The elapse of around 28 days indicates both the end and the beginning of a menstrual cycle in most women. The cycle in women begins at the start of one period and lasts till the start of the next one. Despite the rather predictable nature of the menstrual cycle, the mood states that come along with it are often erratic and unstable.
Many women are faced with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS refers to a wide range of physical and emotional symptoms which are thought to be a normal part of the premenstrual experience. Common physical symptoms of PMS include: bloating, headaches, backaches, acne, weight gain, breast tenderness, poor concentration, change in appetite, and fatigue. On the other hand, emotional symptoms include: aggression, tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, mood swings, and sadness.
PMS occurs around 5-11 days before the monthly menstrual cycle begins and ends once or, shortly after, the period starts. The many symptoms differ in number and severity from woman to woman. Moreover, the combination of PMS symptoms can even vary in each woman from one month to another. Studies have shown that the exact cause of PMS is unknown. Nonetheless, the hormonal imbalance that occurs in preparation for menstruation was found to play a significant role in the presence of such symptoms.
The notion “I’m PSM-ing, I feel so edgy and down” seems familiar to most women. It is common for women to feel that usual work, school, daily errands, and chores seem much more demanding during PMS. However, is it possible for PMS symptoms to become so disturbing to the extent that they impact a woman’s normal functioning? A severe form of PMS is referred to as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Symptoms of PMDD are very similar in onset and nature to those of PMS. However, women that suffer from PMDD face extreme mood shifts. Emotional symptoms of PMDD can include: lack of interest in usual activities, panic attacks, crying spells, feeling out of control, marked anger or irritability. They also encompass intense moodiness, low energy, tension or anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and sadness or hopelessness even to the extent of possible suicidal thoughts. Physical symptoms that are specific to PMDD consist of: breast tenderness or swelling, joint or muscle pain, bloating, feeling fat, or actual weight gain.
The symptoms coupled with PMDD significantly impair and reduce the quality of a woman’s lifestyle. People will eventually find it challenging and overwhelming to keep up with the extreme rage, depression, and mood swings exhibited by affected women. As a result, women suffering from PMDD find themselves struggling in order to maintain their work, social activities, relationships, and psychological wellbeing.
Even though the symptoms of PMDD resolve completely with the onset of a woman’s period, yet this does not ensure permanent absence of these troublesome symptoms. For that reason, women should seek outside help in order to treat their PMDD. Treatment of PMDD is focused on minimizing the extreme physical and emotional disturbances that are present, so that women can carry on with normal living. Treatments can take many forms, some of which are pharmaceutical and some are not.
Drug treatments that may be helpful in helping women handle PMDD are antidepressants. Effective antidepressants include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). SSRIs have shown to have a strong effect on the neurotransmitter serotonin which aids in elevating emotional symptoms of PMDD. Other pharmaceutical treatments can be hormone therapy. Oral contraceptives, progesterone supplementation, estrogen, and Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists are considered some of the second-line treatments for PMDD. However, it is important to note that hormone therapies not equally effective for all women.
Some of the non-pharmaceutical treatments that have shown efficacy in relieving PMDD are light therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Light therapy incorporates exposure to full-spectrum fluorescent lamps whose light is similar to that of the sun. The bright light has shown to elevate mood which helps treat depression. On the other hand, CBT helps women examine their negative patterns which often are automatic and unnoticed. Inspecting and replacing negative patterns with adaptive thoughts helps change dysfunctional behavior. As a result, CBT teaches women anger control, thought stopping, and cognitive restructuring in order to reduce negative emotions.
Most women find it tiring to have to deal with the symptoms of PMS. However this sounds minimal when compared to having to deal with PMDD that brings along high levels of rage, violence, depression, and suicidal thoughts. As a result of this burden, women should be encouraged to seek treatment for their condition in order to learn how to cope with the problem that is interfering with their lives.