The Essential Guide to PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)

Women experience a wide range of emotions during their menstrual cycles. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is one of the most severe PMS symptoms.

PMDD affects approximately 5% of women of reproductive age and can have a profound impact on a woman’s quality of life.

There is also evidence that PMDD runs in families, so there may be a genetic component. While there is no cure for PMDD, there are natural remedies that can help lessen the symptoms.

PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder): What It Is?

PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). It is characterized by extreme mood swings, irritability, depression, and anxiety.

How Do You Define Dysphoric?

Dysphoric is a medical term used to describe a range of negative emotions. These emotions can include sadness, irritability, anxiety, and anger. Although all of these symptoms don’t have to be tied to it, PMDD is a condition that can cause dysphoric symptoms in some women.

Natural remedies for PMDD may help to relieve these symptoms and restore balance physically and emotionally.

What Are the Symptoms of PMDD?

The most common symptoms of PMDD are depression, anxiety, irritability, rage, and feelings of hopelessness.

Physical symptoms include bloating, breast tenderness, headaches, and fatigue and weight gain.

These symptoms usually start one to two weeks before your period and go away within a few days after your period starts.

In some women, however, the symptoms are so severe that they interfere with work, school, and social activities.

What are the Causes of PMDD?

There are many possible causes of PMDD, including hormonal imbalance, nutrient deficiencies, and psychological factors, though the last may come due to the firsts.
Hormonal imbalance is the most likely cause of PMDD, as it can lead to fluctuations in levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Nutrient deficiencies, such as low levels of magnesium or vitamin B-6, can also contribute to PMDD symptoms.

Psychological factors, such as stress or anxiety, may worsen PMDD symptoms or trigger them since stress depletes the body of essential nutrition such as B6, Vitamin C and Magnesium; needed to fight PMDD.

What are the Four Different Types of PMDD?

There are four different types of PMDD, each with their own set of symptoms:

1. Mild PMDD: This type is characterized by milder symptoms that don’t interfere too much with day-to-day life.
2. Moderate PMDD: Moderate PMDD is characterized by symptoms that are more severe and can interfere with work, school, or social activities.
3. Severe PMDD: This type is characterized by very severe symptoms that can make it impossible to function in day-to-day life.
4. Extreme PMDD: This is the most severe type of PMDD and is characterized by suicidal thoughts or behavior, self-harm, or extreme violence.

Know the Top 6 Most Effective Natural Remedies for PMDD Plus the Other Options

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for PMDD, but there are a number of natural remedies that can help alleviate symptoms.

Here are 6 of the most effective natural remedies for PMDD. We’ve included more than the 6 we promised:

#1. Herbal supplements

• Chasteberry / Vitex to balance the follicular and luteal phases
• Ginger and turmeric for their antiinflammatory properties

#2. Dietary changes

• Avoiding sugar
• Eating more protein
• Switching to healthy fats

#3. Exercise

• Regular daily exercise

#4. Stress management techniques

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Deep Breathing

#5. Natural Progesterone Creams

• Natural Progesterone Creams has long been known to balance estrogen, testosterone and progesterone and alleviate PMS and PMDD.

Natural Progesterone Creams and PMDD

Progesterone cream is often used as a natural remedy for PMDD. This is because progesterone levels are known to drop sharply during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, and this can trigger symptoms of PMDD. There is some evidence to suggest that using a progesterone cream can help to alleviate symptoms of PMDD.

A small study published in the journal Biological Psychiatry found that women who used a progesterone cream for two menstrual cycles experienced a significant reduction in their PMDD symptoms.

If you’re considering using a progesterone cream for your PMDD syndromes, consider having your hormones tested first. Non-intrusive saliva hormone tests can be done in the privacy of your own home for less than a copay and with quick results (just a couple days). Each saliva hormone test kit at home comes with results and suggestions written by a doctor in the hormonal and herbal health field.

Progesterone is a hormone that helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. It is also known to have mood-boosting properties.

A progesterone cream can be used in the second half of the cycle for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). NPC; natural progesterone cream can help to relieve the symptoms of PMDD by providing a natural source of the hormone. This can help to balance out the levels of progesterone in the body and reduce the severity of mood swings.

The cream can be applied directly to thin-skin areas, close to capillary blood flow. If you are considering using a progesterone cream for your PMDD symptoms, do your due diligence and read well. If you have any concerns, as your doctor or if yours is not aware of bioidentical hormones, find one who is.

#6. DIM supplements

• If your hormones are out of balance estrogen begins to overshadow progesterone and begins to convert healthy testosterone to estrogen causing a more severe imbalance. Get to know more below about DIM supplements and Chrysin plus DIM transdermal cream for hormone balance and the symptoms it may help.

DIM and PMDD

If you suffer from PMDD, you know how debilitating the symptoms can be. You may feel like you’re constantly on the verge of a breakdown and that nothing can help. This is where DIM comes in.

DIM, or diindolylmethane, is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, and cabbage. It’s been shown to have a number of benefits, including reducing inflammation and balancing hormones. See our article about the uses and benefits of DIM (Diindolylmethane).

One of the most promising areas of research for DIM is in its ability to control PMDD. A small study from 2015 found that women who took a DIM supplement for two months had significantly less severe symptoms than those who didn’t take the supplement.

While more research is needed to confirm these findings, it’s clear that DIM has the potential to be a helpful choice for PMDD.

If you’re considering trying a DIM supplement, find out from our blog how chrysin DIM works and what it is used for.

Are There Treatment Options for PMDD?

There are many different treatment options for PMDD, and the best one for you may depend on the severity of your symptoms.

For mild to moderate PMDD, lifestyle changes such as exercise, stress reduction, and a healthy diet may be enough to help ease your symptoms.

If your symptoms are more severe, you may turn to natural hormones or medication to help stabilize your mood.

The most common medications used to treat PMDD are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which can help to balance the levels of serotonin in your brain.

Other options include BCPs, in an effort to regulate hormones, and anti-anxiety medications. The problem is that these all come with side effects of their own.

Avoiding one issue while trying to remedy another is the conundrum. If you have severe PMDD, you may also need psychiatric counseling or hospitalization for a short period of time.

If you think you might have PMDD, talk to your doctor about your symptoms and treatment options.

But what if you don’t just want a treatment plan to simply manage your symptoms for life? Keep reading for more information about natural remedies; the kind that comes without a prescription.

Conclusion

There are a variety of natural remedies for PMDD that can help lessen the symptoms and make the condition more manageable. While every woman experiences PMDD differently, these eight plus remedies have shown to be helpful for many.

If you’re struggling with PMDD, consider trying one or more of these natural remedies to see if they provide relief.

Bottom line is that your life is too precious. Don’t waste time being anxious, depressed, in pain and wishing away weeks of your life every month. Make PMDD a thing of your past and victory over it your future.