Estimated Reading Time: 4 Minutes
Introduction
So, what exactly is PMDD?
PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, is a severe and often debilitating form of PMS (premenstrual syndrome).
The simplest way to think of PMDD is as PMS on steroids.
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Women living with the condition can experience significant emotional and psychological disturbances during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.
In many cases, these symptoms can persist for up to two weeks before our period begins.
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The reason why we are affected in this way is because our brains are more sensitive to the hormonal changes that occur during this phase of our menstrual cycle.
Although the emotional symptoms are often what make the condition debilitating, many of us also experience a range of physical symptoms.
What distinguishes PMDD from PMS, however, is the intensity of its emotional symptoms.
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How PMDD Can Affect You
Symptoms can vary from person to person, but commonly include: anxiety, sadness, depression, feelings of hopelessness, a sense of being overwhelmed or out of control, severe fatigue, body dysmorphia, and suicidal thoughts.
The physical symptoms may include breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain, bloating, migraines, mouth ulcers, intense food cravings and a range of other discomforts.
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PMDD affects a relatively small percentage of women worldwide, with estimates suggesting around 5-8% of women are affected.
In addition, it also remains a largely misunderstood condition and, at the time of writing, there is no known cure.
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Many women are unaware they have PMDD, and it’s not uncommon for the condition to be misdiagnosed as depression, bipolar disorder, or another mental health disorder.
Due to the cyclical nature of the condition, PMDD can have a significant impact on a woman’s quality of life across many areas.
Relationships, work, day-to-day responsibilities, and even enthusiasm for hobbies and activities that are typically enjoyed can all be affected.
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My Life with PMDD
I’ve lived with this condition for most of my life, although I wasn’t formally diagnosed until around 2016.
Prior to that, like many women with the condition, I was initially misdiagnosed with depression.
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After keeping a mood journal for two years, I finally attended my doctors appointment with detailed records of my symptoms and received the correct diagnosis.
At the time, awareness of PMDD was far lower than it is today.
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I actually discovered PMDD through someone else’s blog post while searching online for answers, as many of us do.
The experiences described were almost identical to my own, and it was that moment I realised I had the condition.
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PMDD has played a major role in shaping my life, both on and off social media.
The years I spent suffering in silence fuelled a deep desire to help others facing similar struggles — even beyond PMDD.
I’m here for those who know what it is to fight against themselves simply to get through the day, and I serve to give a voice to the underrepresented.
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PMDD is incredibly difficult to live with in ways that are hard to fully understand unless you’ve experienced it yourself.
For those unfamiliar with the condition, the simplest way to describe it is that you feel like yourself one moment, and then, seemingly without explanation, your emotions descend into chaos.
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I’ve explored PMDD in much greater detail throughout my various blog posts on the subject.
Living with PMDD is far from easy, but life is still what we make of it — so join me in taking small steps today that can lead to meaningful change tomorrow.
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Further Reading
For a more detailed read on PMDD, this article by the National Institutes of Health is particularly useful.
If you’re in the UK, the Mind organisation also provide further information here.
