Every month for about a week I feel like crap. No, it’s not PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome) but PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). PMS includes things such as: bloating and weight gain, breast tenderness, foot/hand swelling, aches and pains, poor concentration, sleep disturbance, and change in appetite. I’ve never had PMS in my life. I always had an inkling (or a physical feeling) when my period was soon to come but I was lucky enough not to have any of the symptoms associated with PMS.
After being pregnant, then breastfeeding, then pregnant, then breastfeeding again for about 4 or 5 years in a row I was lucky enough not to get my period, except for a couple before I fell pregnant for the second time. But since my period has returned this time around I have battled with a depression that lasts for about a week out of every four. It starts just before my period does and lasts till a couple days before the period ends.
As many people may not have heard of this (I hadn’t!) I thought I would put some info up about it. From Yahoo Health: “PMDD symptoms are related to hormone changes during the menstrual cycle. Emotional symptoms include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, irritability and sensitivity, anger, being overwhelmed, and the need to withdraw from others. Physical and behavioral symptoms include lack of energy, problems with concentrating, sleep problems, food cravings or binge eating, breast tenderness, bloating and weight gain, headaches, and joint or muscle pain. Women diagnosed with PMDD are typically encouraged to use healthy lifestyle choices and prescription medication to manage their symptoms.”
For me, it comes as a depression and extreme lethargy. So in practical terms, I want to do things but I just couldn’t be bothered. Of course, I have to feed the kids and take them places (because they climb the walls if I don’t and that is just counter-productive) but for instance, I desperately want to craft and just can’t! It’s the therapy I know I need but I can’t be bothered.
Sometimes I force myself to do something to try to kickstart the getting over it, and it sometimes works a bit but there’s no real joy in it. I just have to wait until it passes and then I get back to normal. While it’s happening it feels like it will never end, though I know that is just a trick my mind is playing.
So up until yesterday (when it magically cleared) I did a lot of laying around, feeling miserable and lethargic, having trouble sleeping at night and napping in the day, being cranky and having a bit of a cry here and there. What fun! Anyway, it has passed again now and now it feels like it was never here. Having suffered a major depression for many years (that I got over about 4 years ago) I am aware of what to look for and act quickly. I am lucky (and very thankful) it’s not every day of the year but even for one week of every month it really disrupts my life!
Here is a quick rundown of symptoms and a checklist to use if you think you may be experiencing this: Screener Test from this info site.
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