Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) can create a challenging combination during darker months. Research shows that 46% of individuals with SAD also experience PMDD, making this overlap significant for many.1,2,3 Let's explore how seasonal depression and PMDD interact and what you can do to manage symptoms effectively. What is Seasonal Affective[...]
PMDD impacts your circadian rhythm. Your circadian rhythm is your 24-hour cycle that is part of your body’s internal clock, running in the background to carry out essential functions and processes. One of the most important circadian rhythms is the sleep-wake cycle. It creates a cycling, day-night rhythm that makes you feel alert in the morning and sleepy at night. While[...]
For 17 years, I lived in a cycle of confusion and despair. Every two weeks, like clockwork, my life would crumble around me. I'd spend the next two weeks carefully rebuilding everything – my mental health, my relationships, my work progress – only to watch it all fall apart again. I couldn't understand why I couldn't maintain stability, why I couldn't move forward in life while others[...]
Ever notice how your negative thoughts or inner critic get particularly loud during certain times of your cycle? Those persistent negative thoughts aren't just in your head - they're a real phenomenon called Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs), and they have a fascinating relationship with PMDD. What Are ANTs, Anyway? ANTs are like little mental saboteurs that show up uninvited in yo[...]
PMDD and sleep have a two-way relationship - they can both help or harm each other. PMDD can disrupt your sleep with problems like insomnia, waking up frequently at night, and feeling unrested even after sleeping. 1 Poor sleep can hurt your focus and make you drowsy, affecting your performance at work or school.2 Disrupted sleep can intensify PMDD symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and[...]
PMDD is NOT PMS - AND Why Saying "It's Just Bad PMS" Can Be Dangerous "It's just bad PMS," they said, trying to be helpful. I smiled politely, but inside I felt that familiar ache of being misunderstood. Like many others with PMDD symptoms, I've heard this well-meaning but oversimplified comparison countless times. While the intention might be to relate and comfort, this common misconc[...]
Here at Her Mood Mentor, we stay on top of the latest research on treating Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). The two treatments in Western medicine for PMDD are (1) SSRIs or antidepressants and (2) hormonal birth control. When it comes to integrative medicine protocols, there are many, including nutritional therapy, regular exercise, sleep hygiene, and stress management.While I teac[...]
Like many of us experiencing PMDD symptoms, I used to feel completely bewildered by how quickly I could go from handling life's challenges with relative ease to feeling completely overwhelmed by the smallest setback. It wasn't until I started wearing my Garmin device that the pieces of this puzzle started coming together. The data I was seeing wasn't just numbers – it was validation of[...]
The Depression. The Dysphoria. The Emotional Pain. You are in a deep, deep hole in the forest and believe you will never come out. Life is meaningless. You are meaningless. Worthless. Everything hurts too much. More than you can bear. Overwhelming emotion. Anxiety a consistent friend - In a breath, a grey veneer has been swept over the world[...]
WHAT IS PMDD? Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a chronic and cyclical, reproductive mood disorder. Symptoms of PMDD present 7-14 days before menstruation during the premenstrual or luteal phase of the cycle and usually improve once the menstruation starts. The condition effects up to an estimated 8% of reproductive aged women1. While PMDD isn't caused by hormone imbalances, ma[...]
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