P.M.D.D
Premenstrual Dysphoric
Disorder
So what is it?
Alongside GAD and depression, I have also struggled with a mood disorder called Premenstrual dysphoric disorder otherwise known as PMDD… (as if one mental illness wasn’t enough, why why why?…)
Anyway, many people may have heard of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) which is when women experience changes in their moods, and bodies leading up to their period. PMDD is a severe form of PMS and has the capacity to drastically affect a suffers life. With PMDD, sufferers tend to suffer more from the mood fluctuations rather than physical changes. PMDD can cause sufferers to feel become so overwhelmed with feelings like depression and anxiety that they may find it difficult to cope and may even become suicidal.
Anyway, many people may have heard of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) which is when women experience changes in their moods, and bodies leading up to their period. PMDD is a severe form of PMS and has the capacity to drastically affect a suffers life. With PMDD, sufferers tend to suffer more from the mood fluctuations rather than physical changes. PMDD can cause sufferers to feel become so overwhelmed with feelings like depression and anxiety that they may find it difficult to cope and may even become suicidal.
What does it feel like?
PMDD is much less common than PMS and only affects about 5% of women. (Unlucky me hey?) To understand PMDD, imagine having normal PMS but multiply it by about 100! That’s how intense PMDD can feel and for a person affected by this condition PMDD can be a very debilitating and difficult disorder to live with. People who have been fortunate enough not to be inflicted by this condition may struggle to understand how PMDD can have such a drastic impact on a sufferer’s life. Many may mistakenly think the sufferer is being dramatic, weak, or attention seeking, but this is not the case at all. With PMDD it is very difficult to control the severe mood swings and this can drastically affect a sufferer’s personality and actions to such an extent that the sufferer becomes unrecognisable to themselves and to those around them
Possible Emotional Symtoms...
-Intense depressed mood
- Feelings of hopelessness and possibly suicidal thoughts
- Severe uncontrollable mood swings
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Feelings of worthlessness and low self esteem
- Irritability and aggressiveness and feelings of guilt
- Heightened sensitivity
- Intense feelings of being overwhelmed or out of control.
- Increased insecurity and need for constant reassurance
- Irrational thoughts and out of character behaviour
- Being uncharacteristically unsociable
- Difficulty concentrating
- Feelings of hopelessness and possibly suicidal thoughts
- Severe uncontrollable mood swings
- Crying for no apparent reason
- Feelings of worthlessness and low self esteem
- Irritability and aggressiveness and feelings of guilt
- Heightened sensitivity
- Intense feelings of being overwhelmed or out of control.
- Increased insecurity and need for constant reassurance
- Irrational thoughts and out of character behaviour
- Being uncharacteristically unsociable
- Difficulty concentrating
Physical Symptoms may include
- feeling tired all the time
- noticeable changes in appetite
- changes in sleeping patterns
- breast tenderness
- headaches
- muscle pain
- noticeable changes in appetite
- changes in sleeping patterns
- breast tenderness
- headaches
- muscle pain
PMDD Pattern
What differentiates PMDD from other mood disorders is the pattern that the changes in mood occur. Knowing the pattern can help the sufferer and the doctor to diagnose whether or not PMDD is present. Many sufferers find it helpful to keep a diary of their mood changes throughout their menstrual cycle and this can again highlight if there is a recurring pattern which is characteristic of PMDD
- the symptoms usually occur during the week or so before a period
- the symptoms tend to decrease during the period itself
So who gets PMDD then?
Well simply put, anyone who is a woman and has periods can be at risk of developing PMDD! However, don’t panic, only 5% of the female population are affected by PMDD, although a much larger percentage of women commonly experience mild PMS symptoms at some point in their life. Women who have suffered from depression, postnatal depression and/or anxiety disorders may be more prone to becoming affected by PMDD. (Well that explains how I got lumbered with it then, damn you depression and anxiety!)
Women who suffer from depression, SAD and anxiety disorders many find that their symptoms feel even more intense and worse, during their menstrual cycle if they also suffer from PMDD. Like anxiety and depressive disorders, PMDD sufferers are aware that there thoughts, feelings and actions are irrational, but they feel powerless to control it. This isn’t due to lack of effort, but is an actual symptom of the condition. PMDD is like a vicious circle, whereby sufferers are aware that their monthly psychological and physical changes are affecting people around them, but they cannot seem to control their erratic behaviour. Although sufferers are often remorseful for their uncharacteristic actions, and despite the trying their best not to let it happen again, the disorder can unfortunately cause sufferers to succumb to the vicious cycle and it can be extremely difficult for the sufferer to break free. This can make the sufferer feel like they are ‘weird’ ‘a freak’ or simply going mad and sadly the stigma attached to mental illness may often prevent women from seeking medical help they so desperately need.
Women who suffer from depression, SAD and anxiety disorders many find that their symptoms feel even more intense and worse, during their menstrual cycle if they also suffer from PMDD. Like anxiety and depressive disorders, PMDD sufferers are aware that there thoughts, feelings and actions are irrational, but they feel powerless to control it. This isn’t due to lack of effort, but is an actual symptom of the condition. PMDD is like a vicious circle, whereby sufferers are aware that their monthly psychological and physical changes are affecting people around them, but they cannot seem to control their erratic behaviour. Although sufferers are often remorseful for their uncharacteristic actions, and despite the trying their best not to let it happen again, the disorder can unfortunately cause sufferers to succumb to the vicious cycle and it can be extremely difficult for the sufferer to break free. This can make the sufferer feel like they are ‘weird’ ‘a freak’ or simply going mad and sadly the stigma attached to mental illness may often prevent women from seeking medical help they so desperately need.