Anyone here with PMDD?

[kualitate]

I'm in my early 30s and always had terrible periods so started tracking them about 2 years ago. I started off just recording when they started, but then started writing down my moods in more detail and have realised that I have PMDD. The week or so before my period is hell - I become so anxious, so irritable and fatigued and just feel pure hopelessness. It also means that I feel so sad about work, like I'm no good and like everything is so pointless. I can't concentrate because of the brain fog and even writing a simple email is too much. I'll take criticism and throw away comments really deeply and start crying or ruminating. I just want to quit everything.

As soon as I physically start bleeding, it's like someone switches a flip and I'm so much lighter. Still tired and a bit sad but a normal level and I can think rationally and clearly, whereas 24 hours earlier, I will be convinced that there is nothing left for me to live for and I have the worst voice in my head saying the most horrible things about me.

I'll go to the doctor and see if I can get the pill but am wary of the side effects and it will take a while to try and resolve this. Does anyone else have pmdd and what are your strategies for coping with work when you're in the bad phase? There's so much emotional labour involved with academia as well as the intellectual side of things and I just feel like I am drowning or my brain is wrapped in cotton wool when I'm in the bad phase of my period.

You've posted this in the wrong section of MN. Ask MNHQ to move it.

I didn't want to post it in the general chat as I wanted to hear from others academics struggling with pmdd and how they manage it

That sounds like a really shit situation, OP.

You said that you posted here for other academics' experiences, rather than the experiences of women in other work sectors.

What parts of the academic job do you find most impacted? In other words, how do you see your experience being different from other women's because you're an academic?

If these horrible symptoms are fairly predictable in when they arrive, then I'd have thought academia is actually a good place to be because we have so much autonomy over how we structure our time. For example, you could avoid paper-writing when its the week you know you'll feel awful. I know its not that easy but there's more flexibility to do some of that than there is in ordinary work.

Does your university have a menopause policy? They're unlikely to have a menstruation policy [yet] but some of the adjustments offered by the menopause policy might be helpful for you.

I would get a diagnosis from the doctor first. Then I would see your line manager to discuss the situation and potential reasonable adjustments.

I had PMDD in my late 20s early 30s. I used a system from a female Doctor called Dr Maryon Stewart - she has a book. It’s called No more PMS!
Basically the premise is that you use dietary changes, supplements and relaxation and exercise to put nutrients back into your body. It worked for me. After three months of the dietary changes, supplements and some small adjustments to my life my terrible symptoms just went away.
Im now in my late 40s and although I have had some issues over the years with very heavy periods and a small amount of grumpyness an irritation before my period. (I think it’s also Peri and am now taking HRT) All my terrible symptoms- irrational thoughts, anger, crying, physical pain - never came back.
I liked it because I was actually fixing the problem. It really did improve my life so much. When I started the programme - at the time she offered consultations over the phone - she told me it’s usually 3-6 moths before women feel the effect. My husband was v sceptical but even he was won over and couldn’t believe the change in me.