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Period HELL week

2 replies

meekamoo · 11/05/2026 11:37

Hey everyone! Does anyone else really really struggle with their mental health the week before their period is due? ( hell week) for me it has gotten progressively worse I’d say over the last two years. I am putting this down to coming off of my pill, a gp put me on the pill due to the symptoms I was experiencing the week before my period, I took it straight through, didn’t have a break and it did help me. However after deciding to come off of my pill due to no longer wanting those hormones in my body the symptoms have come back with a vengeance!!!

I have two weeks in my cycle where I am absolutely fine, I feel normal. The week before my period it creeps up on me out of nowhere and I become horrible and snappy. I can’t even face taking my dog out for a walk which I love doing usually. I am this irritable, irrational person that I don’t recognise. I have a massive crash in my energy where I will sleep for hours and I just want to be in bed sleeping. I’m awful to my husband, I have no patience with my children at all. I push them all away, I don’t want to speak to anyone, I don’t want anyone near me. It’s just this awful feeling of overwhelm and emotion for no reason!! It’s like my brain is telling me ‘you’re ugly’ ‘your husband and friends hate you’ ‘you’re old’ ‘you’re a rubbish mum’ etc etc etc

I have had suicidal thoughts many times during this week. This past week has been particularly terrifying with the thoughts I have had in my head. I try my best to remind myself that these thoughts are NOT real and I am due on in a couple of days and as soon as my period comes all of these feelings will lift and go away. But when you are in it you just can’t see a way out of it. I could cry at how awful this week has been for me and my family.

My husband is so supportive ( I also have two children) but I know it’s really tough on him and I can see the sadness in him when I am having this episode. Because there is only so much he can do or say. I don’t want him or my children or myself living like this anymore every single month.

I have been to the gp’s about this before and all they offer is either the pill, or anti depressants. But I’m looking for some advice from other people who may experience these symptoms for more natural ways of dealing with this? Do people take any supplements that have actually worked? I have been trying to do some research but there’s so much out there!

Do I have PMDD? after reading up on it all my symptoms point to it but everyone sticks a label on things these days. Whatever is going on I don’t want to be a victim of it. I want to sort it out and get better.

I am 35, am I in the perimenopause? Could it be that?

I’m desperate, if anyone has any advice I’d massively appreciate it.

OP posts:
Ritaskitchen · 11/05/2026 11:56

This was exactly me. Look up Dr Maryon Stewart and read her book No more PMS! And put the things into place in the book.
i did it years ago. I had the most awful PMT/PMD - rage, suicidal thoughts etc etc.
It’s basically changing diet, exercise, relaxation and supplements. But the basic principle is that it stuffs your body full of nutrients - this helps hormones and the awful phase goes away.
it took 3 months of following it to help me. Feel free to send me a DM and I can explain more.
At the time I did it she also offered consultations by phone. But I think now she is more concentrated on menopause.
It literally transformed my life. You don’t have to stick to the principles for ever and it wasn’t that difficult.
DH was very sceptical as I had tried acupuncture and other supplements before and nothing helped. He was a complete convert to it too!

teileen276 · 11/05/2026 13:13

meekamoo · 11/05/2026 11:37

Hey everyone! Does anyone else really really struggle with their mental health the week before their period is due? ( hell week) for me it has gotten progressively worse I’d say over the last two years. I am putting this down to coming off of my pill, a gp put me on the pill due to the symptoms I was experiencing the week before my period, I took it straight through, didn’t have a break and it did help me. However after deciding to come off of my pill due to no longer wanting those hormones in my body the symptoms have come back with a vengeance!!!

I have two weeks in my cycle where I am absolutely fine, I feel normal. The week before my period it creeps up on me out of nowhere and I become horrible and snappy. I can’t even face taking my dog out for a walk which I love doing usually. I am this irritable, irrational person that I don’t recognise. I have a massive crash in my energy where I will sleep for hours and I just want to be in bed sleeping. I’m awful to my husband, I have no patience with my children at all. I push them all away, I don’t want to speak to anyone, I don’t want anyone near me. It’s just this awful feeling of overwhelm and emotion for no reason!! It’s like my brain is telling me ‘you’re ugly’ ‘your husband and friends hate you’ ‘you’re old’ ‘you’re a rubbish mum’ etc etc etc

I have had suicidal thoughts many times during this week. This past week has been particularly terrifying with the thoughts I have had in my head. I try my best to remind myself that these thoughts are NOT real and I am due on in a couple of days and as soon as my period comes all of these feelings will lift and go away. But when you are in it you just can’t see a way out of it. I could cry at how awful this week has been for me and my family.

My husband is so supportive ( I also have two children) but I know it’s really tough on him and I can see the sadness in him when I am having this episode. Because there is only so much he can do or say. I don’t want him or my children or myself living like this anymore every single month.

I have been to the gp’s about this before and all they offer is either the pill, or anti depressants. But I’m looking for some advice from other people who may experience these symptoms for more natural ways of dealing with this? Do people take any supplements that have actually worked? I have been trying to do some research but there’s so much out there!

Do I have PMDD? after reading up on it all my symptoms point to it but everyone sticks a label on things these days. Whatever is going on I don’t want to be a victim of it. I want to sort it out and get better.

I am 35, am I in the perimenopause? Could it be that?

I’m desperate, if anyone has any advice I’d massively appreciate it.

This may sound silly but have you tried EMDR therapy? It is meant to be really quick results though I imagine it can be expensive.

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