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Depression is a lot more understood
by mental health professionals and medical science in general, yet the public
perception of depression is still lagging well behind.
But for women, depression with PMDD
is often poorly understood by their partners, peers, friends and family leading
to even more isolation, confusion, resentment, and sometimes self-harm which is
VERY saddening.
Depression with PMDD however can be
sporadic in some women which might be a sign of bipolar disorder if
accompanied by extreme highs at other times.
It can also occur a week or two
before the onset of your period. If this is the case then your depression might
be linked to PMDD or PMS.
This can be even more confusing to
people watching your behaviour as it seems to the outside world to be erratic
that for half the month or more you can be fine then a fit of surly, crying,
sad sackery (I just made a word up – sue me) hits seemingly without
warning.
For you however it might be entirely
expected as it happens like clockwork just like your period with the two
intrinsically linked. So why is this happening?
How can you tell if you really have
depression with PMDD? And what are the long term effects? Let’s break this
down:
Why Are PMDD & Depression Linked?
PMDD is a disorder that messes with a
woman’s hormones as it gets closer and closer to menses.
The reasons for the crazy out of
control hormonal situation is varied and comes partly from genetic disposition,
partly from lifestyle choices, and partly from various things and situations
out of your control as well.
This article will not focus on the
root causes of PMDD though, suffice to say that your body is not in balance and
various hormones are lacking, and others are all too present.
It also means that the pathways that
carry hormones around the body get clogged up and misused. This in turn creates
a knock on effect to the regulation of many parts of the body such as weight
management, pain management, and brain chemical management.
There are a number of hormones and
brain chemicals that control our moods which can get a severe beating during
PMDD or PMS time.
Serotonin, Dopamine, and other
Neurotransmitters that control
your mood regulation and proper functioning are throwing out of balance or
cannot work optimally due to a number of hormonally related factors.
The result in some women is a crash
of your mood going so low to be classed as clinical depression. Others might
just get a little low and sad, while other women might become angry and manic
even.
Each person reacts differently – but
without a balanced hormonal state you can end up with depression and even
suicidal thoughts.
Symptoms of Depression & PMDD
What determines actual depression
with PMDD though as opposed to a low mood, or a persistent sadness?
While no symptoms of PMDD should be
seen as less than others, it is important to know the actual definition,
especially if it is becoming so problematic you need to seek medical
assistance.
The list below contains common
primary symptoms of depression.
·
Overwhelming feelings of fear and
sadness – or a complete inability to feel anything at all, like emptiness
inside of you.
·
Massively decreased interest in any
pleasurable activities.
·
Markedly changed appetite, either
eating more or less …
·
Changed sleep patterns with you
either getting too much, too little, or intermittent sleep.
·
Slowing down of thought and of
physical movement nearly every day, or the opposite where you thoughts and
actions speed up and you might also feel anxious.
·
Lethargy, feeling tired and run down,
both physically and mentally.
·
Feeling emotional such as feeling
guilty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, or isolated and alone as well.
·
Feeling like the people closest to
you might abandon you at any moment.
·
Troubles with memory and staying
focused on what you need to do, or decision you need to make.
·
Recurring thoughts about dying and
death in general. Sometimes accompanied by intrusive thoughts about lying down
and just switching off your body, stopping breathing etc. Not necessarily
suicidal planning, but thoughts of dying.
Long Term Effects of Depression with PMDD
To start with this depression might
only come about for a few days or a week and go away when you begin to bleed.
However there is a nastier long term consequence to PMDD & Depression.
Continual depressive thoughts cause patterns
in your brain that can lead to anxiety and depression beyond the bounds of your
PMDD.
Smaller fluctuations of hormones will
set this off and you might soon be depressed for ALL of the month not just a
few days.
Not every woman goes that far but it
is something to be aware of – but the answer is not to cure depression, it is
to understand and solve the root problems that are causing ALL of your PMDD
symptoms as well as the depressive states.
Watch this Video HERE – EVERY ANSWER
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR: PMS, Cysts, Hormone Imbalance, IBS, Depression, Gastritis
& MORE!
To discover more about controlling
and curing PMDD naturally without the use of drugs, click below to look into my
book on treating PMDD or severe PMS and take control of your hormones and your
life!
By Jane
Pritchard, who is the developer of PMDD Treatment Miracle - a self-help program
for treating premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She is an ex-sufferer of PMDD
(Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) condition for many years.
She
spent a lot of time in finding natural methods for curing her PMDD problems. As
a result, she created this self-help guide to show other sufferers on how to
cure their PMDD problems in only 12 hours at the comfort and privacy of their
own home. For more details about this self-help guide, click HERE
