Extreme Increase Of Depression And Anxiety Around Time Of My Period

[akosthegoose]

I understand pms is normal but this seems much more extreme.

I do have ptsd, major depressive disorder, non specific mood disorder however on or around my period everything becomes much worse and much more intense. Nightmares and flash backs become worse, bad thoughts and the inability to think and react clearly are very hard. Increased depression to the point of considering suicide. Self harming need become much worse. I cry to the point of sobbing over even little things. Derealization becomes even more pronounced.

I really struggle. I actually broke down and mentioned it to my therapist last time but she blew me off annoying because it was a hard thing for me to bring up. I basically have little to no control over my emotions during that time of the month.

Is that normal for my diagnosis? Its horrible normal or not because I feel like I have a loss of control that I otherwise would normally have at least some

 

[LaurieJ]

I have PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder and my depression and anxiety increase severely when I have PMS and during my period. I used to have suicidal thoughts during this time but not anymore. I'm also over emotional to the point of crying excessively. In short it feels like I am out of control mentally. I cannot take any medication to help with this due to drug interactions. So I am dealing with it the best I can. You're not alone with this one.

Perhaps you could try and mention it again to your therapist and he/she might have some problem solving skills that might help. My therapist recommended that I exercise and it has helped. I hope this was helpful.

 

[Springer80]

Hi, I saw very interesting TED talk about women's endocrine (hormonal) system and how it effects us. PTSD also messes up this system, so I suppose its like drinking on top of medication. I actually like the effect of being on my period. I felt a bit like a hermit and pretty vulnerable. I'd spend my time balled up like a field mouse with warm sweet tea and a ho water bottle and if I balled my eyes out I wen for it. I think cos I had to carry on at all costs with work etc my period was like a value release that forced my body and therefore my mind to experience the wave of emotion I normally I had to keep in to function. I actually came off the depo injections and went onto a coil implant so that I wasn't mixing an added hormones to the cocktail. I think it helps if you have a partner who understands how you need to feel and be responded too when your like that. I literally just want to eat red meat and sniff man smell, I go sort of cave girl. Which is interesting cos there is Vit d and iron and etc in red meat. I know it sounds like a catch-all phrase but diet CAN do alot and if you find out what helps its especially nice if your partner knows and can help you with it.

Sorry your therapist wasn't up too much and a bit dismissive really. Baths help too.....take the tension out of your muscles.

 

[Muzikluvr]

Is that normal for my diagnosis?

It sounds typical for me. I had sore throat/headache, etc... for a couple of weeks and by the time I saw the doctor I was just starting to recover from major depression. She asked me if I had felt lethargic. I thought about it, and remembered feeling so tired that I just couldn't bring myself to do the things I'd planned... and then I realized that it was the lethargy that primarily contributed to the depression. I hadn't even realized it at the time. Being physically ill really messes with my symptoms, and if I don't attribute the symptoms properly... accepting I am affected by the illness and I need check in with myself regularly throughout the day, then I will plow on with my typical expectations of myself and become overwhelmed when I fail to meet them.

Then, I tend to search for the reason why I failed... by remembering all my other failings and down, down, down I go. Instead, I have to accept that I'm more limited that day. It's pretty difficult for me to recognize illness or PMS, so it often takes awhile to realize what's going on with me. Once I do, then I can take steps to minimize the impact the added stress, pain, and hormonal imbalance has on me. Honestly, I've been in the middle of ranting at my family before, and at the same time I'm ranting... I'm thinking that we were happy just moments ago... and I'm overreacting! When I feel happy, and yet I'm being overly critical or compulsively explaining something to the point that people are just fleeing from me, then I become aware that something is wonky in my body. Taking a midol really helps me. :) But, also just realizing and accepting that I'm not physically well, helps me too. It takes the pressure off my mental management, since that doesn't work on hormone issues.

So... you're not alone with the PMS issue. I hope you find some things that work for you to keep it in check.

 

[Marie10]

I have PTSD and biploar 2 (I'm still trying to figure out what that means).

I get very sad and cry a lot but lately anger has come into the picture while I'm PMS. I keep a calender separate from my daily one and usually don't look at it. When I start to get sad and angry out of nowhere, it's my PMS and sure enough I look at the calender and it is.

I try to just let it ride, be careful communicating and let myself cry when I want to. Your not alone and I hope this helps.

 

[NarcSis]

My therapist (female) actually posed this question to me earlier in my treatment; whether or not I felt my symptoms were worse nearer to my period or not. I answered no, because at the time, I was still in the initial phases of dealing with my trauma and quite frankly, time of day/month/year had no meaning and I was essentially "fueled up" all the time.

Now, years post-trauma, I do notice an increase in symptoms at/around the time of my period and, for those who used to suffer from PMS symptoms prior to trauma, often it feels far worse. I chalked it up to the fact that I no longer handle stress as well as I did prior to my trauma, and quite frankly the perception of stress is far greater during a hormonal fluctuation, so yes, PTSD and PMS can be a doozy!

 

[p-no]

Hi akosthegoose,

I am much worse, too, during PMS plus the first day (although then it's physical). During PMS (starts about five days before), my immune systems goes down the drain severely. I almost always get a cold sore on my mouth or nose, a cold (even in summer), my blood circulation worsens and the two days before the first day of my period, I will just cry and cry and cry (I would say, what I feel is grief, but for no apparent reason). Sometimes, then, I also feel very desperate and very rarely, but it happens, I feel like a little child desperately wanting to be saved. It is very painful.

If you can, insist on needing help. You are the one in your body and you are the one who perceives what you perceive. No matter where it comes from, if your state of mind is so bad, you need help. I cannot understand, to be honest, how your therapist could just shrug it off. I can imagine, owing to my own experience, that you may (!) not communicate the troubles you have so that you can be certain your therapist understands. Maybe prepare for next time and make a list of the symptoms and the level of severity (1 lowest to 10 highest, as an example). Tell her again and show her the list. Do take yourself seriously and let her know. This is really just a suggestion; even if you've already done it (communicate your problems very clearly), do so again. You are worth it and I can only tell you that I have made the experience that, for whatever reason, my therapist also sometimes isn't quite "there".

Wishing you to really find appropriate help with this soon!

 

[warathome]

Women with PTSD should not have PMS.