How to Deal with PMS and PMDD

You can deal with the cramps. You can deal with the bloating. And you can deal with some moodiness during the one week pause of using birth control pills. But you can’t (and you shouldn’t have to) deal with depression associated with getting your period.

If you suffer from extreme premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) then you may need more than just Midol. The affect that PMS and PMDD can have on a woman’s mental health are underestimated. Getting occasional mood swings is nothing compared to depression. People who experience extreme versions of PMS and PMDD need medical attention.

Here are some of the symptoms of PMS or PMDD that may cause you to seek depression treatment:

•    Feelings of anxiety (strong anxiety needs anti anxiety treatment)
•    Panic attacks
•    Long bouts of crying
•    Suicidal thoughts
•    Anger and irritability
•    Overwhelming fatigue
•    Insomnia or hypersomnia
•    Binge eating
•    Decreased sex drive
•    An inability to concentrate
•    And most of all, feelings of sadness, despair, and depression

Here’s how you can deal:
•    Eat well. Now is not the time to go into what this means exactly, but you should have an idea by now. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and get enough lean protein throughout the day.
•    Exercise.
•    Get enough sleep, or at least try.
•    Drink lots of water.

If your symptoms, however, are to a debilitating point and these basic tips don’t help, then your doctor may suggest that you try an antidepressant. Women have seen success with the antidepressant Paxil, and the good thing about taking this drug is that you only need to take it for two weeks at a time (for some women). Here’s why: PMDD only affects women during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle (two weeks before a period), due to the fluctuations of progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone. During the rest of the month, unless your problem with depression is not period-related, you should feel like your normal self.

PMS and PMDD are real conditions that deserve real attention and real treatment. Don’t brush off your symptoms as “just PMS”—you deserve to be happy ALL month!