The days and weeks leading up to your period can be absolute torture, especially if you suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
This condition causes you to crave certain foods, have mood swings, and feel downright terrible. PMS may also cause you severe anxiety, which could be a sign of a more serious problem.
At New England Women’s Healthcare, our board-certified OB/GYN specialists offer treatments when you can’t handle your PMS symptoms. Our team is compassionate and knowledgeable, providing you with a quick diagnosis and treatment so you can say goodbye to your unwanted PSM symptoms.
PMS is a common problem among women. It occurs a week or so before your period and leads to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, and interfere with your daily life.
This condition is the result of the significant change in your hormones leading up to your menstrual cycle. These changes bring on a wide range of symptoms, including:
There’s also a correlation between the emotional symptoms and chemical changes in your brain.
Serotonin is a crucial neurotransmitter that plays a role in your mood. If you have insufficient amounts of serotonin, it could contribute to symptoms like mood swings and depression or anxiety during PMS.
If you suffer from severe anxiety before your period, it could be more than just PMS. When you have the symptoms of PMS along with anxiety and depression, you may be dealing with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
PMDD is a much more severe form of PMS. It causes many of the same symptoms, but it adds the extra issues of severe anxiety and depression. PMDD is often serious enough to interfere with your daily activities.
While PMS does have an impact on your mood, PMDD causes severe bouts of anxiety and intense irritability. You may also feel extremely depressed or even suicidal with PMDD.
The symptoms of PMDD typically clear up within a few days of your period starting, but while the symptoms are around, your life is turned upside down.
The team at New England Women’s Healthcare offers prompt evaluation and treatment when you’re suffering from severe anxiety and PMDD. You don’t have to live with the undesirable symptoms of PMDD, and our team is there every step of the way.
After the team evaluates your symptoms and determines that the anxiety is related to PMDD, they form a treatment plan to help you overcome this issue. There are many treatments available for PMDD, some of which include:
The team takes all of your symptoms into account when forming a treatment plan for your PMDD or PMS. If your anxiety is severe, antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications are combined with other treatments to ease your discomfort.
Lifestyle changes are also key as your period approaches. Eating a healthy diet and incorporating exercise helps you manage anxiety and depression related to PMDD. Stress management is also an important aspect of treating this condition.
If your PMS symptoms lead to anxiety, don’t hesitate to call one of our offices in Wilmington or Woburn, Massachusetts, to schedule a consultation. You may also request an appointment on our webpage.
