r/PMDDxADHD

Does anyone else experience feeling hypomanic or euphoric after starting their period? My psychiatrist does not think I am truly bipolar, she said this can happen with PMDD because of the extreme shift in our moods. But I have noticed since starting Vyvanse for my ADHD, it feels a little more intense.

To be honest, I don’t hate the feeling. I have such a burst of energy and my mood is so elevated I feel like I can do anything. But this also leads to me over talking/sharing, making more impulsive decisions, feeling restless, and feeling like I need less sleep.

[supprimé]

My doctor prescribed me tirzepatide for PMDD and PCOS. Just curious has anyone else done it and what was your experience?

Just got prescribed this, I’ll definitely update but I wanna hear the experience of others for the meantime. From my research it’s a hit or miss, but that seems to be the case for many people with other meds as well

And do you also feel like its all the same thing? At a certain point the alphabet soup almost cancels itself out. Period was 4 days late, normally I feel much better almost the second I start bleeding but this was not the case this month.. day two of period I had a very public living nightmare breakdown explosion in a Publix parking lot this past weekend. I'm 36 and I feel like despite 15 years of therapy and countless med combinations and hospitals I'm exactly the same.

Anyway I learned about the histamine approach in here recently and am going to talk to my psychiatrist about it at my next appointment. In the meantime I like thinking maybe pepcid was all I needed this entire time.

I don't know why I wrote this. I think I just feel alone.

Hi all! Long time listener, first time caller. I really want to hear from others who have tried Slynd.

I started Slynd less than a month ago and just passed my luteal hell window and felt absolutely nothing. I needed to look at my period tracker to see when to plan for my H1+H2 protocol shaboingaboing and was shocked to see that I'm through it. I should have lost my mind and cried myself to sleep 11 days to the start of my cycle as I have been, every month, since I went off Yaz in 2016.

What's the catch here? Has anyone been on Slynd for a long time? I've also noticed that my ADHD medication efficacy hasn't fluctuated throughout the month either- usually it's useless during this time.

I'm scheduled for an IUD insertion in July (Kyleena) for contraception and extremely heavy periods, but I'm second guessing this now as Slynd feels more effective. I'd still be on Yaz, but I had a migraine with aura a few years ago so estrogen is off the table.

Anyways, thanks for listening, and I'm really excited to discuss this with others!!

Hello everyone,

Been suspecting ADHD for the past 10 years but only got diagnosed now (this month), because dealing with PMDD and cptsd, unable to really function properly.

I have a big sis I'm like 200% sure she got ADHD (she has lots of symptoms), but I never talked to her about it because she really denies the fact that her children may have ADHD (school talked to her about it). Also I know it's important she has her own journey. So I usually never talk to her about my suspicions. But now that I got diagnosed, I announced it to her because I told my close relatives and didnt want her to feel left out.

It wasnt a pleasant experience. She basically told me nowadays everyone is labelled adhd. I was really taken aback since well, I've been there to listen to her everytime she needed it, her talking about her life/traumas. Our convo usually only revolves around her. But now that I have something I share about me.. She dismiss it. I also spoke to her about the mental health issues related (pmdd and cptsd). And she basically didnt react at all (as if it was never spoken) and talked about her friend who has health issues. So now she talks about her friend and her friend's trauma, and she also spoke to me about her own trauma.

I know I shouldnt have expected anything from her given the fact she has dismissed me hard in the past (which is why I got used to talk to other ppl and therapist, but not her..). I just thought.. well that it's normal to share it with her since she's my sis.

I feel so bad and want to go back in time and never speak to her about it. I feel dirty. Idk how to explain. I told her that I disliked the fact she dimissed it because it was important for me that people believe me (it's a late diagnosis Im 30yo and since I have other disorders related to adhd I know it's not "a trend").

I just had a break and realised why I’ve been so grumpy the past few days – my period is arriving in 1-2 weeks (it truly starts anew each month). by grumpy I mean I want to rise the lava from under earth’s tectonic plates and drown my enemies. every little thing is a spark at this point

anyway, what do you do when you catch yourself? I literally feel like my body is a vat of toxic acid and it’s really not helpful to me or people around me that I’m feeling this way. I need your best hacks (except exercise lmao)

Those who take an SSRI intermittently for their PMDD, which one do you take? I’ve tried taking SSRIs continuously but never loved all the side effects. I recently tried Zoloft intermittently but felt way too much emotional blunting (I felt so numb and paralyzed I couldn’t even get basic tasks done around my house until it wore off). Now my doctor just prescribed Paxil to take intermittently but I’m worried about the weight gain side effect of it (amongst the other possible side effects, I just know weight gain is a really common one). She said those are my only 2 options for intermittent dosing.. so I’m wondering what is everyone here taking intermittently that’s working for them?

