For those who ever skilled hopelessness and suicidal ideas earlier than menstruation, know that you simply’re not alone. Even in the event you don’t have a identified temper dysfunction, you would possibly expertise suicidal ideas due to hormonal fluctuations throughout your cycle.
Hormones and Suicidal Ideas
How we really feel all through the month, bodily and mentally, relies upon closely on three intercourse hormones: testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
These hormones fluctuate relying on the place in our cycle we’re, which is why we’d really feel optimistic throughout sure weeks (ovulation section) and destructive throughout different weeks (luteal section).
These fluctuations could cause girls to expertise excessive destructive feelings, corresponding to anger, melancholy, and even suicidal ideas. Studies show that there is likely to be a direct hyperlink between a extreme drop in estrogen and progesterone after ovulation and elevated suicidal ideas in girls.
Research shows that suicide is the second main explanation for dying for adolescent ladies in America, with 22% of women reporting suicidal ideation, in comparison with 12% of adolescent boys, and it might be resulting from hormonal fluctuation adolescent ladies expertise. Even girls with out identified temper issues (corresponding to borderline, depressive, or anxiousness issues) can expertise suicidal ideas resulting from hormonal fluctuations.
The most important research to at the present time that seemed into PMDD and suicide discovered that 34% of women that suffer from PMDD have tried suicide. Researchers confirmed that suicide makes an attempt resulting from PMDD are unbiased of melancholy, PTSD, and different issues. 67% of girls who by no means acquired one other psychological well being prognosis reported lively suicidal ideation, in comparison with 72% of girls who had different psychological well being issues.
What’s additionally fascinating is {that a} latest Swedish study discovered that girls who expertise PMS and PMDD are additionally extra susceptible to numerous types of accidents, not solely suicidal conduct, corresponding to automobile accidents, falls, and different accidents.
What Is PMDD?
PMDD, or pre-menstrual dysphoric dysfunction, is a dysfunction “characterised by extreme temper disturbances, together with profound melancholy, anxiousness, and irritability, sometimes beginning one to 2 weeks earlier than menstruation and easing when the menstrual interval begins,” explains licensed intercourse therapist Aliyah Moore, Ph.D. It impacts 3-8% of girls of reproductive age.
PMDD is just not melancholy or different temper issues and has symptoms such as:
- Depressed temper, emotions of hopelessness, or suicidal ideas
- Nervousness, pressure, emotions of being “keyed up” or “on edge”
- Persistent and marked anger or irritability
- Decreased curiosity in regular actions
- Lethargy, simple fatigability, or marked lack of power
- Marked change in urge for food, overeating, or particular meals cravings
- Hypersomnia or insomnia
- Different bodily signs embrace breast tenderness or swelling, complications, joint or muscle ache, a sensation of bloating, or weight achieve
Researchers are nonetheless not 100% certain why some girls have PMDD. Nonetheless, some research suggests that girls with pre-existing temper issues like main melancholy dysfunction and anxiousness dysfunction might be extra susceptible to expertise PMDD.
PMDD vs. PMS
Most ladies will expertise some extent of PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome). Some might need extra extreme signs, which could intrude with their lives extra, whereas others barely discover it and may go about their days as they normally would.
It’s essential to notice that PMS and PMDD will not be the identical. PMS will be managed and doesn’t intrude together with your life or trigger you to be a totally completely different particular person, whereas PMDD can considerably have an effect on your day-to-day life and wholesome functioning
Is There a Remedy?
Whereas there is no such thing as a magical remedy that can make the extreme hormonal fluctuations or PMDD go away utterly, there are issues you are able to do to handle the signs. According to Harvard Health, there are two methods to handle PMDD:
Antidepressants
Sure kinds of antidepressants that gradual the reuptake of serotonin, referred to as SSRI, may assist some girls handle the extreme signs in the course of the luteal section of their cycle. What’s fascinating is that in response to Harvard Well being, girls with PMDD don’t need to take antidepressants day by day however can solely try this in the course of the luteal section of their cycle when the signs are probably the most extreme.
Life-style Adjustments
Life-style modifications may additionally influence the signs and assist handle extreme temper fluctuations. Consuming much less caffeine, sugar, and alcohol and specializing in an unprocessed whole-food food plan, plus incorporating some cardio train, would possibly assist enhance the signs. Mindfulness would possibly assist handle stress, which may even have a optimistic influence on girls who battle with PMDD.
Cognitive Behavioral Remedy (CBT)
There may be some evidence that CBT may doubtlessly assist girls reduce and one thing even utterly remove PMS signs.
What To Do When Feeling Down
Many ladies are inclined to undergo in silence once they expertise PMDD signs corresponding to suicidal ideas. It’s essential to know that you simply’re not alone and that no matter discomfort you’re experiencing is momentary.
In case your signs are extreme, contact your physician, who may help discover a remedy that fits you. In any other case, take into account reaching out to a therapist to see if speaking remedy may help.
