Awful moodswings. What are my options?

[Grockle]

I'm generally quiet and morose. Perhaps a bit sulky. Then I'll be really angry about relatively minor things and overreact and shout. I'm tired of myself but am worried about my family. I have always been firey but used to be happy, smiley and calm most of the time.

Has something changed in your life recently that's linked to the change in your moods?

Poor you, I know the feeling. Are you under a lot of stress, or unhappy about something? Or is it hormonal - worse at particular stage of your cycle. I have shocking mood swings, which my GP eventually diagnosed as PMDD - a severe form of PMT. Mild dose of fluoxetine makes a big difference.

Lots of things going on - dP been off work for 6 months with depression and that's beginning to take it's toll. work's been hard and I now have to go back full time instead of part time. I have a mild but ongoing health problem which is making ne anxiuos and i have permanent loud tinnitus which is driving me bonkers! I'm exhausted and want the world to stop spinning so I can get off for a rest. I just want someone to look after me!

I am worse before my period - terrifying!

Try evening primrose - supposed to be good for 'womens' hormones and vit b good for supporting nerves - not sure of recommended dosage for both though...also get plenty of rest I know I can be quite short tempered when v tired.

ok a non pharmaceutical treatment for menstrual disorders (i too have pmdd amongst other joys) is called agnus castus - in clinical trials it came out very positively so is well backed. i get mine from healthspan. you take one a day all the time.

in some european countries it is prescribed.

as for the other stuff well you seriously have a lot on your plate. the tinnitus must be a nightmare - and i think it along with hearing problems is well known for making people irritated and frustrated for obvious reasons. you have so much on.

is there any kind of relaxation therapy you could take part in - yoga, meditation, massage??? is there some way to schedule into each day/week etc things that are good for you whatever that may be?

then there's the obvious stuff - check you're sleeping enough, eating well enough, getting enough exercise, drinking lots of water and not too much booze. etc etc.

6months is a long time off work for dh - is his depression getting no better at all? that's unusual if he is having good treatment.

Seriously Grockle, you must look after yourself. I hit a wall about 3 weeks ago, and felt like sliding down to the kitchen floor and sobbing. That's no good for the DC or me.
The agnus casti sounds interesting, but I found things like Evening Primrose had no effect - nowhere near strong enough.

Fluoxetine - it balances you out and makes you feel normal, so you can react to things better. I had to swallow my pride to accept it, but in retrospect, how ridiculous.
You are under a lot of strain - get to your GP and seek help, and you WILL feel better. Plus the usual things - grab some time to yourself, sofa at a coffee shop with a book does it for me, swim, walk, exercise class, cinema with a friend. And know that you are not alone. Be nice to yourself. x

Thank you all. I have a day by myself today which will help. DP coming over tonight. He's much better than he was but I'm really starting to feel that he doesn't want to get better which is frustrating. Things between us are not as lovely as they once were.

I will look for agnus castus & try evening primrose oil. I just think I'm exhausted. I can manage everyday stuff but not other people. DP is constantly pissing me off even when he tries to do nice things and I've argued with my dad over Xmas

I think I should become a hermit.

no. i'm a hermit. it is a calling for but a few and i don't think you're one you're just super stressed and that's allowed with so much on your plate. ditch what isn't majorly important and be good to yourself.

i'll find you a link to the agnus castus info.

this is a pretty informative page on pms and supplements, measures to help. it also makes the interesting point that sometimes it's not the pms causing the problems but the problems causing the pms itms. worth a read. she talks about agnus castus and it's proven effects on there too. hope it's helpful.

i wouldn't buy her supplement though - it has ingredients in that have no real clinical back up and is a money spinner i think.

link here to a good standardised, right dosage agnus castus at a reasonable price (3month supply for a tenner)

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

You're probably right, Santa - I like people when I chose to be with them. I just don't tolerate people very well most of the time. I always want to be on my own.

I am going away for the weekend, with DP - big city, nice hotel, swimming pool etc so am hoping that helps. No doubt I'll have some unpredictable wild strop about nothing that will leave DP looking bemused and hurt

I don't want to be so horrid to be around, but random things make me explode with rage. I KNOW I'm being a nutter but I just can't stop it!

I experienced something very similar In similar circumstances. I went to my GP who recommended Magnesium supplement for the hormonal imbalance and I had counselling for the anxiety issues. It really helped me.

you're not being a nutter. magnesium is supposedly natures natural chill out mineral. agnus castus works on the pituitary gland (which reguates hormones partly), i also have a friend who recommends calcium patenthonate (spelling messed but google would correct it i'm sure) as good for mood stability and calming. confuses me because when you look it up it's all about helping break down fats and proteins etc (mind you i guess that does help the brain build what it needs).

if you don't want to go down the prescribed meds route yet there's also st john's wart, passiflora, valerian etc.

i've just ordered magnesium supplement - half price on that website i linked you to earlier. i honestly don't work for them!! a friend who is totally into natural treatments recommended them to me as reliable in terms of producing pharmaceutical grade supplements rather than selling you crap that hasn't got the right extractions, active ingredient levels etc.

I suffered with dreadful moodswings and tried herbal remedies like St Johns Wort. They did help to a degree but my PMDD was too bad so I am now on a low dose of Citalopram. I really did not want to go on antidepressants as I think it is more a hormonal problem but it definately helps.

Hi everyone - was just reading through mn to see if there is any advice on pms as I'm self diagnosing myself - see if you agree...
For the past couple of cycles (maybe more) I sink into a black hole, I find no joy in anything, dh and kids irritate and anger me beyond belief, I feel like crying at everything, I can't think or talk straight, I want to be left the f@k alone - in a nutshell, extreme anger, mood swings just bloody unbearable. I hate being /feeling like this.
Really do not want anti d's so please please recommend me some vitamins or supplements that will help and not cost a fortune.
Thanks - desperate for help

Bump