all. And, p.s., if you do not have a sympathetic doctor - dump them and find one who is. I had to kiss alot of frogs before I found one. My personal experience was 5 male GPs and 2 male Gynae Consultants before I found a female doc and consultant who actually took me seriously. I'm sure there are great male professionals in this field... just my experience. :-), Susie (happy again) (one last p.s.,.. I eventually ended up with a 23 day cycle, 10 days PMDD and 10 days of period.... misery)

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PMDD sucks said...

hi, I just read your blog and I have to ask if it has gotten any better for you? How old are you? I am 27 and since I turned 26, my PMS has been by the book.I mean, all those cliches about ladies and their PMS were suddenly true for me. I would tear up at dog food commercials, car commercials and comedies. I'd become super sensitive, forget how to take a joke, take myself way too seriously, become paranoid, extremely sad and self loathing and anxious (very very anxious). This week I was a mess. I went away a week ago and had a great time and felt emotionally wonderful. This week i fell into this rut. I did not want to see anyone, be around anyone or talk to anyone. I could not stop thinking about how "out of my control" my life was and how overwhelming my responsibilities were becoming. I could cry on cue (no kidding). Tonight, I got my period. And Now i feel fine again. Just like that, snap and I'm confident and relaxed. I don't get it. I hate giving credit to new psych terms, considering I hate psychology and think its a bogus science, but I mean, what the eff? I also don't want it to get any worse. Its horrible now, what will it be like in 2 years from now? and will I develop severe depression all the time?

You are not alone. We should all cry together when we're PMDDing.

pmdd said...

I think I know all the things about PMDD. It is because of this article. It has all the information about it and I can say that this post is very well written. Thank you for sharing it.