"For 10 days every month I become irritable and impatient, and have debilitating brain fog. At my worst, I am depressed, with uncontrollable crying and suicidal ideation. I go to weekly therapy sessions, take a variety of supplements, and live a healthy lifestyle exercise, minimal alcohol, eating well, etc, but all these habits become almost impossible during my luteal phase after ovulation and I feel as though I am completely stuck."
"When I am not in my luteal phase, I love life. And then it all comes crashing down: I want to leave my job, break up with my partner, ignore my friends. I struggle to share this experience with anyone or ask for help because the condition is chronically under-recognised and under-researched. Sometimes I even trick myself into thinking maybe it isn't real."
A 32-year-old describes a five-year history of PMDD producing ten days per cycle of irritability, impatience, debilitating brain fog, severe depression, uncontrollable crying, and suicidal ideation. Symptoms severely impair work performance, relationships, social life, and self-care, and make healthy routines almost impossible during the luteal phase. Weekly therapy and supplements have been insufficient to prevent symptomatic collapse. The condition is under-recognised and under-researched. Estimated prevalence is about 1–3% of women, and PMDD can arise at any time during reproductive life, causing severe psychological and sometimes physical luteal-phase symptoms.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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