The sadness cycle: How to combat premenstrual dysphoric disorder - News

Arjun always considered himself an enlightened man when it came to women’s menstrual health. Growing up with four sisters, he never shied away from the subject.

“Cramps, mood swings, hormonal ups and downs. While my sisters and mother attended monthly classes, I witnessed first-hand the impact these things could have on women,” explained the 34-year-old Indian immigrant.

Arjun was ready to be a supportive and sympathetic partner when he married 33-year-old Priya in 2022.

But nothing could have prepared him for what Priya went through.

“Everything seemed normal at first. Priya’s cycle came and went with the usual aches and crankiness,” she recalled. “But over time the changes became more severe.”

Arjun noticed a surprising change about 10 days before his period. His mood swings were getting more intense, and he would say things like “I feel like I’m drowning” or “I don’t want to be alive right now.” These words shook him.

Dr Anjulie Dhillon: 'Women suffering from PMDD can experience extreme feelings of anxiety and irritability. Mood swings can create difficulties in daily life, which can lead to feelings of isolation.'

Dr Anjulie Dhillon: “Women suffering from PMDD can experience intense feelings of anxiety and irritability. Mood swings can create difficulties in daily life, which can lead to feelings of isolation.”

Arjun knew about premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but didn’t think it was this.

PMS is experienced by women before their menstrual period and is often characterized by mood swings; feeling down, irritable, sad, or anxious; fatigue or trouble sleeping; bloating or cramping; breast tenderness; headaches; skin cracks; changes in appetite or desire to eat, etc. Symptoms are sometimes severe enough to affect school, work, social activities, and relationships.

However, British health psychologist Dr. working at Connect Psychology. As Anjulie Dhillon explains, there is another little-known psychological disorder that many people are unfamiliar with, and if left untreated it can seriously affect women.

“Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a much more severe form of PMS with significant psychological symptoms that can accompany the physical symptoms of menstruation,” she explained.

“Women suffering from PMDD may experience feelings of extreme anxiety and irritability. Depression in PMDD can include feelings of hopelessness, low self-worth, and severe fatigue. Mood swings can create difficulties in daily living, resulting in feelings of isolation. Over time, these can affect overall well-being and may affect quality of life.

The way PMDD presents can overlap with other mental health conditions, making it difficult to diagnose. Underlying depression and anxiety are common in both PMS and PMDD, so it’s possible that the hormonal changes that trigger menstruation can worsen symptoms of mood disorders.

It is also linked to menstrual health, so symptoms can be confused with ‘normal’ mood or hormonal changes. Dr Dhillon notes that the main difference is severity. If a woman experiences extreme emotional turmoil, makes alarming statements, and becomes despondent about 10 days before her period (which is often unusual), she may have PMDD.

There are a variety of psychological approaches that can be used to treat the condition.

“Knowledge is empowering and so psychoeducation is a useful place to start, so individuals have a strong understanding of what their bodies are experiencing on a physiological and psychological level,” Dr Dhillon said.

“I will often use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help individuals open up, recognize and accept distressing thoughts or feelings, and learn to respond to them in a different way. This approach also encourages individuals to take meaningful steps towards their values.

“Individuals often ‘struggle’ or give themselves a hard time about how they feel; This can make symptoms worse. Compassion-Focused Therapy is especially helpful in reducing harsh self-criticism and improving self-compassion.”

In general, sometimes individuals just need space to talk and work through some of the challenges they are experiencing. Having the opportunity to express and process experiences related to menstrual health or other life challenges can be therapeutic. This allows people to explore the entire context of their lives, not just superficial symptoms.

Priya was ultimately diagnosed with PMDD. Meetings with many doctors eventually led him to work with a specialist therapist. Both she and Arjun are in counseling; The diagnosis didn’t erase the hard times, but it gave them the tools they needed to get through them together.

“I realized that because of my concern for him, I wanted to try to fix things and it wasn’t working very well. There are still moments when I feel overwhelmed and helpless. But my journey with Priya is not just about being a supportive husband; “It’s also about learning and growing and understanding the complexity of this situation.”

Dr Dhillon, who did not treat the couple, emphasized how educating boys and men about menstruation could contribute to easing the mental health burden on women. “If boys and men understand women’s health and menstruation, they can come from a place of understanding and support.

“We still need to talk more about our menstrual cycles, to reduce stigma and enable women to relate their symptoms to their cycles and seek support when they feel they need it. “Things are moving in a positive direction and we are now normalizing people talking about women’s health – this needs to continue.

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