PMDD Test
My emotions feel unpredictable, with sudden shifts in mood or heightened sensitivity.
I struggle with low mood, hopeless feelings, or negative thoughts about myself.
Physical changes occur, like sore breasts, body aches, or noticeable weight gain.
I get less done during this period than usual.
My thinking feels foggy or unclear.
My eating habits shift, whether it's craving certain foods or eating more than normal.
Activities I usually enjoy, from work to socializing, don't interest me anymore.
I pull back from social interactions and prefer to be alone.
Things feel too much to handle, and I sense a loss of control.
My sleep patterns change a lot, either struggling to sleep or sleeping too much.
Anxiety and tension levels rise noticeably.
The symptoms I experience during this time cause significant distress.
I feel drained of energy and constantly tired.
I have episodes of deep sadness that feel out of the ordinary.
Focusing on tasks becomes a real challenge.
These symptoms disrupt my work, personal interests, or connections with others.
I become more easily irritated, quick to anger, and have more conflicts with people.
These issues aren't explained by another mental health condition like depression.
These symptoms aren't caused by any underlying medical problem.
These symptoms aren't linked to drug use, alcohol, or medication side effects.
20 questions remaining
What You Should Know
- We don't know everything that causes PMDD, but genetics, physiology, and things like stress, trauma, and culture may be involved.
- Hormones are a big part of PMDD. Studies show that women with PMDD are especially sensitive to changes in hormones like allopregnanolone and oestrogen, and that their hormone levels may drop faster.
- Studies of the brains of women with PMDD indicate impaired connectivity in the areas responsible for emotional regulation and executive function. These results align with self-reported experiences of PMDD as a sensation of "feeling out of control."
- The DSM-5 says that between 1.8% and 5.8% of menstruating women have premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
- Therapy, like cognitive behavioural therapy, medication (sometimes birth control to stabilise hormones), and changes to exercise, diet, and caffeine intake are all possible treatments for PMDD.
Change Now
Talk to your doctor. A medical professional can help you figure out what's wrong and how to treat it.
Try making some changes to your lifestyle. For example, changing how much you exercise, eat, and drink caffeine the week before your period may help you feel better.
Get help from a therapist. A mental health professional can help you deal with mood swings, sadness, and other PMDD symptoms.
