Premenstrual Disorders: PMDD and PME
You’ve likely heard of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). Fewer people have heard of a premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of a mental health disorder. What do each of these refer to? And what is the difference between the two?
What is PMDD?
When someone has PMDD, they experience a variety of symptoms during the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle (the week leading up to their period). These symptoms include mood swings, increased sensitivity to rejection, irritability, increased difficulty within relationships, depressed mood, anxiety, decreased interest in typical activities, trouble concentrating, fatigue, changes in appetite and sleep, and feeling overwhelmed. Many people also experience physical symptoms like breast tenderness, muscle pain, bloating, or weight gain. Everyone is different, so the combination of symptoms one person with PMDD experiences during the week before their period may look quite different from the combination of symptoms another person with PMDD experiences. The symptoms typically increase in severity until they peak right around the time a person starts their period. Once the menstrual cycle starts, symptoms subside, and then the person is symptom free until they reach the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle again.
What is PME?
In PME, symptoms can look very similar; however, there is not a predictable symptom-free period each month. The person experiences symptoms of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder (etc.) throughout the different phases of their menstrual cycle. These symptoms worsen during the luteal phase and will improve once a person’s period starts; however, they will not completely go away.
How do you figure out if you have PMDD vs PME?
In addition to speaking with a healthcare professional, tracking your symptoms is a great way to understand if you may be experiencing PMDD or PME. You can use a simple paper and pencil method for tracking. There are also Apps that have built-in trackers like Me v PMDD.
Last thoughts on PMDD vs PME
If you suspect you have mental health symptoms that appear or worsen before your period starts most months, you may benefit from looking further into the patterns of these symptoms. For people who are impacted by PME and PMDD, it can feel empowering to understand why symptoms suddenly worsened, and also to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. When you’re thinking about treating these symptoms, it’s also important to work with a therapist who has an understanding of the menstrual cycle and how reproductive hormones can impact your mental health. If you’re in Colorado or Illinois and would like to get started with therapy for coping with PMDD or PME, you can contact me here.
About Dr. Liz Culnan | Denver, CO & Chicago, IL
Dr. Liz Culnan is a licensed clinical health psychologist with specialized training in the areas of perinatal/reproductive mental health and behavioral sleep medicine. She is passionate about supporting women through reproductive and life transitions. Learn more here.
Other services offered at Mindful Health Psychology:
Mindful Health Psychology is a practice offering online therapy for Denver, CO, Chicago, IL and beyond in the states of Colorado and Illinois. We specialize in therapy for anxiety, depression, depression and anxiety during pregnancy, postpartum anxiety and depression, coping with miscarriage and pregnancy loss, PMDD, coping with fertility-related stressors, birth trauma, coping with a chronic medical condition, insomnia, nightmares, circadian rhythm disorders, and hypersomnia disorders. We provide online therapy, making treatment more accessible, which means you can be located in Denver, Chicago, or another city in Colorado or Illinois to receive services.