Did I Follow Through? Living with PMDD is a journey
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
Season 04, Episode 02
(Insert Inspirational Quote) - I'm too lazy to do this - I'm just glad I got a post written and posted. ~ said by Me
I'm baaaack
(Tenor Sheldon Cooper GIF https://tenor.com/view/the-big-bang-theory-jim-parsons-sheldon-cooper-im-back-return-gif-4780185)
I made it. This is my second post. I think once I do 6 blog posts in a row, it will be safe to say it will become a habit by then. In order for me to get back on track, I will be going through my original posts and summarizing them weekly to get caught back up. This blog is so much more than just me telling my story. It is going to become a window inside my head. It will be a PMDD blog, personal journal, movie/book review, other survivors' stories, and more. I can't guarantee a specific day of the week, but I can try my hardest for once a week.
Welcome to PMDD Warrior Princess
Season 01, Episode 1
I am a PMDD Warrior Princess, a military spouse, a mother, a sister, a friend, and a coworker. I travel the world from duty station to duty station, supporting our service members and their families. I am a recent graduate, earning my degree in Health Science, and pursuing a career in the Health Information Management Department. I enjoy a variety of eclectic hobbies such as photography, reading, movies, crafting, and playing games (video, board, and rpg). But most of all I love to travel and learn about diverse cultures and societies.
I was diagnosed with PMDD for the first time in the spring of 2017 when I spoke to my primary care manager (PCM) that around the start of my premenstrual cycle (PMS), I would have these sudden bursts of rage for no reason. I told him that I actually hated my husband for roughly 4 days before my cycle would start. This has been happening to me for about 2-3 years now. Once my cycle started, I would go back to normal, like all that ugly rage was a dream and it didn't really happen. My PCM told me that there have been rare cases of "out of control" PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and it can be controlled with a "mood enhancer" (aka Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor - SSRIs).
Over the span of 15 months, my symptoms got dramatically worse. Out of the 50 plus different types of symptoms you could experience with PMDD, I was experiencing about 85% of all symptoms AND I was only getting about 3-4 days of normalcy during a month. It took me till 2023 for a doctor to take me seriously and re-diagnose me with PMDD and come up with a plan to help me. I struggled for 15 years before I finally got relief.
You are not alone
My journey with PMDD will still not be over. After the cure comes the healing. My husband mentioned to me that he thinks our story, with this debilitating disorder, is worth sharing. He told me that out of everything I have gone through, all the changes I have made in my life to cope with this disorder, there is someone out there who is going through it and needs our help. He asked me to create this blog to not only tell my story, our story, but also create a place that others can share their stories . He said that there needs to be more knowledge, awareness and support out there for the warriors, survivors and those who stuck by us. Living with PMDD is a journey that is both harrowing and inspiring. It tests our strength and our resilience, but it also shows us the power of the human spirit. Join me as we navigate the trials and tribulations of living with this uncontrollable, debilitating disorder. Together, we can find the courage to face each day with hope and determination. Let's explore what it's like to survive in a world that doesn't always understand us, and find the support we need to thrive.
Tune in next week for Episode #02 on PMDD and What it meant for Me
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