How Hormones Can Affect A Woman’s Moods “PMDD”?
pmdd
What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder PMDD?
PMDD also referred to as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is a condition that is related to severe physical and emotional problems in close relation to the menstrual cycle. The symptoms of PMDD appear during the week before the menstrual cycle and the symptoms disappear within the days following the onset of the end of the menstrual cycle.
Some consider PMDD as a severe form of PMS also referred to as Premenstrual Syndrome. Oftentimes, a woman who experiences PMDD has the same or similar symptoms of a woman who experiences the ailments of PMS, only at a greater severity.
Thirty to forty percent of women are currently categorized as having PMS but 3-7 percent of these can actually be categorized as having PMDD.
How Can Hormones Affect A Woman’s Moods?
Women have a relatively unique hormonal system when compared to men. Men have a relatively static hormone system with stable levels of pituitary and gonadal hormones throughout their daily lives, suffering from decreasing levels of testosterone after the age of 30-40. Usually, this gradual change does not markedly affect male mood.
Women, on the other hand, spend much of their reproductive lives with a cyclical pattern of hormones that change on a day-to-day basis. The cycle repeats itself every month and the fluctuations alone can contribute to changes in everyday mood.
At the beginning of the cycle, the LH and FSH levels are low:
- The FSH gradually rises in order to stimulate an egg to grow and mature on the ovaries.
- An LH surge happens at the time of ovulation so that the egg is released and the ovary creates a large amount of estrogen and progesterone in the last half of the cycle.
- This is when many women experience hormonal changes consistent with premenstrual syndrome.
- It is possible for any woman to develop mood changes during the last half of the cycle but some women have hormonal changes so significant that it interferes with daily life.
- When it involves the ability to get through daily life, it is called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD.
What are The Symptoms of PMDD?
Women with PMDD often experience mood swings along with physical symptoms that make it difficult to get through daily life. When the period arrives, the symptoms tend to abate for another two weeks until ovulation happens again and PMDD symptoms arrive.
Some symptoms of PMDD include the following:
- Fluctuations in mood that can change by the hour or by the day.
- Depressed feelings such as sadness, loneliness, and hopelessness.
- Increased anger, often leading to interpersonal relationship difficulties
- Anxiety and increased mental tension
- Lessened interest in hobbies and other activities you used to enjoy
- Increased irritability
- Problems with concentration
- Tiredness, sleepiness or fatigue during the day
- An increase or decrease in appetite
- Insomnia or other sleep difficulties
- Feeling out of control or overwhelmed by lifeís challenges
- Uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as breast tenderness, bloating, headaches, joint pain, muscle pain or swelling
These symptoms can mean that, for two weeks out of every month, a woman can have difficulty functioning in life; this can affect her home life, her work life, and relationships in her life.
- If the symptoms are relatively mild, she can take vitamins, eat healthy, and exercise in order to improve many of the mood symptoms.
- If the symptoms are severe and a woman does not wish to become pregnant, oral contraceptives can even out the symptoms.
Still, other women see their doctor and get prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs like Prozac, Lexapro, or Celexa. These can reduce many of the emotional symptoms so typical of having PMDD or even milder premenstrual symptoms.
Hyperthyroid Conditions:
Women are at a higher risk of hypothyroid or hyperthyroid conditions when compared to men. This means they have a higher risk of these hormonally related conditions affecting mood and outlook on life. Hypothyroidism is much more common than hyperthyroidism but both syndromes can lead to mood disorders and mental symptoms.
In hypothyroidism, the main mood symptoms include the following:
- Depressive symptoms.
- Tiredness or fatigue even when getting enough sleep at night.
- Difficulty sleeping.
If the woman has hyperthyroidism, she likely has Grave’s disease, which has mood and mental symptoms of its own. These include:
- Nervousness.
- Moodiness.
- Fatigue.
- Mental and emotional weakness.
- Tremulousness.
