Women only:

[cowboyup]

do you find you have bad, I mean very bad, PMS that aggravates SA?

every 2 weeks I get very sad, depressed, quiet, wanting to be alone...along with 'normal' pms symptoms but as I get older, I find that along with the depression, I tend to have an increase in panic attacks and not wanting to go outside the house, not even for the smallest of things.

My doctor said that I was perimenopausal, and my adrenal glands are on the fritz (she used medical term...) in addition, of course, to the SA

I was wondering if you've ever tried any medication if this applies to you or any herbal supplements?

 

[twiggle]

Yes, once a month there'll be 3 or 4 days in which I'm constantly on the verge of tears and sick of my own reflection in the mirror, fearing the worst about absolutely everything. I have started to recognise this as being PMS related because it's always around the same dates each month, but of course, even then, I'm still wondering, "is this really just PMS?"
On the plus side, after the period, I have a few days in which I feel invincible! But to be honest, I don't really like that either, because deep down I'll know it's not a true feeling and that the crash back down to earth will come.
I don't use medication for my anxiety. As awful as it probably sounds, I prefer just to have one large glass of wine each day when I'm in my 'grotty' PMS phase. It slows down my thoughts and helps me relax.
I just wish PMS didn't exist!!

 

[cowboyup]

Thank goodness, Twiggle, I was beginning to wonder if it was just me. when I was younger, pms would come for a few days, then go. But it seems like it gets worse for me, like 2 weeks of living hell inside my head, body. Then as you described afterwards, a 'high' feeling of invincibility.

Hmmm...wine, huh?
heck, I've nothing to lose but this crabbiness!

 

[twiggle]

Don't worry about it, cowboyup - PMS is natural and beyond our control. As such, all we can do is treat ourselves to one or two coping mechanisms - a glass of wine, a big bar of chocolate or a huge slab of cake. We deserve it

 

[Nanita]

a glass of wine, a big bar of chocolate or a huge slab of cake. We deserve it

Yeahhhh....we totally deserve it..

When I have pms I get really angry with everyone... The silly thing is that when it happens, I have usually forgotten that pms is the reason I´m feeling so angry. Like it´s a surpirse every month.

 

[Flowers-Of-Bloom]

Yes, sometimes I definitely notice that sometimes I become (more) anxious/paranoid and self-loathing a couple of days before that time of the month. It's probably not as severe as what you experience and it only lasts for a maximum of one week but it's enough to keep me completely housebound.
I'm taking Zoloft for my anxiety but it is also an effective medication for treating PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, severe form of PMS). So if you're up for taking meds you could probably get one prescribed for treating both PMS and SA.

 

[Phoenixx]

Sometimes my PMS does make my SA worse. I'll get more anxious than usual and I'll get really depressed.

My mood swings can be really bad sometimes while on my period though. One day I can feel great all day, and will be really happy. The next day I usually end up feeling extremely depressed and unmotivated, don't want to see anyone or do anything. On those days I tend to just eat my feelings with chocolate everything. On other days though I feel a whole fluctuation of depression, anxiousness, irritation, happiness, and anger. Sometimes I get to the point where I feel so angry I want to break something. I don't since I fight the urge, but it's pretty bad. I get pissed off so easily and I pretty much just yell at my family and/or ignore them. I don't know why or how they put up with me.

Once the week is over, I feel fine. Well, as fine as I was before anyway.

 

[shakethelight]

Whenever I am about to get my period, I get very, very depressed. I am not someone who cries really but everytime around that time of the month I just get so emotional and during also. It's so terrible. I was put on birth control because its supposed to help & really did. I stoped taking it though cause I thought it was making me fat. I cant remember what BC I was on but Im sure your gyno will be able to help you or just a reg GP.

 

[Hellhound]

Oh my god... I AGONIZE for a few days those days. My mood is horrible and I get a bunch of physical symptoms that make me feel miserable. I can't stand it.

 

[Silatuyok]

I've lived through years of having constant PMS symptoms. The odd thing is that my periods have always been a breeze for me.

 

[1BlackSheep]

I once dated a guy who knew when that time of the month was coming because he would see how much more emotional I was (letting little things bother me, crying easily, etc.). At least he understood why and was prepared to deal with it! Birth control pills helped some, but yes, the weight gain part didn't!

