Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Women, here’s what you should know

Globally, about 2 per cent of women experience premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, and more women experience premenstrual syndrome.

Aishwarya Iyer | Updated: May 23, 2018 12:31 pm

Snapping randomly at anyone around, for no plausible reason could be a common phenomenon before your periods start. ‘You just have your usual mood-swings’, ‘it’s natural, stop over-reacting’, ‘every woman goes through this’ are common statements that women hear while they are on their menses. However, this could be all too disturbing if this is told to someone with a disorder which causes severe mood-swings to those in their periods.

Globally, about 2 per cent of women experience what is called as premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, while obviously a lot of women experience premenstrual syndrome. ‘Many women experience mood changes before their periods each month. It can vary from normal irritability of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to depression. For a small number — around 2 percent — symptoms are so severe that they interfere with daily activities and relationships,’ said Dr Meghana Reddy, Consultant- Obstetrics, Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield.

Causes
‘These women have a condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD.’ Depression, tension, anxiety, irritability, and fatigue are the first signs of PMDD, which typically occurs in the week before a woman’s period starts and then eases off.
If you already have depression or an anxiety disorder, you may experience a worsening of depression symptoms in the days before your period, but you will not be considered to have a PMDD diagnosis. PMDD is generally caused due to hormonal changes adding to daily stress.

Treatment

Aerobic exercise: Exercise is generally helpful in combating negative moods and premenstrual symptoms.

Diet: Boosting your nutrition level by eating more complex carbohydrates, eating frequent small meals, and cutting out sugar and caffeine. Calcium and fish oil might help.

Prevention
Oral contraceptives: One type of combination birth control pill have been shown to reduce emotional and physical premenstrual symptoms.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This therapeutic approach, which helps people change their interpretation of situations, has been effective in treating premenstrual symptoms.

Antidepressants: About 1 percent would finally require some form of antidepressants.

Image Source: Shutterstock

Published: May 23, 2018 10:18 am | Updated:May 23, 2018 12:31 pm

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