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Please note – this post contains descriptions of PMDD related suicidal ideation that some may find distressing. Please read with caution.
Unusual Exhaustion
The alarms rings, it’s a battle to wake up, and every step I take feels like I’ve taken 10,000.
Tasks I typically do with ease have become unusually difficult and any free moment I get, I just want to spend sleeping.
Everyday activities can become so overwhelming that the idea of sleeping for days, until it passes, begins to feel increasingly appealing.
PMDD related fatigue is nothing to be taken lightly.
If you’re reading this and you don’t experience the condition, just think back to a moment of your life when you had a serious case of the flu.
Or perhaps, you had the unfortunate opportunity of experiencing long Covid and the extreme fatigue that came along with that.
Well, this kind of extreme fatigue is one of the effects PMDD can have on women with the condition — the difference being that we experience it every month.
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You’ll notice across my PMDD blog posts that I tend to focus on the severe emotional symptoms of the condition.
However, following the popularity of one specific video published in 2022, I felt it was appropriate to explore this physical symptom and its detrimental effects further.
It’s clearly a serious concern for a large population of our community, to the extent that some sources of information give it greater focus.
Save this particular article by Healthline to have a read later — they give additional tips on how to battle this symptom aside the ones I’ll share in this post.
PMDD related fatigue is more disruptive to a woman’s life then I believe most people can fathom. It’s the one symptom I found most disruptive to life when compared to other physical symptoms.
Think about it this way.
If you feel too exhausted to do anything, you’ll struggle to do just that — anything.
It’s not simply a mild bout of tiredness; it’s an extreme level of exhaustion that can be deeply debilitating.
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Understanding the Severity
I’m so much further improved than where I was previously. I eat well, exercise regularly, practice optimism and I’m constantly developing my faith in God.
Even with the progress I’ve made, PMDD fatigue is still a major part of my monthly battle with the condition.
For someone like me who practices these disciplines most days yet is still affected, it’s worth imagining how this symptom might impact women who are simply trying to get through each day.
This fatigue, combined with the other debilitating emotional symptoms, easily paints a picture of how the condition can ruin a woman’s quality of life — and it’s not just the exhaustion, but the implications it can have overall.
Let me put it into perspective by going back to my past for a moment.
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During those two PMDD weeks, I was often too exhausted to manage even the most basic tasks.
Washing dishes, hoovering, shopping, cooking, and even self-hygiene felt taxing. I’d be sat amongst a messy environment looking unkept.
Concentrating on anything was daunting which made it difficult to keep up with the demanding nature of my job at the time.
God forbid anyone invited me out, I was too exhausted to leave the house let alone drive — walking from room to room felt like a chore in itself.
During such times, the most I could handle was walking from my bedroom to use the bathroom and back. On my return to the bedroom, I’d feel as though I had just run a full lap.
If anyone sought after my wellbeing, I’d lie — ashamed and too embarrassed to admit how much I was struggling.
I’d say I was taking it easy, or working on things and my messages would be plastered with cheerful emojis to avoid raising concern. I didn’t want to burden anyone so I kept the debilitating disruption to myself.
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The Mental Drain
It didn’t end there. I would criticise myself for the level of neglect I was demonstrating.
The knock-on effect to my mental wellbeing became profoundly damaging because I viewed myself as useless and weak for feeling like this. The little remaining self-worth I had, I ripped to shreds.
Laying there teary eyed and depressed, I became exhausted with life itself.
When things reached their worst, I applied for PIP payments. A type of benefit in the UK for people with disabilities. I was struggling to keep it together but couldn’t give up work for fear of falling into serious financial hardship.
I had a mortgage, bills, and a car to maintain — but I was single and depended on myself, so taking a break didn’t feel like a possibility despite how much I knew I needed it.
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The potential for uncontrolled debt combined with the condition felt like a recipe for disaster. My spending habits relating to the condition were already causing unnecessary stress.
In the end, the Department for Work and Pensions who assess such benefit claims like that of PIP, rejected my application.
The cyclical nature of the condition made it difficult to describe so my claim was awarded zero points and my application for financial support on this basis was denied.
I was crushed. I had a real debilitating condition but felt alone and abandoned at my most crucial time of need.
To make matters worse, their letter of rejection arrived during PMDD week so I didn’t have the mental capacity to fight.
The depression and anxiety symptoms caused me to cry and place the letter out of sight. With no emotional strength to fight and appeal their decision, my feelings of hopelessness continued.
