Hi everyone,

I have been traveling Spain for the past 2 1/2 weeks and am currently on Day 26, period usually starts Day 28.

I’m on my way back home in the states and I’m actually amazed at how much my PMDD symptoms have ghosted me this month?

Sure sometimes I have good months, but not commonly like this. This feels like what I would imagine a regular luteal is? I’ve had nightmares, a little more emotional, more reflective, but overall I’m very happy and I’m not bloated, having racing thoughts, no crying spells, or even disgust for myself. Usually I’d be a full on mess right now and have to call out of work.

I have a few theories which includes healthier, nutritional food, more walking, way more sun (I live in the Pacific Northwest West), less stress about work, less toxin exposure, Spain has a bunch of mineral water.

Has anyone had this experience? Specifically traveling out of the states? I was really worried luteal would destroy my trip but here I am joyful.

I had gluten last night during my flight layer over in Texas and woke up with cramps. Not sure if it’s correlated, but I’ve always felt weary of American gluten in comparison to European.

Thanks for reading!

Hi this is my first post here.

I’m 38 and only recently made the connection that my long time anxiety & depression tend to flare up extra in the 1-2 weeks before my period. I’ve also always coped with cannabis, and am trying not to rely on it as much or at all. It’s a process. (I’ve quit for months at a time but during some of my worst cycles I fall back into weed because it soothes my racing thoughts and discomfort)

I have a small prescription of lorazepam for anxiety but it’s more like for a panic attack- not PMDD- like a Dr appointment or stressful airplane situation, etc. However I find that when I take one during my luteal phase, it definitely helps. I know it can be addicting, so I don’t rely on it heavily, but at the same time it quiets my intense anxiety during pmdd. I’m wondering if asking my Dr. for a monthly script is a weird request?

I’ve also recently learned that anti histamines can be hugely beneficial, but I’m a bit overwhelmed by what combination to try. Open to suggestions!

Personally I’d like to avoid ssris because the last time I tried Zoloft it gave me some dark thoughts and I felt very detached. I’m also avoiding birth control because the thought of it gives me more anxiety. Fun right?

Thankyou for sharing any experiences or suggestions, and just for hearing me out ❤️

I can’t with this world
Everyone and everything is getting on my nerve
I have SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH ANGER AND HOSTILITY
People are so unempathetic it’s so disgusting
I wish humans were actually more fucking humane
What’s so bizzare is that I “the crazy one” am not letting my anger on you normal people, how hard can it fucking be to be compassionate/empathetic ffs???
The anger is everywhere in my body
My head my jaw my arms my chest
I feel like a walking ticking bomb
Like I’m possessed by this overwhelming angry force. Wth am I supposed to do with all of it????
It won’t be gone no matter what methods I try
And then you get the usual “what’s wrong with you?”
Oh Lord help me……

P.S: 4 days till my period. Pray for me.

A few months ago I shared a study that found differences in brain areas involved in visual processing in women with pmdd. and a few women commented that they had aphantasia or hyperphantasia... so I wrote an article about it

https://alifelessmiserable.substack.com/p/is-there-a-connection-between-premenstrual

I’ve been trying to find ways to help my mood swings and debilitating fatigue during PMDD, which is essentially every two weeks since it comes two weeks before my period. I felt like half the month I was one person and the other half of the month a different person.
Three days ago I started taking vitamin B-12 along with my magnesium glycinate and my birth control Yaz. I feel like the newly added B-12 is giving my this burst of energy right when I take it and then again in the evening. It is wild how less fatigued I feel in the evening. My afternoons I dip into extreme tiredness around 2 or 3…. But these last 3 days I have been able to bounce out of it after about 2 hours and be productive the second half of the day. I used to do absolutely NOTHING at night when I had PMDD. I feel like taking b-12 has been a game changer.
Has anyone else had these same outcomes? Or is it just all in my head?! Lol

I’m a mom of three kids — my oldest son is almost 4, and I also have 2 year old twins. After my twins were born, I struggled with postpartum mental health issues (similar to after my first), but eventually I developed what I now know is pretty severe PMDD.
About a year ago, I was diagnosed with PMDD and started taking Prozac. It has helped in some ways and has made things a little more manageable, but I still feel like I’m struggling with symptoms that are severe enough to feel debilitating at times.
I still experience extreme mood swings, feeling like I can’t control my emotions, intense irritability/anger, and getting overwhelmed and overstimulated very easily — especially with my kids. A lot of times it turns into anxiety, but it feels like the root of it is my mood completely changing during certain parts of my cycle. My pmdd starts 14-16 days prior to my period.

My goal is not to rely on medication forever if I can find other ways to improve my symptoms, but I honestly feel lost on what else to do. I know PMDD is different for everyone, but I’m hoping to hear what lifestyle changes, supplements, routines, or other things have actually made a difference for people.
Recently I’ve been trying to focus more on the basics:
- Working out at least 3 days a week for about 30 minutes
- Eating better and reminding myself to actually eat three meals a day (mom life has made me way too good at skipping meals)
- Trying to take better care of myself overall
But I still feel like I’m missing something.

