While at first glance it may seem like it’s all in a woman’s head, PMDD has serious consequences and is more common than you may think.
There are many cultural stereotypes around women being labeled “hormonal” that do not acknowledge or address the real effect hormones can have on women’s mental health.Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder(PMDD) is a condition that can severely impact a woman’s life with severe, debilitating physical and emotional symptoms that present before a woman’s period and end when her menses begins. Learning the facts about PMDDcan help dispel prevailingmythsand misconceptions about both PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) andPMDD. When the public gains a greaterunderstanding of PMDDand its co-occurring conditions, we can be better advocate for proper treatment and for hormonal health. Here are six common myths about PMDD.
1. Myth: PMDD isn’t real.
Fact: PMDD is definitely real.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder occurs when cyclical mood and behavior issues result from hormone fluctuations that affect a person’s daily functioning and interpersonal relationships. These mood symptoms may occur in addition to physical symptoms such as cramping and bloating. Some women may wait to seek help and may bemisdiagnosedwith other conditions, such asbipolar disorderordepression, before receiving aPMDD diagnosis.PMDDis listed in theDSM-Vas a mental health condition and needs to be treated accordingly.
2. Myth: PMDD is the same as PMS.
Fact: PMS and PMDD are different.
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While they may share some common physical and emotional characteristics,PMDD symptomshave different consequences for womenvs PMS. Someone with PMS may feel more irritable or emotional than she would throughout other parts of her cycle, but the striking difference inPMS vs PMDDis theseverityof these emotional symptoms. Thedifference between PMS and PMDDis that while a woman with PMS can continue to function, someone with PMDD has emotional and behavioral symptoms that affect her daily functioning.
3. Myth: It’s all in your head.
Fact: There are physical symptoms to PMDD.
Like any hormonal issue, the mood fluctuations that occur with PMDD are a result of physical changes that occur when hormone levels change throughout a woman’s cycle.PMDD symptomsinclude:
- Irritability or anger
- Sadness or despair
- Suicidal ideation
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Crying often and mood swings
- Tiredness, low energy, lack of interest
- Difficulty focusing
- Binge eating or severe cravings
PMDD also includes physical symptomssuch as:
- Cramps
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness/enlargement
- Headaches
- Muscle and joint pain
4. Myth: PMDD is rare.
Fact: PMDD is relatively common.
Since all menstruating women experience hormone fluctuations, all women are at risk for PMS and PMDD.PMDD statisticsreveal that a relatively large number of women live with this condition. Astartling30-70% percent of women experience premenstrual syndrome, but theprevalence of PMDD among womenis around 5%, according to theU.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
5. Myth: PMDD isn’t very serious.
Fact: PMDD can cause significant suffering.
As a hormonal issue, PMDD is plagued by the notion that the problem is all in the person’s head, butsevere PMDDcan profoundly interfere with someone’s quality of life.PMDDisoften associatedwith anxiety, severedepression,and seasonal affective disorder. For women who suffer fromPMDD, suicidal thoughtsare a significant risk;15% of women with PMDDattempt suicide in their lifetime.
6. Myth: PMDD is just something women have to live with.
Fact: PMDD is treatable.
PMDD treatment is available and there are several differentPMDD treatment optionsthat can be utilized. Lifestyle changes like a healthy diet and exercise routine combined withcognitive behavioral therapyare often used to treat PMDD. Some women with PMDD will have some success with pharmaceutical medications such asantidepressants.
Gettinghelp for PMDDmay also necessitate treatment for other conditions, as it can be associated with a host of co-occurring disorders, including substance abuse, depression, and anxiety disorders. To reduce the risk of depression leading to suicide in women with PMDD, getting treatmentis imperative.
If you or a loved one is suffering fromPMDD and is abusing substancesin order to cope with the pain,The Recovery Villagecan help. For an integrative approach to treatment and recovery,call todayto speak to one of our representatives.
