Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry & Perinatal Specialist located in Cherry Hill , NJ
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can have a significant impact on your mood as well as cause unpleasant symptoms before your period. If you suffer from PMDD, call Clarity Psychiatry Care in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Experienced specialists Dr. Amy Carnall, DNP, APN, PMHNP-BC, and Christina Sertway, APN, PMHNP-BC, offer expert diagnosis and treatment to reduce and relieve PMDD symptoms. Call Clarity Psychiatry Care today or schedule a consultation online for effective PMDD relief.
PMDD affects around 10% of people who have periods. It’s a more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), a common problem where you experience bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, and other unpleasant symptoms leading up to your period.
Women with PMDD have PMS symptoms and additional problems like depression, anxiety, and extreme irritability. PMDD symptoms typically improve after your period starts but are often severe enough to cause significant disruption to your life.
It’s unclear why some women develop PMS or PMDD and others don’t. Fluctuating estrogen and progesterone hormone levels after ovulation (halfway through your monthly cycle) and before menstruation are likely significant.
Changing serotonin levels could also have an influence. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter — a brain chemical that regulates your mood and influences hunger and sleep. You’re more likely to get PMDD if other family members suffer from it, suggesting a genetic influence. People with mental health problems like depression and anxiety are also more vulnerable to PMDD.
PMDD symptoms include:
To diagnose PMDD, your Clarity Psychiatry Care provider takes your medical history and assesses your symptoms. They may ask you to keep a symptom diary through one or two menstrual cycles. You must have at least five of the listed symptoms, including one that’s mood-related, to receive a PMDD diagnosis.
The Clarity Psychiatry Care team offers patients a personalized treatment plan that might include:
Antidepressants help by increasing your brain’s serotonin levels. Depending on your symptoms, you might benefit from anti-anxiety drugs and/or anti-inflammatory medicines.
Reducing salty and sugary foods, unhealthy fats, and caffeine can help you manage your condition better. Regular exercise also boosts mood.
Some contraceptives can help reduce PMDD symptoms by balancing your estrogen and progesterone levels.
Techniques such as deep breathing exercises, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation can ease PMDD symptoms.
You might also benefit from psychotherapy if you have depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges related to PMDD.
If you identify with the PMDD symptoms listed above, call Clarity Psychiatry Care today or go online to book an appointment.