How do you know if you have PMDD or Depression?
Question:
Irritability
Moodiness
Feeling anxious/tense
Feeling sad or depressed
A sense of hopelessness
Feeling worthless/guilty
Feeling overwhelmed/out of control
Feeling sensitive
Having conflicts
A diminished interest in activities
Difficulty concentrating
Increased appetite
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Headaches
Food cravings
Sleeping more
Trouble sleeping
(from the Yaz website)
The symptoms of depression of course seem worse around one's menstrual cycle, when hormones are going crazy, so how do you/your doctor know if you truly suffer from one or the other? Or both?!
Answers:
I have severe PMDD that I believe stemmed from a severe case of PPD (Postpartum depression).
Depression affects one at all times. PMDD, on the other hand, comes during a certain time of the month for a woman. For me, it begins at ovulation and I don't begin feeling better until my period ends.
PMDD is a very severe and debilitating form of PMS. It's not just "bad PMS". Don't let others tell you that it's totally normal, b/c PMDD is NOT by all means "normal", while simple PMS is.
I was dx'd with severe PMDD 4 years ago, after suffering a very severe case of PPD after my almost 5 year old daughter was born. I was on so many different antidepressants for the PPD, but when the PMDD came along, NOTHING helped it. It was a really desperate time for me. I was suicidal every month.
I knew that this was PMDD after reading a bit about it. I wasn't having normal PMS symptoms, everything was so very intensified. It's really a feeling of PMS times a million.
Back in October I began taking Yaz birth control, which has literally saved my life. I no longer take the other meds, except for an occasional Ativan for anxiety.
Here is an article about my personal experience... I warn you, it's quite intense.
http://www.heartbeatthemagazine.com/0918...
http://www.heartbeatthemagazine.com/0918...
And, here is some more major info regarding PMDD...
http://www.heartbeatthemagazine.com/0918...
Ok, first off, I as well was diagnosed with depression as a teen. In recent years, I've had a family member fall ill with a pretty serious mental condition that mimics schizophrenia. From my experience, which is quite vast, with Psychiatrists/psychologists most of them take educated guesses as to what is wrong with you. Many of them will even admit to that. They can only treat symptoms, as we still do not know how the brain truly functions as of yet. Psychology 101 is an intro course which in my opinion everyone should be required to take. It explains a tremendous amount about psychology and the advances that we have made. It also explains that we still have so much ground left uncharted. My best advice would be to go see your psychiatrist/psychologist and see what they think. Only you truly know how bad you are feeling, and the only difference between the two is the types of medication that they will try on you. Best of luck to you!
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