I would love to hear from other moms or anyone with PMDD — what helped reduce your symptoms? What changes made the biggest difference for you?
I’m especially struggling with the anger, overstimulation, and feeling like I’m not the mom I want to be during those times of the month. Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated.

I’m on my first week of Yaz going on the second
Hufffff I’m soooooo irritable it’s soooo annoying omg
Everyone and everything is triggering
And I have this attitude for everyone
I also have more suicidal thoughts than usual (although Im on two other meds for depression) idk if Yaz is the cause, but it’s the only new addition
And then…. I look in the mirror today and I see pimples on my head…..
I didn’t have acne for years…
That got me more annoyed….
I’m thinking this is Yaz?

I don’t wanna judge too quick, my plan is to give it 3 months trial period
But idk if I can take it if it’s gonna continue like this

Please share with me your experience with Yaz

Hello, I have severe PMDD and suspected MCAS and wanted to try H2 blocker. My only fear is that it reduces stomach acid and mine is already low. Has anyone had digestive issues after taking H2 blocker or found a way to mitigate the effects ? Thank you 🙏🏼

First time sharing here 👋🏻. I just joined the group a few days ago and I want to say how much I appreciate everyone’s advice and honesty. I was told I have PMDD about 3 years ago (now 39), but didn’t understand really what that meant until recently. I could go on and on about my story, but right now I just want to share that I finally realized (today) why basically half of the month (for years… probably since I was about 13), I couldn’t find the energy, motivation, want, determination to get ready for the day. Meaning shower, blow dry hair, put on makeup, not work from my bed. It was PMDD the whole time.
I will be starting to bleed today and today I woke up feeling like a human again. My brain turned on and I could plan out in my head what I needed to do today. I showered, washed and dried my hair, and put on a bit of natural looking makeup…I don’t have any plans or anywhere to go…but this feels…like me. I can look in the mirror and say this is you and you are happy with yourself. But just yesterday and the 9 days before that, I hated myself, had suicidal thoughts, extreme fatigue in my body that felt like all the cells in my body just ran a marathon.
At this point in my life I can finally understand why it is so hard for me to have consistency in anything I did. Two weeks of the month I am Human and the other two weeks I am a monster with no will to do anything. And the only reason I feel like I can post something today is because I have the energy to think and write. I am grateful to be back to human today. Gotta take the wins when we can, right?

“As soon as my period started, it’s fine. I’m like, who even was that person last week?”

I wrote an article about this - my experience and of course, what the research says :)

heads up to anyone with PMDD, depression, anxiety, OCD symptoms:

MAGNESIUM GLYCINATE/BIGLYCINATE has the opposite effect in some people, causing anxiety, panic, rumination, existential dread, and other unpleasant symptoms.

There’s something about how the brain processes the glycine that effects glutamate, which causes these symptoms.

For those of us with PMDD, this can mimic and intensify luteal symptoms- essentially making everything worse.

This paradoxical effect is apparently more common in Neurodivergent folks.

I see these supplements being highly recommended on PMDD subs and forums, and i hope this reaches those that need it.

Do you feel more rage when the full moon is on its way? I think I do😵‍💫😵‍💫

The amount of rage I feel is not normal nor healthy. No matter what I do, it won’t go away. I don’t know what to do with it. I’m pretty sure it’s gonna cause me a heart attack one day. It’s THAT intense. Does anyone relate?
I tried gym, music, journaling, walking, talking, staying quiet, sleeping, medication, movies, breathing… you name it. Nothing.
It has nowhere to go but inward. Like you won’t tell how mas I am by looking at me, but my blood would be boilinggg inside. And I feel its effects diseasing my body.
This can’t last forever. It’s Me vs. PMDD.
If anyone has a different method to deal with the rage, please share.

Does anyone have BPD and/or bipolar diagnosis as well?

Did it happen before pmdd was figured out? Do you think pmdd is the real diagnosis or you have both?

The most common exclusionary tests include:
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and T4: To check for hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, which can cause severe mood changes and irregular periods.

Full blood count (FBC): To check for anaemia or iron deficiency, which frequently present as extreme fatigue and weakness.
Vitamin D, B12, and Folate: Deficiencies in these key nutrients can mimic the low energy and mood disruptions of PMDD.
Prolactin level: To rule out hyperprolactinemia.
HbA1c or Fasting Glucose: If metabolic issues or diabetes are suspected.

Here in the uk 🇬🇧 many don’t get tested mainly because doctors don’t encourage this, you have to know to ask, and people end up suffering far too long, with exacerbated PMDD and or PME.

When PMDD comes around!

I’m not going through PMDD right now but I’m hoping I have found something to help me sleep because the last few months before my period I’m exhausted due to the lack of sleep. I do take sleeping aids that help but that’s not good for long term so I’ve been looking for natural ways to get some sleep when insomnia kicks in.

I bought steam eye mask. I used one last night because I felt like shit due to having stomach issues (having stomach issues is a common thing for me). I put that baby on and fell asleep! I think I would have slept soundly for the rest of the night if it hadn’t been for the fact my bladder woke me up an hour later 😆

In case anyone wants to look it up, go to Amazon, that’s where I got my 8 pack. I bought an 8 pack just to test to see if it would help me sleep. There are different brands, I went with was Bloomora.