What Is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?
A woman who has premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) experiences severe depression, irritability, and/or mood swings that interfere with relationships, social functioning, and work or school. The symptoms of PMDD start seven to 14 days before menstruation, and they resolve a few days after menstruation starts. The term premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a medical term that makes sense when broken down into its individual parts. Disorder is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that impair health. The symptoms are described as premenstrual because they occur before menstruation. The word dysphoric is a Greek word, which literally means “ill-being.” Dysphoria is the opposite of a more common word, euphoria (or “well-being”). How Is PMDD Different From Premenstrual Syndrome? Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a condition that affects some women before they menstruate each month. Physical symptoms such as breast tenderness, cramps, abdominal bloating, headaches, and cravings for starch