So I started taking continuous Yaz 2 months ago per my OBGYN to help with what she refers to as PMS-b/c she won’t acknowledge my PMDD. A little background, I’m 38F, diagnosed with PMDD around 25yrs old, but reflecting back, I definitely struggled with it since puberty/teenage years. It’s been a long and grueling 25yrs of PMDD struggles including but not limited to rage, depression, intrusive thoughts, food noise, histamine releases (severe emotional flushing/hives in face and neck at random times but seems emotionally induced), years of trial and error with SSRIs/ADHD meds/ more holistic approaches like working out consistently, taking vitamin D, B complex, Omega-3 all the ones I’ve researched are supposed to help, you name it I’ve tried it. Been in therapy since 25yrs old when I was diagnosed with PMDD along with PTSD (childhood trauma). Therapy (I love my therapist) has always been my one consistent extremely helpful self-care/check-in, even when I don’t think I need it, I just do it to remind myself that I’m not alone with my PMDD when it always eventually rears its ugly head. I should also mention I have 2 kids, and I’m a badass mom, except when PMDD kicks in I fear I’m traumatizing them IYKYK, but I always repair and take time to explain to my kids that mommy’s in my grouchy time and i need more me space. Spouse is extremely supportive and wonderful husband and parent, couldn’t ask for more. Sorry going on a tangent here, oh but last thing to mention I’m also experiencing signs of perimenopause the last year, mostly waking up at 3am and not being able to go back to sleep and little hot flashes, sometimes with red hives around face and neck/chest, at random times of the day but I’m not sure if it’s actually histamine releases like I mentioned previously, b/c they seem to be emotionally induced, but I’m also histamine intolerant…ok back to the Yaz, a month in I was so relieved that it wasn’t back firing like so many other birth controls I tried in the past that would exacerbate my PMDD. Then into the second month I was convinced life was 1000% better, I didn’t have a luteal melt down, my mind was clear, I felt confident (even applied for a few new jobs!), I was working out and eating healthy consistently, I could look in the mirror during luteal and feel good about myself instead of my usual body dysmorphia, no extreme energy fluctuations, no rage! this was a true miracle! So I thought, but always waiting for the pin to drop also, u know?! I should mention first month red spotting on and off two weeks between a week break so it felt like I had a period all month, and then second month red to brown spotting for one week straight, but the OBGYN warned about spotting. Then *BAM* PMDD symptoms back with a vengeance! Started off with my familiar luteal beginning of restless sleep w/vivid dreams, then the food noise crept in, then the extreme energy where I feel like I could run a marathon, followed by the extreme lethargy then the weepy/sensitive emotions, and then the full blown RAGE, just like Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde, my poor husband and kids should have an underground safe space from me! Intrusive thoughts(ex: I’m a lost cause. My husband and kids are better off w/out me. Why aren’t I doing better in life like everyone else), uncontrollable appetite/indecisive to the point of anxiety, anything and everything someone shares about themselves, I think I’m worthless and comparing myself to them and can’t stop thinking about it, for days sometimes…I crawled out of my happy body and became the PMDD monster, is the only way I can explain it. I feel so defeated b/c I thought the Yaz was finally the answer. Is this a plateau effect? Is it just a blip of my body/mind still transitioning/leveling out to the Yaz. Will I get my happy/healthy Yaz- working self back? I’ve resulted to lorazepam for now, which I haven’t had to use in months and praying for the end of luteal symptoms, which for me can sometimes last two whole weeks. I’m at my wits end and feeling very helpless again. Please be kind to my rant, I’m treading water right now.

TLDR- PMDD symptoms worse in last year, is it my relationship?

