Living with PMDD is like having the Grim Reaper visit every month

"The morning after she tried to end her life, Annika Waheed's period started. The feelings of despair left her and the "weight of the world", as she describes it, lifted. "Did I really do that?" she asked her sister, who had hugged Annika close to keep her safe as she slept off an attempted overdose. Annika would spend two weeks of every month haunted by suicidal thoughts, and then, like the flick of a switch, the darkness would dissipate as soon as she started her period and she would "be able to see and function again"."

"PMDD is a mental health disorder which causes severe psychological and sometimes physical symptoms. It can affect women at any point in their lives but often coincides with moments of significant hormonal changes - including puberty, having a baby, or going through the menopause. Similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), it occurs in the one to two weeks leading up to a period, the luteal phase, but it is far more severe. While PMS might leave you feeling tired, irritable and bloated, PMDD can trigger severe anxiety, depression and intense psychological distress."

"Women can also experience physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and joint pain, but to be diagnosed with PMDD you must also have a mood-related symptom. The International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) - a global research charity - estimates more than a million women in the UK may be affected by PMDD, but only a fraction have received a diagnosis. Suicide is a complex issue, but some studies suggest those with PMDD are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and attempt to take their own life than the general population."

Annika Waheed experienced a pattern in which suicidal despair and a heavy sense of burden lifted when her period began. She described two weeks each month being haunted by suicidal thoughts, followed by rapid relief that allowed her to see and function again. She has premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) for more than eight years. PMDD is a mental health disorder with severe psychological and sometimes physical symptoms that occur in the one to two weeks before menstruation, the luteal phase. It can coincide with major hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. PMDD is more severe than premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and requires mood-related symptoms for diagnosis. Estimates suggest many women may be affected but remain undiagnosed, and some studies link PMDD with higher risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts.

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