PMDD: What It Is, Common Symptoms, and How to Finally Manage It

Or what I like to call, "werewolf time"

All of a sudden, a demon awoke inside me and began to tear its way through my life. We’ve all heard of PMS, that time before that time of the month where we women maybe get a little more irritable, acne-prone, or hungrier.

But have you heard of PMS’s evil older sister? Her name is PMDD. For those who don’t know, PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder; it’s a less talked about and more intense form of PMS. While PMDD typically starts during the reproductive years, it can begin at any time after a woman starts having menstrual cycles and may develop or worsen as a woman approaches menopause. There’s no exact cause of PMDD, but sudden changes in your hormones during your cycle or a family history of PMDD or mood disorders can indicate it might happen to you. I’m no doctor, but here are some common symptoms of PMDD:

Extreme mood swings (suddenly sad or crying and/or increased sensitivity to rejection)

Extreme irritability or anger, often causing interpersonal conflicts

Extreme depressed mood (suicidal ideation is common, self-deprecating thoughts, hopelessness) If you are feeling suicidal, please call 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Hotline

1. Extreme anxiety

2. To be properly diagnosed, medical and mental health professionals often say that one of the following symptoms must be present:

3. Decreased interest in usual activities (e.g., work, school, friends, hobbies)

4. Subjective sense of difficulty in concentration

5. Lethargy, easy fatigability, or marked lack of energy

6. Marked change in appetite, overeating, or specific food cravings

7. Hypersomnia or insomnia

8. A sense of being overwhelmed or out of control

Physical symptoms such as breast tenderness or swelling, joint or muscle pain, a sensation of “bloating,” or weight gain

These symptoms must be present for most of the time during the last week of the luteal phase (the final phase of the menstrual cycle) and remit within a few days after the onset of menses. They must also be severe enough to interfere significantly with work, school, usual social activities, or relationships.

Please, please, please see your trusted medical professional if you feel you might suffer from PMDD. The symptoms of this disorder can really make you feel like you do a COMPLETE 180° of yourself; it feels like you’re a new person… and not in a good way.

How to Deal & What to Avoid

Although one episode of PMDD could send you running to the pharmacy or the doctor to desperately find a “cure,” don’t fret. Here are some ways I’ve found relief during the werewolf phase of my cycle.

The Natural Way

For my naturopathic girlies, some common remedies I’ve seen women taking are:

1. Calcium

2. Ashwagandha

3. Vitamin D (at least 1000 mcg)

4. Magnesium

5. Iron

6. Agnus Castus or Chasteberry

7. Vitamin B complex

8. Xiaoyaosan (Chinese medicine is huge)

9. GABA

The Pills Method

Birth control and SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) have been known to help tremendously with PMDD, but be aware of the side effects of this method.

Keep in mind, both methods can take some time to take effect. Again, please consult your trusted health professionals.

Hormonal birth control—the goal is to stop ovulation, YAZ is a popular drug that helps with PMDD.

1. Zoloft

2. Celexa

3. Lexapro (I hear this one is the best)

4. Prozac

The goal is not to suffer; PMDD can be life-threatening.

Girlies, my heart goes out to you if you are dealing with PMDD. If you have any other methods that could be helpful to other women suffering from this disorder, please put some comments below ⬇️.