1 in 20 women have PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder. This is a cyclical, hormone-based condition, with symptoms occurring during the premenstrual phase (also called the luteal phase) of the menstrual cycle. This phase lasts on average from ovulation to the start of menstruation.
Although PMDD is directly related to the menstrual cycle, it is not a hormonal imbalance. PMDD is a severe negative reaction to the natural rise and fall of estrogen and progesterone. The only way to diagnose PMDD is to keep track of your symptoms daily for at least 2 cycles.
Symptoms of PMDD can look like:
- Mood/emotional changes (e.g., suddenly feeling sad or tearful, sensitivity to rejection).
- Irritability, anger or increased inner conflict.
- Depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness, feeling worthless or guilty.
- Anxiety, tension, or feelings of being tense or stressed.
- Decreased interest in usual activities (e.g., work, school, friends, hobbies).
- Difficulty concentrating, focusing, or thinking; brain fog.
- Fatigue or low energy.
- Changes in appetite, food cravings, overeating or binge eating.
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Hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness) or insomnia
(difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep) - Feeling overwhelmed or out of control.
- Physical symptoms such as breast tenderness or swelling, joint or muscle pain, bloating, or weight gain
If you have the idea that you may have PMDD after keeping track of 2 cycles, do not start treatments yourself without an appointment with your doctor. Discuss it with your doctor, who can then help you further in the process and help you take the next steps.
the story of Heidi
My name is Heidi and until 5 years ago I had never heard of pmdd, but when I read about it, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place for me. I wasn't 'crazy' and what I was suffering from simply had a name.
I cried and as strange as it sounds, I was glad that I now knew what I had been suffering from since puberty. Since puberty I was the insecure, sensitive girl who often had conflicts with herself, that was how I was known and that was how I started to see myself. That did a lot to my self-esteem, because I was different.
I was sent from psychologist to psychologist to find out what was bothering me. No one ever thought about my hormones. I know that I already indicated then that I could feel very bad at one moment, only to feel good again a few days later. When I felt that bad I was an insecure girl, who felt worthless, had to cry a lot and often saw death as a way out, because I felt so intensely bad. Everything around me felt black and I felt very alone. What difference would it make to anyone if I were no longer there, no one would miss me. While the following week I was a happy, spontaneous and cheerful person again, who saw life again.
At 23 I got pregnant and during my pregnancy I never felt so good, very stable. But after my pregnancy I ended up in a severe postnatal depression with a lot of fear, panic and a deep black hole. I started with AD, I still use it, my son is 22. After a year and a half I got back on my feet. But at that time I noticed that from ovulation until my period I changed every month into an insecure, anxious, emotional woman who often didn't see the point of life anymore. All the emotions came in hard and emotionally knocked me down completely. Only to then clear up completely from day 2 of my period.
I also had physical complaints such as extreme fatigue and severe headaches, these also disappeared on the second day of my period.
5 years ago I entered perimenopause and the complaints were present almost the entire month, except for a few days. Then I started looking for where my complaints, which I knew by then were hormonal, came from. I ended up on Facebook in the closed group of pmddnederland.nl. There I read so much recognition and it became clear to me what I had been suffering from for almost 30 years. I tried multiple treatments such as Zoely, Yasmin and later also the chemical menopause. Unfortunately my body also reacted very strongly to that and I was unable to keep it up.
In the meantime I have started with bio-identical hormone therapy, which is fortunately going well but I am not yet free of complaints. I am still looking for the right dosage. I hope that with my story I can reach many women who have to deal with these kinds of complaints. You are not alone, there is help and there are many women who know what you are going through.
Take a look at pmddnederland.nl for a lot of information on this subject.
Love Heidi
 This article was written by employees of PMDD Nederland. PMDD Nederland works on awareness, recognition and support for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in the Netherlands. They break stigmas and offer knowledge to help women with PMDD, with the aim of better care and understanding for this condition. The organization, founded by experts by experience, makes PMDD a topic of discussion within society. For the blog, they asked Heidi to share her story about living with PMDD. This provides valuable insights and more understanding for people with PMDD. Visit the PMDD Netherlands website for more information. |