I’m really struggling at the moment, I have an upcoming move to a different country, relationship anxiety and adjusting to meds. Advice is appreciated please! I’m struggling knowing if what I’m experiencing right now wouldn’t be so drastic if I was with a supportive partner. He’s wonderful and kind and gentle and I really respect and adore how he is in the world. We were pretty good for the last year , been together 2ish, but in the last two months we have been in the pits! We can’t seem to get out and the Luteal weeks that have blow ups just role into the next now and I don’t feel like I’m getting a good week. We are stuck in a cycle where I will be irritable and it will trigger a defence in him and then we are in a discussion and this goes on over and over. We were having therapy but it was slow burn and we feel we need actual tools. I sometimes wonder if the dynamic is really bringing out all of my traumatic past. When we spiral I get so out of control that I’m crying and get panicking and he feels like he has to comfort me but doesn’t want to. He shuts down for days. My anxiety spikes and so it continues. I don’t want to leave the relationship, I feel like it’s us against a pattern but for him I feel he can’t separate it and I’m the enemy. I’m waiting for therapy to start back up but we have a big move coming up and he has completely retreated. I’m on Lexapro and bupropion but the bupropion seems to be making me more ragey. My partner is very adverse to any raised voice or criticism so he is not really able to understand the PMDD part as his nervous system goes into shut down and he cannot reassure or support. It’s so hard I don’t know what to do

Hi, I recently found out about PMDD and talked to my psychiatrist about starting Lexapro (escitalopram) 5mg daily/ double at Luteal phase.
I’m currently taking Vyvanse ER for ADHD and Propranolol for anxiety.
I also enjoy coffee/tea but I try to avoid drinking too much when taking Vyvanse because I get the jitters.

I also read that Vitamin D & ashwaghanda might help with PMDD. I’m getting overwhelmed with the sheer amount of pills + the thought of keeping track of them.

I am working with licensed professionals and doing my research. I’m also including more exercise and nutritional diet etc. to my lifestyle.

I would love to hear about how other ladies live with PMDD & other things especially with medication management.

Does this qualify for disability??? I’m about to get let go again and I’m tired and don’t want to keep trying just to keep failing. Anyone else? Please help!

It feels so weird especially given the fact that about 6 years ago I suspected endo & PCOS because of heavy metrorragia and horrendous pain during periods (would vomit because it hurt so bad) and dr saw nothing on the MRI. I still tried the anti inflammatory diet and tried to manage PMDD by myself and forgot about endo.

Still whenever I went to doctors for PMDD each one of them told me I had endo symptoms. Back to today, I just got my results and it says it's not severe endo (thank God) but it's there. I dont know what to feel especially given the fact that I just got my ADHD diagnosis last month and also my therapist recently told me I had cptsd.

It's like life is telling me "no you were not weird, crazy nor liar, you actually had problems!".

It’s so fucking hard to exist during luteal. Like all I’ve been doing today is going out of my room to interact with my gf and then one of us misunderstands eachother or I mistakenly get annoyed or distracted or a million other things and then we get into a huge fight over semantics and over explaining feelings and trying to both get understood and then I end up shutting down and being so exhausted and then isolating again and doomscrolling this has happened like four times today and I’m done being stuck in this hell cycle.

Awhile back, I asked members of 4 support groups around the web (including this one) to describe PMDD in one word for a word collage I wanted to make to include in a presentation I'm doing in my community. I received about 700 words! I wanted to share the word collage (compressing makes it hard to read so I'll link the HQ version in comments), as well as the raw list of words, in order of most used. Thank you all so much for helping me with this project!

https://preview.redd.it/iab0d1ettq1h1.jpg?width=5656&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f3dd62be3d128dc5f6bc7083768c6edb645f240

Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Hell
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
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Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Debilitating
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Exhausting
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Rage
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Torture
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Hopeless
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Lonely
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Despair
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Destructive
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Overwhelming
Isolating
Isolating
Isolating
Isolating
Isolating
Isolating
Isolating
Isolating
Doom
Doom
Doom
Doom
Doom
Doom
Doom
Monster
Monster
Monster
Monster
Monster
Monster
Monster
Possession
Possession
Possession
Possession
Possession
Possession
Possession
Uncontrollable
Uncontrollable
Uncontrollable
Uncontrollable
Uncontrollable
Uncontrollable
Uncontrollable
Chaos
Chaos
Chaos
Chaos
Chaos
Chaos
Misunderstood
Misunderstood
Misunderstood
Misunderstood
Misunderstood
Misunderstood
Nightmare
Nightmare
Nightmare
Nightmare
Nightmare
Nightmare
Relentless
Relentless
Relentless
Relentless
Relentless
Relentless
Rollercoaster
Rollercoaster
Rollercoaster
Rollercoaster
Rollercoaster
Rollercoaster
Darkness
Darkness
Darkness
Darkness
Dysphoria
Dysphoria
Dysphoria
Dysphoria
Heartbreaking
Heartbreaking
Heartbreaking
Heartbreaking
Possessed
Possessed
Possessed
Possessed
Scary
Scary
Scary
Scary
Traumatic
Traumatic
Traumatic
Traumatic
Unfair
Unfair
Unfair
Unfair
Burden
Burden
Burden
Consuming
Consuming
Consuming
Cyclical
Cyclical
Cyclical
Demon
Demon
Demon
Devastating
Devastating
Devastating
Disabling
Disabling
Disabling
Frustrating
Frustrating
Frustrating
Hijacked
Hijacked
Hijacked
Powerless
Powerless
Powerless
Suicidal
Suicidal
Suicidal
Unpredictable
Unpredictable
Unpredictable
Agony
Agony
Alone
Alone
Anguish
Anguish
Broken
Broken
Confusing
Confusing
Dark
Dark
Death
Death
Defeating
Defeating
Demonic
Demonic
Derealization
Derealization
Disorienting
Disorienting
Disruptive
Disruptive
Drowning
Drowning
Empty
Empty
Harrowing
Harrowing
Hopelessness
Hopelessness
Incapacitating
Incapacitating
Irrational
Irrational
Misery
Misery
Out-of-control
Out-of-control
Pain
Pain
Paralyzing
Paralyzing
Psychosis
Psychosis
Shame
Shame
Stuck
Stuck
Suffering
Suffering
Torture
Torture
Unbearable
Unbearable
Unstable
Unstable
Abduction
Abducted
Abnormal
Agitated
Aggression
Agonizing
Agony
Alienated
Alienation
Alone
All-consuming
Ambivalent
Ambush
Amplified
Anger
Anguish
Annoying
Anxiety
Apoplectic
Attacked
Awful
Backslide
Bipolar
Bleak
Blindsighted
Body-snatcher
Broken
Bullshit
Burden
Chaos
Chronic
Complex
Confused
Confusing
Confusion
Consistent
Consuming
Content
Corrosive
Cranky
Crippling
Crisis
Cruel
Crushed
Crushing
Cursed
Curse
Cyclical
Damage
Danger
Dangerous
Dark
Darkness
Dark-trip
Daunting
Deadly
Death
Defeating
Defeat
Delusional
Demasiado
Demanding
Demeaning
Demonic
Demon
Demoralizing
Depersonalization
Depletion
Derailment
Derealization
Desolate
Despair
Destructive
Destruction
Detached
Devastating
Devil
Diabolical
Difficult
Disease
Disabling
Disassociated
Disastrous
Disconnected
Disintegrating
Disorienting
Dissociation
Dissociative
Distorting
Disturbance
Doom
Dontdoit
Draining
Drowning
Duality
Dysphoria
Dysphoric
Dysregulated
Emotional
Embarrassing
Empty
Enraged
Evil
Exhausted
Exhausting
Excruciating
Explosive
Falling
Fatal
Fear
Fernweh
Foggy
Foolish
Foundationless
Fragile
Fractured
Frightening
Frustrating
Futile
Furor
Fucked
Gone
Gremlin
Grief
Grim
Guilt
Half-life
Hacked
Harrowing
Heartbreaking
Hell
Hellfire
Hellish
Hereditary
Hijacked
Hijacker
Hijacking
Hindering
Hissing
Hollow
Hopeless
Hopelessness
Horrific
Hostage
Hostile
Hulk
Hyde
Imbalanced
Immense
Impending-doom
Imposter
Incapable
Incapacitated
Incapacitating
Inconsolable
Inconsistent
Inequality
Inflamed
Infuriating
Inordinate
Insane
Insanity
Instability
Intense
Irrational
Irritability
Irritable
Isolating
Isolation
Jekyll
Joykill
Life-altering
Light-sucking
Literal-hell
Lonely
Looming
Loss
Lost
Maddening
Masquerade
Mean
Melting
Messy
Misery
Misleading
Miserable
Misunderstood
Molasses
Moody
Monster
Mourning
Mutant
Neverending
Neuroinflammation
Nightmare
Nothingness
Obstruction
Overtaken
Overwhelm
Overwhelmed
Overwhelming
Overtaking
Out-of-control
Outraged
Pain
Panic
Paralyzing
Parasitic
Perpetual
Personality-dysphoric
Plummeting
Plunging
Poisoned
Possessed
Possession
Powerless
Psychopath
Psychosis
Punishment
Rage
Reactive
Regression
Relief
Relentless
Robbed
Rollercoaster
Rot
Rough
Ruin
Ruination
Ruthless
Sabotage
Sad
Sadness
Scary
Seething
Self-consuming
Self-distrust
Self-hate
Self-hatred
Self-sabotage
Shame
Shattered
Shit
Shite
Shocking
Sizzling
Soul-destroying
Soul-sucking
Spiraling
Spiteful
Split
Stalled
Stranger
Stolen
Stuck
Submerged
Suffocating
Suffering
Sunken-heart
Suicidal
Suicide
Survival
Tempest
Terror
Terrifying
Theft
Thief
Torment
Torture
Traumatic
Traumatizing
Trapped
Trickster
Tumultuous
Turd
Unacceptable
Unbearable
Uncapped
Uncontainable
Uncontrollable
Underfunded
Undead
Undermining
Underresearched
Unfair
Unmanageable
Unpredictable
Unraveling
Unrecognizable
Unregulated
Unstable
Upending
Upside-down
Utterly-alone
Vicious
Void
Vulnerable
War
Warfare
Warping
Weakening
Werewolf
Worry
Worrying
Zombie
Werewolf
Combative
Crushed
Cyclical anguish
Cyclical whiplash
Dying
Enraging
Intense fear
Planned insanity

