TerpGal

As in premenstrual dysphoric disorder. For me, I get weepy, irrational, angry, and dog tired. Now that I'm in Al Anon working on my own recovery, I am finding that at least for the last few day moments of serenity are few and far between. I'm depressed and overwhelmed. When NOT in this state I am fine and can manage but right now sucks. I had a wonderful yoga class today that really did help me relax but here I am getting all weepy and feeling hopeless, helpless, and unmotivated. Anyone else get this way?

SportsFan15

I believe I have PMDD as well and have for years. When I was able to take birth control, it went away because my hormones were level led out. I'll admit I believe drinking makes PMS and PMDD worse since alc is a depressant. I can't take birth control now....long story. ...but if you can find a way to level your hormones, you should see improvement. I "charted" my moods and symptoms using an app called P Tracker. Sure enough, every month during ovulation and the week before my period, symptoms were bad. Stopping drinking is a HUGE and most important improvement for us!!

SportsFan15

Also, I really feel your pain TerpGal....it's HORRIBLE to feel like a completely different person those days. My sister is the same way. You're doing a great thing by exercising. I wonder if a specific diet and avoiding certain foods before and during those days would help us?? Has anyone tried diet to alleviate PMDD?

SportsFan15

I apologize because I misread your post. I read too quickly and thought you meant you're in A A...now I see you said Al Anon....sorry about the mistake

FireSprite

I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago & it's likely I qualify for both it & PMDD.

Unfortunately, yes, I have noticed that I have to be careful not to overreact on those more sensitive days & it took a few months for me to see how my behavior is really affected once I started to recognize it as a possibility.

I get overly emotional - big, big tears over small, tiny stuff - and completely irrational even to my own ears. I hear it in the words I choose too - all of a sudden I'm using "always" & "never" a whole lot. It's too easy to fall into victim mentality during this time, which is the part I started to notice & pay attention to & that's what clued me into the "pattern" or timing of it around my cycles.

A while back I read a post where another member said that they added a "P.S." to the HALT acronym to remind themselves that they also needed to take more care when they are experiencing PMS or feeling Sick & that stuck with me.

I have great success with regular acupuncture treatments because it seems to help keep my hormones more stable so I don't experience such a huge surge. Failing that I do anything I can to increase my comfort, decrease my interactions with others & get extra rest. Making sure I'm getting enough vitamin D helps & I find it helpful to increase my intake of B vitamins, ramp up my cardio workouts & squeeze in some extra meditation time.

firebolt

I suspect I have some of this going on. I've never talked to a doc, but I am aware that for 2 days a month, I take things way abnormally ummm...heavy / hard. Little things. I second the P tracker app - it has helped me a lot to discover those days, and stay away from the general population if need be

FireSprite

Oh yes - missed that part.... P Tracker is EXCELLENT; I use it religiously now!

SportsFan15

I can't tell you how much it helps to know I'm not going crazy....because all the descriptions of symptoms you all just described fit me to a T. The 180 change is startling. Thank you for going into detail with descriptions of symptoms and what you do to help. I'm interested in trying acupuncture now!

SportsFan15

It's also affirming to hear "it's okay" to isolate some during the bad days....just not too long...

peanut44

I was diagnosed with PMDD many years ago. A change comes over me a few days before I start. My husband tells me my looks change! Scary!

I took the mini pill for several years until I developed a couple of fibroid tumours, one actually prolapsed and I had to have emergency surgery.

I don't take any hormones currently but I watch what I eat around that time. Diet seems to affect it.

My symptoms are irritability, insomnia, irrational just a real bitch!

Good luck to you!

silentrun

That's what my GP wrote down on my chart. When I was in my 20s/30s I would get that way for a couple of days and could usually talk myself down. Now that I am approaching menopause it can last for over a week. I go fire red and cannot calm myself for days at a time. I never could take the birth control pill because my hormones cannot be messed with at all without me losing it. the doctor prescribed me Celexa and it really helps. At first it was two weeks on then two weeks off so it would be in my system when it hit. It calms me so I elected to stay on it until menopause is over.