Every month, I have a few days when I feel so sad that I can’t leave the house. I also have panic attacks and feelings of despairSuicidal thoughts. Because my suffering only began during recent years, I have many justifications that I can attribute to it. Either work, family, finances, relationships, health, contraception, or the owners of the homes I live in. In short, any issue that may arise in the lives of any of us was responsible, at one time, for my suffering from a bad psychological state every month.
But I didn’t learn about what’s called premenstrual dysphoric disorder until just last year, when I was researching another article on women’s health. This disorder is considered a severe form of premenstrual syndrome, and it particularly affects mental health. Between two and eight out of every 100 women suffer from this mood disorder, which is hormonally based and may cause a set of behavioral and emotional symptoms similar to premenstrual syndrome, but much worse. They range from fatigue, forgetfulness, and easily irritated to anxiety, depression, and aggression.
For many women, this condition cripples their lives and causes significant monthly impairment to their psychological and physical well-being. One study concluded that not treating this disorder may cause women who suffer from it to lose three years of corrected quality of life. [مقياس يستخدم في اقتصاديات الصحة لتقييم قيمة التدخلات الطبية أو العلاجات. فهو يجمع بين كمية ونوعية الحياة التي يعيشها الشخص بعد حالة صحية معينة أو علاج معين]. But at the same time, it may lead to the destruction of some of them: A study from 2021 found that women who suffer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder are seven times more likely to attempt suicide. However, we still know very little about this disorder.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder was only added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders used by healthcare workers around the world in 2013. In 2019, this disorder was added to the International Classification of Diseases, which has long since approved its medical diagnosis around the world. None of these details will surprise anyone who has researched the issue of misogyny within the medical field and how a long history of trivialization of women’s medical issues has hindered research, diagnosis, and development. After all, relatively not long ago—in 2002—some doctors openly doubted that premenstrual dysphoric disorder was real.
Research conducted in 2017 identified the genetic basis for the increased sensitivity that women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder show to the hormones estrogen and progesterone. (Shutterstock/Mental Mind)
Gemma Barry, founder of the Well Woman Project and author of Periods Aren’t Meant to Bloody Hurt, says: “There is a lack of research into many aspects of women’s health, and the situation is no different with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Women have been labeled hysterical for hundreds of years. “Over the years, this has resulted in underestimating many of the symptoms that women suffer from menstruation and the influence of hormones. Our bodies are very complex and have many variables due to the menstrual cycle, which makes it difficult to conduct tests on us. For this reason, almost all studies are conducted on male mice and rats, and then male humans.”
It may take an average of 12 years to receive a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. The delay is partly due to the lack of research and studies, which is undoubtedly exacerbated by the fact that the medical world has not included this condition among legitimate medical conditions until recently. Narendra Baisal, a consultant gynecologist at the London Gynaecology Clinic, says: “Premenstrual dysphoric disorder includes a group of symptoms, which can be difficult to diagnose and correlate with menstruation. Many women notice these symptoms but it may take time, sometimes years, before they begin to develop.” “These two things are linked. Mood disorders such as major depression and bipolar disorder can get worse during the premenstrual period, making their symptoms similar to premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and this makes the diagnosis difficult.”
Hannah, 25 years old, says, “I visited a public health doctor for the first time when I was 11 years old after my period started, because I sometimes felt very dizzy and tired. I was not diagnosed at that time, but the doctor told me that the problem was hormonal and that I should monitor the situation. About a year later, the symptoms started.” I was feeling emotional, and it came a week before my period and varied between anxiety as severe as a heart attack on the one hand, and depression reaching levels of clinical illness on the other. I also felt extremely exhausted and exhausted: I could get 12 hours of sleep and still wake up feeling like “I got hit in the head.”
Hannah didn’t start researching PMD until she was 20, and despite her symptoms, she has yet to receive a formal diagnosis. She says: “Last month, I went through three days when I needed constant reassurance and assurance from my partner that he would not leave me and that he would not think that I was ‘taking too much effort’ or that I was ‘neglecting myself.’ My mood ranged from feeling completely numb, not wanting to get out of bed, to hysterical crying.” Then, as usual, two days after the start of my period, I returned to normal and began apologizing to everyone I had ignored or exploded in their faces.”