 

[MarionBerry]

do you find you have bad, I mean very bad, PMS that aggravates SA?

every 2 weeks I get very sad, depressed, quiet, wanting to be alone...along with 'normal' pms symptoms but as I get older, I find that along with the depression, I tend to have an increase in panic attacks and not wanting to go outside the house, not even for the smallest of things.

My doctor said that I was perimenopausal, and my adrenal glands are on the fritz (she used medical term...) in addition, of course, to the SA

I was wondering if you've ever tried any medication if this applies to you or any herbal supplements?

I'm in the same boat. Or...was...I had terrible terrible PMS. Every month, 2 weeks out of the month I would be a nightmare to be around and super isolating. It's gotten worse as I've gotten older, 33 now.

I take a mood stabilizer for my separate (or is it?) bipolar 2, which my dr. thinks can be hormonally influenced. I'm a lot better now. Instead of being super depressed and an increase in panic, now I'm less depressed and mildly anxious. It's an improvement!

 

[Facethefear]

This is ancient history for me but I had painful awful periods so bad that I could not go to work the first day it started. I usually spent the day in and out of the bath. I loathed that time of month so much because of the bloating and extremely heavy flow.
I really could not go out of the house the first day. I was not pleasent to be around. It exhausted me out and took me days after to recover so it was more like AMS.

 

[InvisaLady]

Not really, my pms is not that bad but my cramps could kill a rhino!

 

[dottie]

This is ancient history for me but I had painful awful periods so bad that I could not go to work the first day it started. I usually spent the day in and out of the bath. I loathed that time of month so much because of the bloating and extremely heavy flow.
I really could not go out of the house the first day. I was not pleasent to be around. It exhausted me out and took me days after to recover so it was more like AMS.

same here. now i am able to pinpoint when it's coming and drug myself before the onset. it helps considerably but it is still dreadful.

 

[Phoenixx]

This is ancient history for me but I had painful awful periods so bad that I could not go to work the first day it started. I usually spent the day in and out of the bath. I loathed that time of month so much because of the bloating and extremely heavy flow.
I really could not go out of the house the first day. I was not pleasent to be around. It exhausted me out and took me days after to recover so it was more like AMS.

^ When I was about 13 my periods started to become extremely irregular (one period every 2 - 3 months, but a few times I got them within 3 weeks of each other) and, I think, because of that I had such a heavy flow. My second days were my worst, I would usually end up not going to school because it was so bad. I had such horrible cramps; I remember one time they were so bad I laid in bed curled up and sobbing for an hour because it hurt so much. My irregularity lasted a long time, and within the last year my periods have completely regulated and I don't even know why. Genetics maybe? I find it weird, but I'm happy my second days are no where near as bad as they used to be. They're still heavy, but they're much more tolerable and I don't have to change as often.

 

[razzle dazzle rose]

As such, all we can do is treat ourselves to one or two coping mechanisms - a glass of wine, a big bar of chocolate or a huge slab of cake. We deserve it

I love the chocolate and the cake! Maybe it is time I try it with wine ::

Ah, PMS makes my depression go out of control. It really sucks. Not sure what can be done about it either, other than wait it out and just hang in there, and eating yummy treats...

 

[kilojoule]

Feck yea! It exacerbates everything!

I know this is my answer for everything lol but Exercise!It works!

I'm totally allergic to painkillers and I can't drink alcohol. Belting along the canal for an hour kills the cramps and the sadness

 

[cowboyup]

I just read all the responses, wow! I am so not alone.
I am sorry to hear so many of you have same/similar issues.

So fun being a girl at times! ugh.

 

[Joan6466]

I'm happily menopausal. But I remember- I used to mark my calendar in red- that in those 6 days my emotional state was not to be taken seriously. So- somewhere- in my brain- when I would have these extreme reactions- I could say to myself- remember- your emotional state can't be relied on as accurate right now. It also helped to take B6 vitamins, and to exercise. I had no problems at all going thru menopause- none at all- outside of nite sweats- so those extreme emotional states don't reflect the future, I'm happy to say! I love your openness.