Bc PMDD is an invisible condition, when people meet me they assume that all of my life is going well bc of all the native privileges that I have (1st world citizen, highly educated, attractive, sporty), but then when they date me they see the underbelly of how globally disabling my condition has been to my life. Before I got struck down by extreme fatigue I would have finished the path to become a high earner in the medical field, but bc I spend two weeks in pain and fatigue, I have cobbled together interesting less well paid intellectually rewarding work that allows me to work from bed. I tend to attract, sadly, overachiever types. But whenever I do date less ambitious men they still get intimidated by me bc despite having this condition I've still able to work several dream jobs.

My question is on top of addressing my own internalized ableism, how do you attract an understanding partner? I feel bc my only super long term committed relationship ended bc he had no ability to accommodate my disability (he wanted me to work full time so we could afford a bigger mortgage payment), that I date with the idea that once someone knows the full scope of my disability and the financial fall out that's accompanied it, that no one can ever love me. Help and encouragement needed. I also hate the patriarchy which is an additional level on top of all this and Covid cautious bc I don't want to get long covid on top of PMDD disablement which robs me of two weeks every month.

Hello!

I have found, over the last couple of months, my meltdowns have started to crop up almost daily. They are particularly predictable around exercise. Usually during my gym session or directly afterwards. The timing and/or intensity of the session tends to be irrelevant.

They are worse post-ovulation.

I'm finding the intensity building (crying, frustration, self-directed internal rage) and more unhealthy coping mechanisms creeping in. The coping mechanisms are actually the biggest issue but I feel the only way to stop those behaviours is to reduce the requirement for them by trying to tackle the emotional flooding.

I've tried a lot of the normal coping strategies like reducing load where I can, focusing on soothing hobbies like colouring, reading and video games, spending more time in comfortable spaces like at home with my pets but they still keep coming.

For a short time having a sweet treat after training did work but it seemed my brain worked out I was trying to trick her.

Does anyone have similar experiences? Can you offer some practical tips/tricks?

For clarity - I'm diagnosed with ADHD and PMDD. I'm not medicated.

TW
I fucked up so bad. I’m a week off meds and had to get on some kind of pill to induce a period bc I didnt get one for almost 5 months so Maybe that’s playing a part in this. but I just kept on drinking. I didn’t see a problem with it bc it helped me do stuff, I finally cleaned my room and did a bunch of tasks But I’m facing the consequences now. I feel horrible, I’m having suicidal thoughts, I don’t think I’ll do anything but I feel so bad and wish I just stayed on my meds. I didnt even have a choice tho tbh I only have one capsule left and still waiting for my team to get back to me but fuck I hate tht I went back to this idk why tf I ever thought this would be a good idea