PMDD and the Window of Tolerance
A few months ago, I was driving my kids home from the grocery store, playfully arguing over which song to play next on our Spotify account (my son wanted Kendrick Lemar; my daughter and I Taylor Swift). I was in early luteal, so my PMDD symptoms were mild. Before I realized what was happening, a […]
The 90-Second Rule and PMDD
I remember it so clearly: a gorgeous, sunny morning in spring, I was peacefully driving to work while listening to a quiz show on the radio. I wasn’t rushing, so when I didn’t turn fast enough, the driver behind me blasted his horn. Then gave me the finger. My blissful morning was ruined. I arrived […]
Using DBT Skill STOP For PMDD
Ericka first thought something was amiss when she was 17. Usually a bubbly, fun-loving person, about a week or so before her period, she felt horrible. She was depressed, tired, angry, with bouts of crying that sometimes took hours before she stopped. At 22 in her last year of university, during extremely stressful final exams, […]
Navigating PMDD During University Finals
It’s finals week. Empty coffee cups stack up, and deadlines feel like they’re piling on top of me. For most students, this is already a stressful time—papers to write, exams to cram for, and an overwhelming pressure to perform. But for women with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), like myself, finals can feel even more intense […]
On Recognizing the Signs of PMDD
Isabel first came to me in October complaining about unbearable anxiety. She was in a high-profile corporate job, one that she gave upwards of 60 hours a week. Her relationship was suffering, and at times she felt like she hated her spouse. Earlier that week, she experienced a panic attack while driving – one so […]
