A Look At The Symptoms Of PMDD

Some people like to make a joke of PMS. Even women who suffer from it themselves use it half jokingly as an excuse for any unexplained behavior or irritability. Some insensitive and rude people accuse any woman who is less than perfectly happy or satisfied of having PMS.

Whether you laugh at the jokes or cringe at them (or do some of each) you have to admit that they do make some sort of sense. At a certain time of every month many women really do become more irritable, stressed and unhappy than normal. In a lot of ways it really is out of their control, or requires a great deal of self control to maintain happy, smooth relations with people around you.

But that's all for PMS. For women who suffer the symptoms of PMDD, it's no laughing matter. PMDD symptoms in many ways mirror the symptoms of PMS, but they are much more severely experienced. Physical, and especially emotionally or psychological symptoms which, in PMS, are annoying and sometimes frustrating, in PMDD become almost debilitating.

As in PMS, symptoms of PMDD show up between ovulation and the onset of menstruation. This is usually for about two weeks. Symptoms usually go away shortly after bleeding starts. And as in PMS, the main symptom experienced in PMDD is irritability.

Some of the mental or emotional symptoms that can make PMDD debilitating are:
persistent irritability which often leads to anger
anxiety that turns into panic attacks
deep sadness or even despair, depression
apathy or a lack of interest in activities that are normally enjoyable
feeling out of control
fatigue
mood swings and tearfulness
insomnia
food cravings
need for emotional closeness
changes in libido

There are also more physical symptoms that can become very disruptive including
bloating
diarrhea
yeast infections
headaches
joint and muscle pain
breast tenderness

The most troublesome of the premenstrual dysphoric symptoms are the mental or emotional ones. These make communication difficult and can make it impossible to think positively, worsening many of the symptoms in a sort of cycle.

In dealing with PMDD symptoms, the first line of defense is to make sure that nothing in your lifestyle or habits might be worsening the problem. A healthy diet and maintaining a steady blood sugar level can help to improve moods. Getting exercise is also a great way to relieve stress and enhance your mood. Staying away from salt, sugar, caffeine and alcohol will also help.

While making these lifestyle changes can be very helpful, in extreme cases they will very likely not be enough. It is then necessary to consult with your doctor about the best plan of action for your situation. He can help you find the proper solutions and medications so you can get your life back and function in your home, social and work life.

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