Hello Twitter https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👋🏾" title="Waving hand (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Waving hand (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)"> I& #39;d like to tweet about my fairly unknown and invisible mental health diagnosis: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder ( #PMDD), for #BlackInMentalHealthWeek

(I would like to start this thread by stressing that PMDD does not only affect women!) #PMDDawareness

My (classic) #PMDD symptoms include
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Depressed mood
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Irritability
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Tiredness
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Joint pain
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Overeating or loss of appetite
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Concentration difficulties
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Forgetfulness
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Suicidal thoughts
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Anxiety
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌻" title="Sonnenblume" aria-label="Emoji: Sonnenblume">Sleep problems

@viciouscyclepmd @IAPMDglobal @WHO @MindCharity @APA

#PMDD symptoms begin several days before menses, start to improve within a few days after the onset of menses, & then become minimal or absent within approximately 1 week following the onset of menses
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌑" title="Neumond" aria-label="Emoji: Neumond">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌒" title="Zunehmender Halbmond Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Zunehmender Halbmond Symbol">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌓" title="Zunehmender Mond Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Zunehmender Mond Symbol">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌔" title="Zunehmender Dreiviertelmond Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Zunehmender Dreiviertelmond Symbol">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌕" title="Vollmond" aria-label="Emoji: Vollmond">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌖" title="Abnehmender Dreiviertelmond Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Abnehmender Dreiviertelmond Symbol">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌗" title="Abnehmender Mond Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Abnehmender Mond Symbol">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌘" title="Abnehmender Sichelmond Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Abnehmender Sichelmond Symbol">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🌑" title="Neumond" aria-label="Emoji: Neumond">

There is not enough research to know the exact cause of #PMDD but the following have been suggested:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛅" title="Sonne hinter einer Wolke" aria-label="Emoji: Sonne hinter einer Wolke"> Sensitivity to changes in hormone levels
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛅" title="Sonne hinter einer Wolke" aria-label="Emoji: Sonne hinter einer Wolke"> Genetics
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛅" title="Sonne hinter einer Wolke" aria-label="Emoji: Sonne hinter einer Wolke"> Altered functioning of the brain’s serotonin and GABA systems across the menstrual cycle
@IAPMDglobal @APA @WHO

I have had #PMDD since I started my period (age 14) but didn& #39;t get diagnosed until age 24 after years of suicidal thoughts, self harm, depression & anxiety. Since my diagnosis I& #39;ve been on antidepressants and see a therapist (I& #39;m feeling MUCH better https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🥰" title="Smiling face with 3 hearts" aria-label="Emoji: Smiling face with 3 hearts">)

Other treatments for #PMDD include:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken">Painkillers or anti inflammatory drugs
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> Combined oral contraceptives
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> Vitamins and supplements
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> GnRH analogue injections
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> Surgery (hysterectomy)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="✨" title="Funken" aria-label="Emoji: Funken"> Lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, sleep etc)

@MindCharity @NHS

Like many Black women, it was a battle to get a diagnosis & the treatment I needed. Doctors told me "you& #39;re fine, it& #39;s just women& #39;s problems" & "you don& #39;t look suicidal so I don& #39;t think we should give you anti-depressants" & "stop wasting NHS money".

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👎🏾" title="Thumbs down (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Thumbs down (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👎🏾" title="Thumbs down (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Thumbs down (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)">https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👎🏾" title="Thumbs down (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Thumbs down (durchschnittlich dunkler Hautton)">

#PMDD is a fairly unknown disorder & this can be the hardest thing to battle.

My advice to get/give the right support:
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern">Bring (1) a record of your daily symptoms over a few months, (2) @NICEComms guidelines (3) an advocate to your Dr to ask for a diagnosis

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern"> Find an online #PMDD community to get peer support (my insta link is in my bio https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="❤️" title="Rotes Herz" aria-label="Emoji: Rotes Herz">)
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern"> Download an app like @clue to get to know your cycle & symptoms
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern">Prioritise your physical and mental health
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern"> Don& #39;t let anyone tell you "it& #39;s just women& #39;s problems" - your pain is valid.

https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern"> Share this thread with anyone you think might be struggling with #PMDD, or if you have #PMDD share with other& #39;s close to you so they can get a better understanding
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⭐" title="Mittelgroßer Stern" aria-label="Emoji: Mittelgroßer Stern"> Follow @viciouscyclepmd @FightPMDD @DPmdd @MEvPMDD