Many times, these symptoms can be overlooked as a normal part of being a woman or due to menstrual symptoms, when in actuality; they are due to a physical problem with the thyroid gland. While jokes are often made about these types of mood conditions and PMS, these serious issues can be debilitating for women, and can seriously affect their lives and relationships.
Only a careful history, physical examination, and a laboratory analysis can allow the doctor to identify which symptoms are just mental and which are due to thyroid pathology. Take the time to look into these issues as help is available and there is no reason to let these problems fester.
Possible Treatment Options:
Three treatment options for those have a diagnosis with PMDD. The first is the use of medicines such as hormones, anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants. Sarafem is an antidepressant which is known as Prozac, and has been approved by the FDA in order to treat PMDD?
Another option in the treatment of PMDD considers the behavioral factors of this disorder. Controlling stress, relaxing, and psychotherapy may also be effective methods of treatment. Some of the same relief options available for women with PMS may also help with the symptoms of PMDD.
Nutritional modification such as herbal remedies, demanding exercise, increased consumption of vitamins, and dietary restrictions can be additional treatment options for those with PMDD. Many physicians have indicated that homeopathic remedies may also help.
Natural Remedies for PMDD:
If you are struggling with PMDD and are looking for a drug-free alternative, try these natural PMDD treatment tips which will start to heal you from the inside.
1. Do Not Nap:
Sleeping habits become quite out of sync during PMDD and some women sleep way too much, while others sleep very little. This can lead to the urge to nap during the day, especially when you become emotionally worn out.
Napping will further put your natural sleeping cycle out of order making it even more difficult to sleep at night, extending the time your body wants to sleep late into the night, and confusing many other internal systems.
Try to eat a meal with complex carbs in it and do some light exercise if you feel sleepy during the day and fight off the sleeping urge so you can have a much more restful night.
2. Reduce Stress:
Stress is a modern disease that fills our bodies with a hormone called cortisol that lowers the immune system, heightens our tension, and makes it difficult for other hormones to work properly. Reducing stress is essential to beating PMDD and there are many ways that you can do this including mental exercises, and even adding stress-busting foods to your diet!
3. Exercise for Endorphins:
Everyone knows exercise makes you feel better, but you need to exercise the right way to release enough mood-boosting endorphins.
- Just a light walk will not do much; you instead need to work out with some reasonable intensity for a reasonable amount of time.
- This will release endorphins in the brain making you feel good, and a healthier body also helps with so many other systems that will aid in hormonal control.
4. Magnesium Supplements:
- Taking 250-350 milligrams of magnesium daily can also greatly reduce PMDD symptoms.
- It can help boost mood, improve sleep quality, reduce cramping and pain, and even help reduce stress.
- Be aware of how much magnesium you already consume from food as well though.
PMDD Diet:
1. Foods NOT to Eat:
A. Non-Organic Chicken:
Chicken is a fantastic food for people to eat, however, it comes with a downside if you buy non-organic chicken. This is because a lot of chicken is stuffed full of growth hormones to make them fatter quicker. This makes the meat less tasty for a start, but the main problem is these hormones enter your body now and are part of the problem of PMDD.
B. Processed Foods:
Food that has been processed too much and changed from its original form has the danger of being stripped of many essential nutrients. Also, many are filled with chemicals that cause issues with your hormones and general internal health. These chemicals are often used to make them last longer on the shelf but are not good for you.
2. Food You WANT to Eat:
A. Fresh Vegetables:
As has been mentioned, the less fresh the food, the more chemicals they add. Eat fresh and especially vegetables. Fruit is OK too, but green leafy vegetables are much better at promoting good hormonal health.
B. Turkey:
Eating turkey is good in a PMDD diet because it contains an amino acid called L-tryptophan. This amino acid triggers the release of serotonin, which is a feel-good brain chemical. This is the reason many people who eat turkey feel relaxed, or even tired, after eating it. L-Tryptophan has a documented calming effect
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Disclaimer: “Nothing in this article makes any claim to offer cures or treatment of any disease or illness. If you are sick please consult with your doctor.”
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