It’s safe to say that almost everyone has heard about premenstrual syndrome (PMS) since it is often a punchline to many jokes. How many times have you been asked if you were PMSing because you did not appear to be in a good mood or seem to be overreacting in the eyes of others? Unfortunately, PMS has become a universal term that downplays the serious symptoms some women face during their period. Due to these common misconceptions, some women may not even realize that they do not have PMS, but rather premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe, sometimes impairing extension of PMS.

First, let’s discuss PMS. Do you feel depressed, feel angry, cry often, get acne, feel sleepy, have less energy, feel anxious and feel heavy or bloated a week or so before your cycle? Most likely you have PMS if you have these symptoms around the same time every month and they go away once your period starts. Of course, everyone is different and may have different PMS signs, they may have one or more symptoms at once and however long it lasts can vary too. Women deal with it in different ways as well whether it is improving their diet, sleep and exercise.

There are also women who experience these PMS symptoms in a more severe case. That means that the symptoms are so bad that they stop these women from doing their daily activities or affect their relationships with people in their lives. This can cause difficulty to focus at school or work and cause disagreements with family and friends. If this is something you have experienced, it may be PMDD.

While you may feel depressed if you have PMS, someone with PMDD may have extreme sadness that leads to feeling hopeless and even thoughts of suicide. The anxiety level is higher for women with PMDD than the ones with PMS. The mood swings are much more intense for people with PMDD. Things irritate them that usually wouldn’t, they could uncharacteristically pick fights, cry about things they usually wouldn’t cry about and ultimately feel like their life is out of control.

The cause of PMDD is unclear, however, underlying anxiety and depression are common in both PMS and PMDD. The hormonal changes that cause menstruation can intensify the symptoms of mood disorders. Some women may be more sensitive to fluctuating hormonal changes than others. According to UpToDate, there is no test for PMS or PMDD, but to be diagnosed the person must have the physical symptoms and mood changes that occur before their menstrual cycle. There are different treatments to prevent or minimize PMDD symptoms such as taking supplements, trying herbal remedies, taking birth control pills, making diet changes, trying lifestyle changes and taking antidepressants, however, it’s important to talk to your doctor to find out what would work best for you.

Hormonal changes due to menstruation is not a joke for many women. It’s not a term to wave around to discredit someone’s feelings or intelligence. You never know what people are dealing with and what health issues they have to face. Make sure to be considerate of others and give yourself grace as well if this is something you deal with.

Sources:

· Mayo Clinic. (2018). Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Different from PMS?

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premenstrual-syndrome/expert-answers/pmdd/faq-20058315

· UpToDate. (2019). Patient education: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (Beyond the Basics)

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/premenstrual-syndrome-pms-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-pmdd-beyond-the-basics#:~:text=Premenstrual%20syndrome%20(PMS)%20causes%20symptoms,irritability%2C%20depression%2C%20and%20anxiety.&text=Premenstrual%20dysphoric%20disorder%20(PMDD)%20is%20the%20severe%20form%20of%20PMS.,-PMDD%20can%20cause

· WebMD. (2018). Do I Have PMS, or Is This PMDD?

https://www.webmd.com/women/pms/pms-vs-pmdd

· WebMD. (2019). What Is PMS?

https://www.webmd.com/women/pms/what-is-pms