Do feel like you are on an emotional roller-coaster? Some women often find themselves having a heated argument with their partner or colleague one minute, and the next minute crying and would like to be held.
Once the period starts and the symptoms dissipates, some might even feel guilty over their recent behavior. They promise themselves that next month they will try a little harder for this not to happen again, all the while their self-esteem and self-worth are waning.
These kind of feelings may not affect only you. Often it also affects the people around you, your family, your friends and your co-workers. Maybe you, like many other women, believe your symptoms are not real, that there are no treatments available and your only choice is to just suffer through.
If this sounds familiar, you probably suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric syndrome (PMDD) a more severe form of PMS.
Common symptoms of PMS/PMDD:
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Mood-swings
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Lower self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Headache
Symptoms connected to PMS/PMDD are cyclical and appear in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (between ovulation and onset of the period. Some women have symptoms right after ovulation where they then disappear to return a couple of days before the onset of the period. Others, have symptoms for the entire luteal phase. Once their period starts, they will disappear.
Women in pre menopause, can experience PMS/PMDS symptoms as well. Although, they do not get the relief of symptoms once the period starts. Instead, they often describe symptoms such as fatigue and lack of motivationduring their period.
When having PMS/PMDD your menses is usually still regular and unchanged, compared to how it has been.