Headaches, mood-swings, acne, food cravings and bloatedness all attribute to about 70%-90% of women not feeling bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for a week or so before the onset of their monthly period. Usually a few dietary changes and some natural remedies will do the trick to easing the symptoms and helping them get through the rough patches.
Some women however, have it much worse and often miss a day of school or work every month. This is caused by headaches and debilitating fatigue that they cannot control.
A friend of mine, for a few years, has been flying into an incredible fit of rage every single month. The kind of rage where she could easily kill anyone who came too close. Almost every single month she tries to commit suicide - taking pills, cutting herself and crying and sleeping. Her anger is out of control. There is just no respite. It's hard for her to feel like that, but it's even harder to see the people close to her trying to deal with it when she says the things she says and does the things she does. No, she is not mad - she suffers from a chemical imbalance.
She has been told that she has PMS and that is what causes her to react like that is like swinging a leg of lamb in front of a lion and saying "come get it, big boy! - very dangerous. She once told me that hearing something which affects every woman monthly causes her to react like this, made her feel weak, stupid.
The diagnoses came as a shock. She has what they call Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. PMDD is a condition associated with severe emotional and physical problems that are linked closely to the menstrual cycle. Symptoms occur regularly in the second half of the cycle and end when menstruation begins or shortly thereafter. PMDD is not just a new name for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a condition that affects as many as 75% of menstruating women. It is, however, considered to be a very severe form of PMS that affects about 3% - 5% of menstruating women. Both PMDD and PMS share symptoms in common that include depression, anxiety, tension, irritability and moodiness. What sets PMDD apart is its severity. Women with PMDD find that it has a very disruptive effect on their lives.
Having PMDD is no laughing matter, even though others may not take it seriously. In an article in Journal of the American Medical Association (1999;281:368-374) one woman said, "I'm tired of these [PMS] jokes, too, because if you live in my body, it's not a pleasant thing to have to go through every single month where you feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I don't find it really amusing. It's like making fun of someone who has crutches or is in a wheelchair. I wish people were more sympathetic. It's a valid problem that needs attention."
PMDD is treatable with dietary changes, lifestyle adjustments, natural remedies and various prescription drugs, which have their own disadvantages. Support and understanding from loved ones goes a long way.
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