Emotional DD - Depression or PMS?

[Kentmum23]

Hi, I have an almost 14 year old DD who started her periods very young at age 9. Every month she gets very down in the dumps, cries on and off and isolates herself at home. She's very mature for her age and sensitive. She hasn't got a ton of friends but rather sticks to a small group of 3 girls at school who are similar to her but don't socialise at the weekends. She found the school holidays a struggle because I think she was bored and lonely and glad to get back to school.

I put her mood swings down to PMS as she is having an episode right now where she is really tearful and I know her period is due. We're very close and she talks to me if things are bothering her.

Does anyone else have any experience like this? Am wondering whether to speak to the GP but I don't really know if they can do anything for her other than to give her a blood test?

Thanks for listening

I would absolutely take her to the GP @Kentmum23 there are definitely things they can do.

I used to suffer terribly with PMS. One of the best things I was told was to take a Calcium supplement, which really helped.

I used to get shocking pms. Magnesium helped me, as did having a cleaner diet, and never letting blood sugar dip. My dd gets a bit grumpier before her period but nothing too bad. She does crave chocolate and junk food before and I try and encourage her to have other things alongside.

Blood test
counselling
start giving her a general vitamin

How are things now @Kentmum23? Did you manage to see the GP?

Hi thank you for asking. We’ve talked a lot about ways we can improve her mood and she decided to start an evening primrose supplement (she didn’t fancy blood test lol). We also talked about the importance of getting a good nights sleep but not sleeping in till 1pm at the weekends. I’m going to see how she goes for the next couple of cycles and if no improvement we will make an appointment at the GP. Thanks again

I have the same issue with my 13yo. Would love to know how you get on. Hope things improve. I have no idea where to start, when I was that age you just had to get on with it. But that approach does not seem to work these days!

Could you try a calcium supplement along with the Evening Primrose Oil?

I just wanted to jump on here because my dd is the same. She had irregular periods for years and finally regulated at 16. She's had 5 periods in a row down with very bad pms. Very low and emotional. I was worried about depression also but I kept track of her mood on the calendar and sure enough if was pms. I also started reading into pmdd which sounds alot like dd. I started her on magnesium and b vitamins but her doctor wants us to check in if things don't improve. She may start her on zoloft, taken only 1 week before the start of her period. I'm hoping something works she her because it's hard watching her cry and break down every month.

Ashwagandha helped me massively.

I suffered with PMDD and subsequently was allover my DD’s first few years of menstruation. She uses an App now but we kept a diary the first year.

Get your DD to write down how she feels every day of her cycle and you will see a pattern after a couple of months. Feelings can range from rage, sadness, insecurity, brain fog, tiredness, hyperactivity.

Good luck.

Oh I’m sorry to read this. It’s heartbreaking isn’t it. My dd is doing better now she’s back at school but I noticed in my diary her period is about 10 days away so I’m expecting a down turn in mood again. I hope your DD starts to improve. 16 is such a difficult age what with exam stress and social pressures etc. ☹️

It’s so hard seeing them sad and so down on herself. I told her to put an elastic band around her wrist and every time she has a negative thought she has to twang it! I said it’ll hurt a bit and eventually she should associate the two and change her thought process. She said it’s helped. She is trying bless her. Hope your DD starts to feel better. Sending love