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It is really scary when you have this premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It tends to make you do different things that you yourself didn't imagine you can, and mostly the bad things that you don't even realize doing at that point in time. The latest being a murder case that's got the attention of the jury in a trial court, showing how much worse it could be when you aren't aware of this disorder? And who of your loved ones would be in trouble when you yourself know that they're the ones giving you a headache, the unstoppable pump of imbalanced hormones would just drive you to get physical with them and then you won't like the end of it, really.
In many cases, you can tell when this disorder is about to hit you, such as being moody, dizzy at most, blood pressure rising to a high level, nausea, irritable at simple things around you. You feel fatigued and sick of the normal days of your life and many things you don't really want to experience.
Research is ongoing about the cause for this disorder in many women today, and hormonal imbalance being an important trigger. The same can be said when you entering the menopause when the hormones are at a high state of flux, the sudden changes in hormone levels being the accepted cause of this disorder.
Thankfully there are treatments, including nutritional supplements that could help to prevent these things happening to you. Natural remedies are worth considering to start with and are often all that is required.
Are you aware of your feeling right at this moment and do you feel these symptoms on a cyclical basis every month? You shouldn't ignore these feelings if it causes serious problems, especially when cases have been known throughout the world and you might be the next one that can be helped. Being aware of the different and disturbing emotions that you're experiencing is a good start in treating this kind of disorder. Consider the safety of your loved ones, although they're simply the ones that make you most irritable aren't they? So imagine if you're not exactly updated on these things, chances are you'll be the one who'll be hurting them and worse is you may not be aware of it at the time, scary indeed.
Better be prepared right now, speak to a health professional and have some herbal products or in severe cases even anti depressants, which would be of great help to you if you feel that you may be in the grip of this most destructive, premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
PMDD differs from PMS in that emotional symptoms in PMDD are more serious and severe than in PMS, although physical symptoms are relatively similar. PMDD can lower quality of life to an extent quite similar to that of major depression, and can also be associated with an increase in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Approximately 5-10% of PMS sufferers also have PMDD. It affects 3 to 8% of women in their reproductive years worldwide, and is a source of huge burden on women and their families. Women with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) are more likely to have PMDD than women in the general population.
The exact cause of PMDD is unknown; however, several theories have been proposed. One of such theories suggests that PMDD is due to the lack of serotonin (a substance found naturally in the brain and involved in sleep, depression, memory, and other neurological processes). Serotonin acts as a calming hormone; therefore when serotonin levels are low, symptoms such as pain, irritability, anger, food cravings, and anxiety are precipitated. Once serotonin levels are restored, many of these symptoms disappear.
PMDD symptoms include at least one of the following:
1.Feeling sad, worthless or hopeless.
2.Feeling tense, anxious or 'on edge'.
3.Feeling overwhelmed or out of control.
4.Mood swings, emotional outbursts or unexplained crying.
5.Irritability, anger, or short temper.
6.Increased appetite (carbohydrate cravings)
It also includes other common symptoms of depression such as sleep problems, changes in appetite or weight, difficulty in concentrating, lack of interest in activities once enjoyed, and having suicidal thoughts. Physical symptoms are similar to that in PMS, breast tenderness, bloating, weight gain, headaches/backaches, and skin problems such as acne.
The first-line treatment for PMDD has been anti-depressants. However, these can be intolerable or result in serious adverse effects, especially in adolescents. Bright Light Therapy has been proposed as a non-pharmacological treatment, amongst other such treatments, to help increase serotonin levels and production, and may represent a safe and attractive alternative. According to Terman & Terman (2005), patients with both seasonal and nonseasonal PMDD, or milder PMS have responded favourably to 1 week of bright light therapy, in a series of clinical trials. The effect of bright light is thought to be mediated through increased production of melatonin, which subsequently boosts serotonin levels. For women seeking a non-pharmacological and safe treatment for PMDD, light therapy is a promising treatment with great prospects.
Useful links
e-Medicine: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
HealthyPlace.com - Depression Community: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
References
1.Light therapy. PMS & Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). Accessed: 23/08/2007.
2.Lam RW, Carter D, Misri S, Kuan AJ, Yatham LN, Zis AP. A controlled study of light therapy in women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder. Psych Res 1999; 86: 185-192.
3.Terman M, Terman JS. Light Therapy. In: Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine (2005). Ed by Kryger MH, Roth T, Dement WC. 4th Ed. Elsevier. Philadelphia. Pp 1424-1442.
4.Krasnik C et al. The effect of bright light therapy on depression associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2005; 193: 658-661.
5.Liang BA et al. Recognizing and Treating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. Hosp Physician 2003. Accessed: 23/08/2007.