Symptoms

Today is my cycle day 20. My anxiety is so high in this moment I don’t even want to write this but this is why I am forcing myself to right now. Maybe the feelings and symptoms will be conveyed through the writing.

I woke up immediately thinking my partner hated me. he doesn’t even live in the same state as me and we hadn’t even spoken yet and I was filled with anxiety worried about him being mad at me. FOR NO REASON. Then something did happen he could have been annoyed at me about, but only slightly. Like nothing big happened and my heart was (still is) racing! I can logically write what I am telling you right now but it does not stop the symptoms from happening. Writing this out definitely helps though. This is why I journal. Maybe I need to do this more often. I didn’t realize how much having the support of community would help me… this is also a problem right now. FOCUS. All over the place.

So today is about symptoms. Which we have collectively gone through a few of them in the first paragraph. Lets get into it.

Symptoms:

-Anxiety, tension or feeling on edge

-Irritability, anger or interpersonal conflicts

-Depressed mood, hopelessness or guilt

-Mood swings, sudden tearfulness, sensitivity to rejection

-Lack of interest in daily activities

-Difficulty concentrating/brain fog

-Tiredness or low energy

-Changes in appetite, cravings or binge eating

-Hypersomnia or insomnia

-Feeling overwhlemed or out of control

-Breast tenderness, swelling, joint pain or bloating

PMDD often causes difficulties with work and family relationships.

Symptoms can last up to two and a half weeks of the month!

There must be a symptom free window in between your period and ovulation, with symptoms easing with the arrival of your period.

PMDD can occur at any time during the reproductive life time, from your first period to peri-menopause. Symptoms are often worsened by stress.

Keeping a mood diary or using a cycle tracker for a minimum of 2 months will help track the pattern of your symptoms and rule out any other mood disorders or conditions. As there is no blood or saliva test for diagnosing PMDD (yet), this is the way for doctors to diagnose you.

It is FRUSTRATING! Not only having PMDD and dealing with the symptoms but trying to figure out all the details. ESPECIALLY in the beginning. You so desperately want someone to give you the answers but it is not always so easy. Now, with more people being vocal about PMDD you can reach out to them as ask them for tips. Including me. I am a problem solver, so if there is any way I can help you figure out what works best for you I will! Again, I am not a doctor, but I can point you in a good direction.

I would also like to point out that just because someone has PMDD does not mean they don’t ALSO experience PMS. With PMDD we just have the priviledge of experiencing ALL OF IT.

I think this is all I can do today on here. Honestly, I have a headache, nausea, exhaustion, and rage like no other right now. I just want to go into the middle of a field and scream but also hope theres a woodshed right next to me filled with clocks I can smash, like Jack in Hook, then burn the shed to the ground! For no reason, let me remind you. I am not angry or upset with anyone right now, but I am sure I could find somewhere or someone to take it out on.