Nearly every woman has experienced the horrors of irritability, bloating, and cramps before their period begins, but some may face more severe symptoms that will regularly go undiagnosed.

According to John Hopkins Medicine, “Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a much more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It may affect women of childbearing age. It’s a severe and chronic medical condition that needs attention and treatment. Lifestyle changes and sometimes medicines can help manage symptoms.”

PMDD primarily affects a woman’s mental health and well-being before their period. Symptoms include but are not limited to irritability, increased nervousness, lack of control, insomnia, increased sadness or depression, paranoia, crying spells, and overall emotional sensitivity.

Having PMDD also has a major effect on one’s neurological and vascular systems, potentially causing headaches, dizziness, fainting, heart palpitations, and numbness in the arms and/or legs. Again, symptoms vary from woman to woman, one should talk to a doctor or physician if experiencing many of these symptoms.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder can be debilitating, and many women have reported having thoughts of suicide during that period. The bright side is that this is only a week out of the month, so there is hope that things will get better.

Treatments for PMDD may be in the form of self-care, medication, or therapy. If looking to try a medication, it is necessary to consult a doctor before doing so. Birth control is not only used to prevent pregnancy, it can also be used to treat symptoms of PMDD and help regulate acne. A doctor may prescribe an SSRI (Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor). SSRIs are aimed to treat physiological symptoms, and SSRIs may help control mood swings and stop an uprise in depression or anxiety.

Any woman with a family history of PMDD, depression, postpartum depression, or other physiological conditions/disorders may be at increased risk for PMDD.

A doctor’s diagnostic process may be through a physical and pelvic examination. What makes the diagnostic process tricky is that there are very few diagnostic tests, being that it mainly involves physiological symptoms a blood test may not provide answers.

Being able to put a name to the symptoms may help one feel more accepting of their body. If you feel like someone who is feeling beyond normal PMS symptoms, reach out to a doctor to get control of those symptoms.