Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that causes emotional and psychological distress in the two weeks before a period, the luteal phase.
PMDD wasn’t recognised as a mental health disorder until 2013, but awareness of the condition has been building in recent years, with celebrities sharing their experiences and inspiring others to do the same on social media. The term “PMDD” currently has 64,000 related videos on TikTok and 214,000 posts on Instagram.
What are the symptoms of PMDD?
Mood swings – feeling upset or tearful Depression and suicidal thoughts Anxiety Hopelessness Anger or irritation Difficulty concentrating Feeling overwhelmed Lack of motivationPMDD can also result in physical symptoms:
Breast tenderness Fatigue Headaches Bloating Sleep problems Changes in appetiteFor more information, visit the NHS or Mind website.
“I once quit a job because my PMDD told me to, and then I came on my period a few days later and had to shuffle back into the office and beg for my job back. It’s quite destructive.
Fran Taylor says that PMDD has been ‘destructive’ for her at times (Photo: Supplied)Ms Taylor, who also has endometriosis, said that she has been going to the doctor with symptoms relating to both conditions since the age of 15, but was only diagnosed with PMDD last year.
Rebecca Eldridge, 31, a menstrual health coach who lives in London, said her PMDD symptoms became really noticeable as she moved through her twenties.
Rebecca Eldridge now works with women to help them navigate conditions such as PMDD (Photo: Supplied)
Amy Sergeant, also 31, a PMDD educator who lives in Thailand, was affected by symptoms from her teenage years, and made several suicidal attempts.
“It was pretty apparent then that something was wrong, but it wasn’t really something that was discussed. They diagnosed me with borderline personality disorder, which never really felt right,” she said.
Ms Eldridge also thought at one time that a hysterectomy may be the only answer, as she began to have conversations with her doctor about such a step around the time she was diagnosed at the age of 28.
But at the time “I thought that if I felt like that – depressed – every month, maybe I would not be able to be a good mum”.
“Since I was a teenager, every month I would get so depressed,” she said, adding that she knew it was not depression, as the feeling would end after a few days.
There is no cure for PMDD, and although women may take antidepressants or hormonal birth control to help alleviate the symptoms, these medications do not suit everyone. Many women therefore try to navigate the condition by making lifestyle changes instead.
“I felt like I was walking through treacle, just sedated all the time.”
Ms Taylor finds that the best way for her to manage her symptoms is therapy, as “having a space to process my experiences, my emotions, understand how to cope with how I’m feeling, has been a really big thing.”
Ms Sergeant said she has learnt to manage her PMDD by researching “the anatomy of the brain,” as well as practicing yoga and meditation.
Amy Sergeant is a PMDD educator who runs workshops on tools including acceptance and self-compassion (Photo: Supplied)“I started to build myself a morning routine: ‘I’m going to have a cold shower because I know that soothes anxiety. I’m going to do some breath work because I know that that regulates my nervous system. Then I’m going to meditate because I know that that creates a separation between me and my thoughts’.
Although she is not “healed,” she said her cycle no longer “affects my ability to do things at all,” and she now dedicates her time to helping other women learn to “flow” through their emotions and the physical sensations they bring by offering resources and leading online workshops on areas including acceptance, understanding, self-compassion and regulation.
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She believes it is important for women to track their cycle and map their symptoms, which will normally fall into the same pattern each time.
Having a sense of community around the condition is also vital, the women said.
“I remember reading it and my mind almost exploded. I was like: ‘that is my life in front of me’.”
“I’ve helped quite a few people get a diagnosis of PMDD, which is the main reason why I do this. I had such a tough time with getting a diagnosis, so sharing my story is like a form of therapy.
It helps to be kind to yourself, Fran Taylor says (Photo: Supplied)
Ms Eldridge said: “That sense of community is vital, as you do feel like you’re alone and you’re losing it a bit, especially when it’s very hard for your inner circle to understand.
In order to increase awareness of the condition, Ms Eldridge now works to create affordable guides and resources for women with PMDD. She said that she hopes this will help give women the education they need to understand their PMDD and reduce symptoms.
“I still feel depressed but now I know it’s PMDD,” she said, adding: “Just the knowing alone is really beneficial”.
She said she’s heard from “loads of people” telling her “’I didn’t know about this, I think I’ve got it’, or ‘I think my sister’s got it’.”
“Like most women’s health conditions, the stigma, shame and silence related to PMDD can make it difficult to seek help and speak to someone that they trust.
An NHS England spokesperson said: “All too often we’ve heard from women whose health concerns have been dismissed, which is why the NHS in England is taking action to improve services and ensure healthcare professionals take signs and symptoms seriously, including for issues such as PMDD.
“Over nine in 10 local areas now have at least one women’s health hub providing designated care to help improve patient experience and access to specialist care for thousands of women outside of hospitals. Effective treatments exist and we want to ensure women know where they can get help and support they need.”
For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice call Papyrus on 0800 068 4141, text 07860 039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org
To contact Samaritans, call 116 123 or visit samaritans.org
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