Living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. How to live with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?

Can you be happy living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? What do you have to do to be happy with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder? Living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder can be difficult, but you have to fight to try to be happy. Have a look at things that other people have done to be happy with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects a small percentage of menstruating individuals. It is characterized by intense physical and emotional symptoms that occur in the week or two before menstruation and significantly impact daily life. Living with PMDD can be challenging, but with proper management and support, it is possible to lead a fulfilling life. Here are some strategies to help you navigate living with PMDD:

1. Educate Yourself

Understanding PMDD is crucial in managing the condition effectively. Educate yourself about the disorder, its symptoms, and how it affects your body. Knowledge empowers you to recognize the signs, seek appropriate treatment, and communicate your needs to healthcare professionals, friends, and family.

2. Seek Professional Help

If you suspect you have PMDD, consult a healthcare professional, preferably a gynecologist or a mental health specialist experienced in treating reproductive disorders. They can accurately diagnose PMDD and develop a tailored treatment plan to address your specific symptoms. Treatment options may include medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, or a combination of these.

3. Track Your Symptoms

Keeping a symptom diary can help you identify patterns and triggers. Use a calendar or a mobile app to track your menstrual cycle, mood changes, physical symptoms, and any other relevant information. This data will assist you and your healthcare provider in understanding your PMDD better and developing effective coping strategies.

4. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

Engaging in a healthy lifestyle can alleviate PMDD symptoms. Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep can positively impact your overall well-being. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week, consume nutritious meals with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and prioritize getting enough restful sleep each night.

5. Manage Stress

Stress can exacerbate PMDD symptoms, so it's important to find healthy ways to manage it. Incorporate stress-reducing activities into your routine, such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy. Additionally, consider seeking therapy or counseling to develop effective coping mechanisms and learn stress management techniques.

6. Build a Support Network

Living with PMDD can be emotionally challenging, so having a strong support network is essential. Share your experiences with trusted friends, family members, or support groups who can provide understanding, empathy, and encouragement. Online communities and forums dedicated to PMDD can also be valuable sources of support and information.

7. Communicate with Loved Ones

Openly communicate with your loved ones about PMDD and how it affects you. Explain the nature of the disorder, its impact on your emotions and behavior, and what they can do to support you. Encourage them to educate themselves about PMDD as well, so they can better understand and empathize with your experiences.

8. Practice Self-Care

Make self-care a priority in your life. Engage in activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and comfort. This could include taking baths, reading, practicing mindfulness, listening to music, or indulging in hobbies. Taking time for yourself and nurturing your mental and emotional well-being is crucial in managing PMDD.

9. Explore Alternative Therapies

Some individuals find relief from PMDD symptoms through alternative therapies such as acupuncture, herbal supplements, or dietary changes. While these approaches may not work for everyone, it can be worth exploring them under the guidance of a healthcare professional to determine if they provide any benefit for you.

10. Be Patient and Kind to Yourself

Living with PMDD can be challenging, and it's important to be patient and kind to yourself. Remember that PMDD is a legitimate medical condition, and you are not alone in your struggles. Give yourself permission to rest when needed, seek help when necessary, and celebrate small victories along the way.

By implementing these strategies and seeking appropriate treatment, you can effectively manage PMDD and lead a fulfilling life. Remember, everyone's experience with PMDD is unique, so it's essential to find what works best for you. With time, support, and self-care, living with PMDD can become more manageable.

Diseasemaps

You can be happy but you will have ups and downs. As long as you log symptoms and know when you will be having symptoms it cNt prepare you and loved ones. Educate people. Lose so they can track too. Therapy is a must and down time that week

Posted Mar 2, 2017 by Kristina 1145

This is a tough question can answer. Can you be happy living with PMDD? Of course - when you're not suffering from it. Therefore, I cannot stress enough that you need a plan of action for coping with the symptoms, whether that be a diet that works for you, prescribed medication or something more agressive like having a hysterectomy. Otherwise you are looking at giving up up to half of a year of happiness to PMDD. Being proactive about your happiness and taking ownership of your life is the only way to deal with PMDD.

Posted Mar 23, 2017 by HP 750

You will always be looking for a treatment to rid the symptoms. I've had it since I was 12, I am
now 24. I am learning to accept it as I am fed up of playing around with my hormones with different treatments which have not been confirmed to treat pmdd. You learn to accept the condition and work around it, plan activities if you can on your good days etc and you get fed up of explaining why your a different person one day etc. The sooner you learn to accept it the less you will explain. However, many others won't put up with it so you will usually only have close friends and family if your lucky

Posted Apr 11, 2017 by Rachel 850

It's very hard to be happy with this condition because it seriously affects your mental health and causes very negative emotions to surge every month and after the worst of it is over you're left with the fallout of any negative behaviours.

Posted Apr 12, 2017 by Maribel 1000

You can live with PMDD by going to therapy and/or getting on medication to gain skills to cope with specific problems during that time; thus forth improving your happiness. It is only 1-2 weeks of the month, so you can most definitely be happy the rest of the months and if managed correctly, during PMDD week as well

Posted May 16, 2017 by Kristie 1125

You can once you find what works for you and keep managing it.
You have to stick with it or the bad episodes will keep coming.

Posted Jul 9, 2017 by 1600

Taking vitamin B6 change my life, now I feel a much more quiet mind. My problem is mainly the thoughts I have, they are not suicide but make feel bad about my decisions and relationships. I feel very insecure in that part of the period.
Also, be surrounded with people that understand you swinging mood helps a lot, and of course to be part of a group where you can share experiences.

Posted Jul 24, 2017 by Limerencia 2070

Posted Aug 3, 2017 by Lynda Pickett 700

The key to happiness with PMDD is to communicate fully with your partner, make sure they understand not only PMDD but also your symptoms/cycle. You need to put in place systems to manage paranoia and anxiety, for example on my bad days if I'm feeling paranoid about my partner I will look at my tracker and then set an alarm to discuss it with him when I'm not in a bad week (thus knowing it's a true feeling) also allowing yourself space to step back and manage the difficult days- communication with partner is absolute key!!

Posted Sep 10, 2017 by son678 2000

I could not live with it. And my family didn't deserve it. I was an absolute lunatic half the month and a guilty and depressed person the next.

Posted Oct 22, 2017 by Deanna 2550

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a condition in which a sufferer experiences debilitating depression, mood swings, insomnia and various other symptoms in the luteal phase of your cycle, which is after you ovulate until and sometimes after your period starts.[1] It usually disappears when the period arrives, or shortly after. It is more severe than the well-known premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and it can cause a sufferer to change the way they live so dramatically, that even work schedules and relationships are negatively impacted.

Posted Aug 9, 2018 by April 3000