Holistic, Somatic, Psychotherapy for PMDD
You don’t need to suffer alone…
You had been working so hard to hold it all together… shooting for perfection, achieving major success in your academic/career endeavors. Then you experienced one or more major life stressors. It no longer became possible to mask…and you had a “breakdown”, your body said no more! All symptoms shut down. It was terrifying, you felt crazy and out of control. Worst of all it felt like you lost touch with yourself. All sorts of emotions came bubbling to the surface. Deep sadness, uncontrollable rage, anxiety, and panic. Your doctor or OBGYN diagnosed you with Premenstrual Dysporic Disorder. Now you need help processing, making sense of what happened, and help putting the pieces of your life back together. You want to find a way back to the essence of what made you, YOU!
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
PMDD is a severe, often disabling extension of premenstrual symptoms. Although PMS and PMDD both have physical and emotional symptoms, PMDD causes extreme mood shifts that can disrupt your work and damage your relationships.
Like PMS, premenstrual dysphoric disorder follows a predictable, cyclic pattern. Symptoms begin in the late luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (the week leading up to when your period starts) and end shortly after menstruation begins.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms usually begin seven to 10 days before your period starts and continue for the first few days during the time that you have your period. Both PMDD and PMS may cause the same symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, fatigue, and changes in sleep and eating habits. In PMDD, however, the symptoms are more severe. Symptoms can include any of the following:
Mood swings.
Depressed mood or feelings of hopelessness.
Marked anger, increased interpersonal conflicts.
Tension and anxiety.
Irritability.
Decreased interest in usual activities.
Difficulty concentrating.
Fatigue or increased tiredness.
Change in appetite, food cravings, or binge eating.
Feeling out of control or overwhelmed.
Sleep problems.
Physical problems, such as bloating, breast tenderness, swelling, headaches, joint or muscle pain.
Increased craving for carbohydrates and sugars.
“My period starts next week, I woke up with extreme feelings of sadness and I have no motivation to do anything.. it feels like every month pmdd just gets worse and worse, I don’t want this to be the death of me. It’s hard having this added to my mental plate”
— Ella H.
What causes PMDD?
The exact cause of PMDD is unknown. The prevailing theory is that PMDD is caused by increased sensitivity to normal fluctuations in hormone levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. PMDD occurs in 3%-8% of women of childbearing age; it affects women worldwide and is not influenced by geography or culture.2 Genetic susceptibility, stress, obesity, and a history of trauma or sexual abuse have been implicated as risk factors.
“I feel that the worst part about PMDD is the absence of hope. You feel like everything around you is wrong and that it won't get any better. What you're doing isn't enough. You're not the right person for your job. You don't have enough friends. You aren't improving in life. Time is running out. You're stagnant. You won't be able to handle things. You always say and do the wrong thing. It’s exhausting!”
— Anna M.