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A Glimmer of Hope
So what changed?
Well, if you’ve read my full introduction, you’ll note I stated ‘Desperation’ was the catalyst for change in my life. Aside PMDD, my life was falling apart and the condition was a major contributing factor.
I’m thankful to this day for the helpline with Samaritans. I had spoken to them on a few occasions when I came close to giving up on life.
I’d simply had enough but didn’t want to traumatise my loved ones, so I prayed but I also spoke to someone. They really listened and showed real compassion.
One or two just listened to me cry giving me words of reassurance — it was all I needed at that time.
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If you’re a woman with PMDD, I want to be that voice for you. Your struggles do not go unseen.
Even if people don’t know or understand what you experience, God does and I do too because I’ve been there.
If you struggle with suicidal ideation, I encourage you to speak to someone – a suicidal prevention helpline in your region, or someone you trust.
Don’t allow the condition to rob this earth of such a beautiful, spirited person.
You’re meant to be here, you deserve to be here, you were born with real potential, and things can get better.
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Fighting Back
So let me continue and share a little more about how I handle this side of the condition in present day.
The main work began when I simply decided that I wanted more from life. Despite how hopeless things felt overall, I’d had enough and refused to back down.
Although it previously presented the most challenging times in my life, it has greatly contributed to the emotional strength I have today. My life’s calling is inspired by life with the condition.
We are much stronger than the condition would have us believe. To coexist with it and continue life as normal, takes a serious level of resilience and endurance — we’re an army of warriors.
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As mentioned previously, PMDD fatigue is the main part of my monthly struggle to date.
I’ve developed what some may view as a military approach with the actions I take to counter act it, and It’s not because I want to, but because I know it’s the only route to better.
I’ll be honest, it’s taken time, effort and dedication, but I’ve stayed consistent. Doing so has caused the severity of symptoms to become drastically minimised overall, with the fatigue being less of a battle than it was in the past.
The three things I share next are practices I implement when it comes to the fatigue that I hope are helpful for your own journey.
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Combat Fatigue — Fitness
Firstly, I work out regularly regardless of how I’m feeling — typically three to four times a week and during PMDD weeks, I focus specifically on strength training.
I couldn’t understand why working my muscles had such a positive effect, so in doing a little research I found this great article by Psychology Today on The Mental Health Benefits of Strength Training that I’d encourage you to read.
Combat Fatigue — Food
Secondly, I’ve become very strict with the food I consume. Previously, I practiced this discipline during the bad weeks but it’s now part of everyday life.
Avoiding junk foods during PMDD days is tough especially because many of us experience severe food cravings — mine were sugary and salty foods, but I managed to minimise my intake greatly, only having them on special occasions.
In addition, I no longer buy anything unhealthy. So even during cravings, there are no options conveniently available in the kitchen. On the rare occasion that I order food, it’ll always be a healthy option.
By ensuring I have good quality food available makes it easier to avoid external temptations.
The impact of this practice helps me sustain energy, promotes a ‘lighter’ feeling, and improves my mental alertness — all beneficial when it comes to managing the fatigue.
Combat Fatigue — Strategic Sleep
Lastly, when it comes to managing the fatigue I wake up early, take one deep short nap in the day (if possible), but most importantly, I sleep earlier than usual.
Working out tires me out so sleeping early when I’m already fatigued from the condition is easily achieved. I’ll get to bed around 9pm and be up just after 6am.
With the added combination of my day nap and the gym, I stay refreshed, vibrant, and alert.
I reprioritise tasks and where possible work ahead of schedule so when I do run out of energy, the most important things are already done. I make allowances for setbacks, remind myself of my efforts, and give more focus to the wins.
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Summary
The routine I practice takes discipline.
However, knowing what the fatigue of the condition was doing to me, forced me to develop a structure that would help me manage it better.
Improving life with PMDD doesn’t happen overnight.
If you practice a little over and again, that little becomes larger and things start to look very different. Life doesn’t just become more manageable, it becomes more enjoyable.
Here’s another article by Flo on ways to fight the fatigue that you may find helpful —they’ve reiterated a few of the things I’ve mentioned.
It’d be wonderful if someone just created a cure already right?
Well, whilst there isn’t one available yet, let’s continue fighting for ourselves and remember that I’m right there with you.
We’re fighting for us, for those who love us, and for the next generation of those diagnosed with the condition who may become inspired by our journeys.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
