There’s a huge amount of stigma associated with anything to do with our periods and for a lot of people, they may have spent years being told that they are dramatic, moody and irrational around the time of their period. As it turns out, it may not have just been ‘that time of the month’. They may experience a condition called PMDD or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
As for any invisible health condition, having a name for it can be really validating and give you a sense that you’re not crazy and you’re not alone. It also helps people around you understand what might be going on so this episode isn’t just for the girlies who experience extreme mood shifts like depression, irritability, anger and hopelessness around their period, it’s also for those of us who don’t so that we can be more supportive for a loved one who does.
Today we have Dr Isobelle Smith, an endocrinologist with over 10 years of experience in hormones, joining us to unpack the ins and outs of PMDD.
We chat:
- What PMDD is and how it differs from PMS
- The stigma of ‘erratic’ moods and emotional dysregulation
- The possible causes of PMDD
- PMDD being listed as a mental disorder
- Treatment and management for PMDD
- How PMDD changes over the course of your ‘reproductive’ years
- PMDD in perimenopause and menopause
- Medical misogyny and advocating for your own health
You can find Dr Izzy Smith here
Izzy mentioned the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders here
And the resource that the Queensland Government put together here
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Life Uncut