Pms

PMDD/hormonal changes affects me by changing my ability to react to
situations the way I want to.

I go thru several stages for the week prior to menstruation:

Depression -I start off by going into a depressive state. During this time, no matter what wonderful thing happens, I am unable to react in a joyous manner. At this time, everything is quite bleak. I am unmotivated, want to lay down constantly, and have no inspiration to do simple things like cook, eat, wash my face.

Anger -This is followed by a period of anger where I feel like I can scream at someone for no particular reason at all. Everything makes me tense and I cannot handle the slightest upset. Waiting in line, crossing the street are all aggravating.

Anxiety -At this stage it is impossible for me to feel confident to make simple decisions. Figuring out what to wear is amazingly difficult, even if I choose the day before. I am convinced that I have no fashion sense and I will appear to be a wreck.

Then as quickly as it appears it ends suddenly and I am back to my normal self except for the dread of what awaits for me in three weeks.

My best solution to making sure it doesn't affect my work or relationships is the constant reminder to myself that my feelings are really just my hormones and are not real. There is some controversy about this, that all feelings are real and should not be dismissed, but I disagree. I do know that I would not feel like hitting someone over the head just because they stopped in front of me on the sidewalk and delayed me for one second.

This approach to acceptance, of accepting that hormones changes my reactions, has helped me understand what I am going thru, and that I will get thru whatever I am experiencing. PMDD/hormonal changes affects me by changing my ability to react to
situations the way I want to.

I go thru several stages for the week prior to menstruation:

Depression -I start off by going into a depressive state. During this time, no matter what wonderful thing happens, I am unable to react in a joyous manner. At this time, everything is quite bleak. I am unmotivated, want to lay down constantly, and have no inspiration to do simple things like cook, eat, wash my face.

Anger -This is followed by a period of anger where I feel like I can scream at someone for no particular reason at all. Everything makes me tense and I cannot handle the slightest upset. Waiting in line, crossing the street are all aggravating.

Anxiety -At this stage it is impossible for me to feel confident to make simple decisions. Figuring out what to wear is amazingly difficult, even if I choose the day before. I am convinced that I have no fashion sense and I will appear to be a wreck.

Then as quickly as it appears it ends suddenly and I am back to my normal self except for the dread of what awaits for me in three weeks.

My best solution to making sure it doesn't affect my work or relationships is the constant reminder to myself that my feelings are really just my hormones and are not real. There is some controversy about this, that all feelings are real and should not be dismissed, but I disagree. I do know that I would not feel like hitting someone over the head just because they stopped in front of me on the sidewalk and delayed me for one second.

This approach to acceptance, of accepting that hormones changes my reactions, has helped me understand what I am going thru, and that I will get thru whatever I am experiencing.