What is PMDD?

PMDD stands for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. It refers to an extreme collection of symptoms that occur in the 1-2 weeks leading up to our periods that make us feel like a different person. Some of these symptoms include

Depression
Suicidal ideations
Mood Swings
Trouble Coping
Insomnia or other changes in sleep
Fatigue
Anxiety
Irritability and Anger
Brain Fog
Breast swelling and tenderness
Bloating
Appetite Changes
Joint and Muscle Pain
Headaches

These symptoms often come on after ovulation (around mid cycle) and dissipate when we get our periods or a couple of days after.

PMDD is different than conventional PMS. The symptoms of PMDD can cause extreme distress for the person and cause extreme impacts on their quality of life. It is hard to imagine that our hormones can cause such extreme symptoms and changes in our personality. The reason that this can happen is because PMDD is much more than a hormonal condition. It is actual a whole body experience.

The thing about our hormones is that they can’t be compartmentalized. What this means is that they are impacted by every system in our body and in turn impact every system in our body. While the resulting symptoms of this state might be experienced as hormonal symptoms (physical and mental symptoms in the weeks leading up to our period) their innate cause may not be purely hormonal.

PMDD is a diagnosis of exclusion. This means that we must make sure that other underlying causes of this experience need to be ruled out before we can be officially diagnosed with PMDD.

PMDD is a FUNCTIONAL condition. This means that it is are a result of the way that our body is functioning It is hormonal in nature because the symptoms of PMDD become apparent during our hormonal changes and in specific parts of our cycles only. It is an interplay of the interactions between our hormones and the systems in our body.

Some of the systems that are involved include

Reproductive hormones
Immune system
Blood sugar
Nutrients
Cortisol and Stress Hormones
Nervous System

This means that it has to be looked at, as such. Focusing just on our hormones will often not give us the whole story of WHY we are getting these symptoms in the luteal phase of our cycle. Getting a thorough assessment by a trained practitioner can be integral in finding the right course of action to treat and understand your PMDD experience.