Do You Suffer From PMDD?

If you are a woman who begins to feel stressed and under the weather up to 10 days before her period starts, you’re in good company. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, at least 85% of menstruating women experience at least one pre-menstrual-syndrome-related symptom during each monthly cycle, whether emotional or physical.

While hormonal changes may feel uncomfortable, if you are experiencing extreme versions of PMS symptoms, you may be suffering from PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder. PMDD includes symptoms of PMS, but in a more severe form. While both PMS and PMDD can cause bloating, breast tenderness, mood changes, fatigue, sleep changes, and changes in eating habits, only PMDD causes at least one of the following symptoms to stand out from the rest:

• Anxiety or tension
• Hopelessness or deep sadness
• Moodiness
• Irritability or anger

Causes of PMDD

While the immediate causes of PMDD are not clear, a history of depression and/ or anxiety are commonly found in women with either PMS or PMDD. Hormonal changes trigger menstruation in women but may also aggravate a woman’s experience of an underlying mood condition.

Treating PMDD

Women who suffer from PMDD understand how debilitating it can feel to have extreme mood changes affect their daily lives for almost ⅓ of their monthly cycle. PMDD can be treated with a variety of different methods, including natural and pharmaceutical strategies. If you are suffering from PMDD, anti-depressants of the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) variety, as well as birth control pills, can create marked improvements in mood stabilization.

At Water’s Edge Natural Medicine, we focus on what we can do naturally to reduce symptoms, and encourage women to make use of every resource available to them. We work with patients using the following naturopathic techniques:

• Bio-identical hormone therapy: We monitor your hormone levels and administer naturally-sourced hormones that match the hormones your body produces identically, for hormone balancing that reduces your symptoms.
• Herbal remedies: Those that use chasteberry have found it to reduce the irritability, anger, mood swings, and even headaches associated with PMDD. Our naturopaths are skilled in the selection of herbal remedies, combining one or more herbs that can reduce your symptoms and heal the body.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture soothes the system by removing energetic blocks and enabling it to flow where it is most needed.
• Nutritional changes: The addition of omega-3 fatty acids with EPA/ DHA, as well as Vitamin D and select B-Vitamins have been found effective. Our naturopaths can help you devise a nutritional plan that meets your needs.

If you are suffering from PMDD and experiencing suicidal thoughts, don’t keep it to yourself. Call 911 immediately or a suicide help line immediately to speak to people who can support you through any difficulties you may be experiencing.

Don’t wait for symptoms of PMDD to wreak havoc on your life and well-being. Our caring staff at Water’s Edge Natural Medicine is happy to help in any way we can. Call us.