Estimated Reading Time: 9 mins
Introduction
You may have noticed patterns in your behaviour that led you to wonder whether you had bipolar disorder or another mental health condition.
However, you’ve also noticed that the symptoms are cyclical rather than persistent.
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The one thing that leaves you wondering is that, as soon as your period begins, you start to experience almost an immediate sense of relief.
As your period continues, that relief often continues with it.
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If you’ve recently come across PreMenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and are wondering whether it may be something you’re experiencing, the information below should help.
However, please bear in mind that it is not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.
If you have concerns, you should always seek advice from a qualified medical professional.
With that said, I’d like to outline a few practical steps you can take in the meantime to support you in the diagnosis process.
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Step 1. Building a Symptom Timeline
One of the first steps is to begin keeping a diary of your moods and symptoms.
The aim of your journaling should be to record the following:
- The date you notice a significant shift in your mood
- How you’re feeling each day, in as much detail as possible
- The date you begin to experience relief from your symptoms
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From the mildest symptoms to the most severe, make a note of everything.
Ideally, you should track your symptoms for two to three months, although the longer you do so, the more useful the information will be.
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When you consult a medical professional, your journal can provide a much clearer picture of your experiences and symptom patterns.
This can support a more accurate assessment and help ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment and support — avoiding a misdiagnosis in the process.
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Why Keep a Journal?
Keeping a journal helps determine whether your symptoms follow a cyclical pattern.
More specifically, the goal is to identify whether the onset of your period coincides with a noticeable relief from such symptoms.
This is one of the defining features of PMDD, and journaling can help establish whether that pattern exists.
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PMDD Steps Into the Spotlight
Although recognition was slow, PMDD is now classified as a distinct disorder.
It is included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, Fifth edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
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PMDD is also recognised by the World Health Organisation and categorised within the International Classification of Diseases under code F32.81, which is recognised in the UK.
You can read more about it here.
So yes, PMDD is now taken seriously, and the first step towards managing the condition is obtaining an accurate diagnosis.
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Step 2. Do the Symptoms Fit?
To meet the diagnosis criteria for PMDD, you should be experiencing at least five of the following symptoms during the one to two weeks leading up to your period.
These may include any of the following:
- Sudden sadness
- Tearfulness
- Increased sensitivity to rejection
- Marked irritability
- Anger
- Increased interpersonal conflicts (for example, difficulties within relationships)
- Depressed mood
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Self-deprecating thoughts (such as excessive self-criticism, or, in my experience, body dysmorphia)
- Anxiety
- Tension
- Feeling on edge
- Suicidal thoughts
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The above symptoms are often accompanied by some of the following:
- A decreased interest in normal day-to-day activities
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Lethargy
- Fatigue and/or a significant lack of energy.
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You may also experience additional changes, including:
- Changes in appetite, such as food cravings or overeating
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or hypersomnia
- Feeling overwhelmed or as though things are out of control
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What Often Goes Unmentioned
As if the emotional symptoms aren’t challenging enough, many women also experience a range of physical symptoms.
The most common include:
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Joint and/or muscle pain
- Weight gain or a sensation of bloating
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Beyond the emotional and physical symptoms already mentioned, I personally experience eczema flare-ups and periods of constipation, both of which can be particularly unpleasant.
Hopefully, everything shared so far provides a clearer understanding of why PMDD is considered such a debilitating condition.
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Many of Us Understand
How does anyone navigate life while experiencing symptoms like these month after month?
It’s a devastating condition, yet countless women do exactly that, and many are simply doing their best to get through each day.
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Living with PMDD tore my life apart for many years, and it’s something I will continue to experience until menopause — which I’ve heard comes with its own challenges.
At some point, however, I decided I no longer wanted to live at the mercy of the condition in the way that I had.
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PMDD is one of the reasons why I became so determined to seek a better way of living despite the condition.
I was committed to doing whatever it took to fully experience and enjoy all that life had to offer.
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If any of the symptoms described in this post resonate with your own experience, please know that you are not alone.
And I want you to know this — if you want better, better is possible.
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Summary
Before anything else, we first need to establish whether PMDD is the condition you’ve been battling.
As mentioned earlier, your two main areas of focus should be:
- Step 1: Keep a journal, paying close attention to dates and symptom patterns.
- Step 2: Record your symptoms in as much detail as possible
Continue tracking your experiences and then seek medical advice so you can be supported with diagnosis and treatment.
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Once you’ve taken those first steps, the focus shifts towards working on ourselves so we can get the most out of life.
To maximise our potential despite the mental challenges life may present.
I’ve dedicated years of my own life to that pursuit, and every piece of content I create is rooted in that purpose.
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No more dimming your light because of this condition.
You are significant, you belong here, and your journey towards wellness is worth every effort.
If I can continue fighting, growing, and elevating with each passing month, so can you.
(To watch my PMDD self-diagnosis video on YouTube, click here).
