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PMDD is formally known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
It’s severe and in many cases is a debilitating version of PMS (premenstrual syndrome).
The best way to think of it is ‘PMS on steroids’.
Women who have the condition experience tough emotional disturbances during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle.
These disturbances can also last up to 2 weeks before our period is due.
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We have extra brain sensitivity to the changes that occur in our hormones during this phase of our cycle.
We experience both emotional and physical symptoms.
The element of disruption PMDD is most known for however is the severity of the emotional symptoms.
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PMDD Symptoms
These can range from a mixture of the following.
Anxiety, sadness, depression, hopelessness, feeling on edge or like things are out of our control, severe fatigue, severe food cravings, body dysmorphia, suicidal thoughts and the like.
Unpleasant physical symptoms can include things like breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain, bloating and various others.
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Things to Note
PMDD affects a small percentage of women globally (approximately 5-8%).
It’s not a well known condition and up until the point of this post, there’s no known cure.
Many women are unaware they have the condition. It’s actually quite common for women to be misdiagnosed as having depression, bipolar or other mental health disorders.
Due to the cyclical nature of the condition, PMDD can affect a woman’s quality of life dramatically in all aspects.
Relationships, work life, one’s ability to carry out routine duties, enthusiasm for hobbies we typically enjoy – to name a few.
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My Experience
I’ve personally had this condition for most of my life although I wasn’t formally diagnosed until approx. 2016.
Prior to that, like many, I was misdiagnosed as suffering from depression.
After keeping a journal for two years, it wasn’t until I visited my doctor’s office with my mood diary, that I received the correct diagnosis.
At the time awareness of the condition was significantly less than it is today.
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I actually discovered PMDD through someone else’s blog post. Like many, I was searching online for answers.
The blog I read sounded almost exactly like my life and it was then that I knew, I had the condition.
PMDD has played a major contributing role to my life on and off social media. The years I spent suffering in silence inspired an intense desire to help others.
I’m here for those who know what it is to fight themselves for survival – to represent the under-represented.
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PMDD is difficult to live with beyond the understanding of those who have no experience with it.
You feel yourself and then at some point, your emotions feel chaotic with no tangible explanation.
I’ve gone into much more detail across my various PMDD Blog posts.
Life with PMDD is no easy feat but similarly, life can be what you make it so join me and let’s begin taking small steps for bigger changes – today.
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 provide information here.
