Premenstrual Syndrome or PMS Depression

Premenstrual Syndrome depression, or PMS depression, is one of the main forms of depression in women. A severe form of such depression is also referred to as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, or PMDD.

Most women experience mood swings and severe lows as part of premenstrual syndrome - this occurs during their menstrual cycle when there is a drop in hormone levels. While, for the most part, women experience only mild-to-moderate symptoms, in some, these symptoms disrupt normal life and activities and cause severe depression in women.

When PMS depression becomes very difficult to overcome and its symptoms start causing too much anxiety and depression, it is referred to as PMDD or premenstrual dysphoric depression. Most of the symptoms associated with PMDD manifest during the middle of the regular menstrual cycle post ovulation. The symptoms generally increase the week prior to menses and subside once menses commences. This pattern repeats itself month after month and, untreated, women can become severely depressed.

Some of the main symptoms associated with PMDD are:

• Increasingly feeling low, sad, hopeless, and lonely for no apparent reason.
  
  
• Hypersensitive, especially to remarks made and gestures from friends and family.
  
  
• Uncontrollable crying spells.
  
  
• Highly irritable and getting provoked easily.
  
  
• Lack of sleep accompanied by decreased appetite; low energy levels to carry out regular routine activities.
  
  
• Absolutely no interest in social engagements and activities.
  
  
• Physical problems including water retention, tenderness in the breasts, back pain, headaches, joint pains and muscle spasms.
  
  

There could be additional symptoms of PMS depression, too, such as difficulty focusing or concentrating on various tasks, anger, and inability to take decisions etc, but the above symptoms are the most common and patients suffering from PMDD exhibit at least four or five of these signs.

The treatment options for PMDD include pharmacological drugs used in combination, which include, sertraline, fluxoetine, paroxetine, and drospirenone, and this treatment has been found to be very effective by most women suffering from PMDD. Medications are often accompanied by psychotherapy, balanced diet, and exercise. When all approaches are employed, most of the PMDD problem is found to be cured effectively.

As always, our stand for this form of depression is no different from all other types - that the use of drug medications should always only be carried out as a last resort, with other methods first utilized to deal with the issue.

Click here for more pages and articles on Women and Depression.

Useful Depression Resources