I have not yet been diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder; I am still discussing the topic with my hygienist. One of the reasons this disorder is difficult to diagnose is that it may resemble premenstrual syndrome, and because of the similarity between its symptoms and those of other mood disorders, it is difficult to know what is really going on inside your mind and body. It varies from woman to woman. But the best tool you have is timing.
read more
This section contains related articles, placed in the (Related Nodes field)
“It is very important to write down your diary and the symptoms you feel and link them to your menstrual cycle,” says Bezal. “There are also reliable tools available to record premenstrual symptoms, including the PMS calendar. If you present this information to your general practitioner, it will help him to reach a reasonable diagnosis and thus refer you.” To the appropriate specialist.
While there is no doubt that premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a hormonal condition, we do not yet know what exactly causes it. Having a family history of mood disorders may be a contributing factor. Barry adds, “In this context, the issue of genetic characteristics and biological factors of the way hormones are processed in the brain was raised, but we still need more studies. Some theories have been put forward about the possibility of connections with childhood trauma, and that the disorder may be exacerbated among those who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.” Birth”.
Pezal points to a study published in 2017 that found a genetic basis for unusual sensitivity to estrogen and progesterone in those with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. “But as you can see, all these topics are very new and the lack of consensus and knowledge leads to problems of misdiagnosis,” he adds.
Maria, 45, was diagnosed with the disorder six months ago, after decades of battling its symptoms. She says, “I thought I was losing my mind. I had suicidal thoughts, very bad, as I could almost hear a voice telling me that I should kill myself. I would suddenly have bouts of severe anger for no real reason, and I would start many violent arguments with my husband and children. My nerves were tense.” “I was very suspicious and over-analyzed people’s words and actions. I thought they had evil in mind for me.”
As for me, I have symptoms closer to depression: fatigue, bad mood, and suicidal thoughts. But as happens with Hannah, these feelings disappear shortly after the start of menstruation. At least for another month. “For those with this disorder, personal and professional relationships may suffer,” Barry says. “In addition to the feelings of shame and guilt the person with this disorder feels about her behavior, she may also feel stressed about this impending devastation each month, and this feeling begins to affect the ‘good’ periods of the day.” “Menstrual cycle. Women with this disorder may feel overwhelmed because they are under the influence of something that seems beyond their control.”
So what to do? Unfortunately, this question is still being researched. Psychological consultant Georgina Starmer, who treats many people with this disorder, advises: “Due to the nature of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, it often seems to the person suffering from the disorder that she has lost control of her feelings, so it may be useful for her to think about the factors related to her lifestyle, and the ways of self-care that she can control.” “This may mean exercise, nutrition, good quality sleep, and also finding ways to regulate emotions in a way that helps her deal with her feelings.”
It may also help to reduce stress factors, such as avoiding caffeine, sugar, smoking, and alcohol. Some doctors may suggest taking birth control pills that regulate hormone levels by preventing ovulation. “In the case of severe mood-related symptoms, your doctor may suggest that you take a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), which also acts as an antidepressant,” Bezal adds. “Also, take vitamin B6, pyridoxine, and evening primrose oil tablets (both available without a prescription) two weeks before menstruation.” “They might help, too.”
When it comes to treatment, Hannah is focusing on taking care of herself, at least until she gets a formal diagnosis from her doctor. “I don’t believe there is a magic wand to deal with premenstrual dysphoric disorder,” she says. “But I always try to be practical and do what works for me, whether it’s taking a bath, lifting weights, drinking a nice cup of coffee, or even walking to the shops.”
Unlike other mental health disorders, what we know about premenstrual dysphoric disorder is that these feelings and thoughts are temporary and fleeting. Hannah says, “There is actually something to reassure you that everything that happens to you is temporary. In my case, the symptoms last for a week at the latest. My mood may become very bad, but what comforts me is my certainty that this condition will end.”
2024-02-25 13:03:51
#hormonal #disorder #destroys #womens #mental #health
