Pre-menstrual Syndrome (PMS) Support Group

i CAN RELATE ALL TO WELL WITH WHAT EVERYONE HAS SAID.I HAVE A TERRIBLE MARRIAGE AND WHEN MY PMS IS ACTING UP I REALLY FEEL TRAPPED AND WANT OUT!!I MAKE MYSELF PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY ILL TRYING TO PLAN ON HOW TO GET AWAY FROM HIM..ALL MY THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS ARE A THOUSAND TIMES WORSE..THE OLDER I GET THE WORSE I BECOME..SOME DAYS I FEEL LIKE I COULD KILL SOMEONE OR MYSELF.MY DOCTOR DOESNT KNOW TO WHAT EXTREME I AM GOING BUT HAS PRESCRIBED ME AN ANTIBIOTIC CALLED PRISTIQ.I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT BECAUSE I HATE THE SIDE AFFECTS OF ANTI DEPPRESSANTS...

Even though I got my period today, I had a horrible time with this. Then I had an anxiety attack and at 43, I had to call my mother ( like I have not done since I was 19) to help me get a grip.

I finally took an anti-anxiety pill. I usually try and put it off because I hate medication and it makes me tired.

I went to the store tonight and it was hell with the intrusive thoughts. Everything I looked at had an instant commentary type thought behind it. Totally irrelevant and useless. I felt like I had no control over it.

I then came home and started having intrusive thoughts around fears of death and illness and I was terrified of driving. I also worried about when I will be totally embarrassed in public somehow or having a confrontation with a stranger as I had twice through no fault of my own.

Then I have thoughts that I am going to lose my mind one of these days and it is always around my period. This seems to lead to feelings of low self-esteem and shame - that I am lucky that my boyfriend can deal with me because anyone else would freak out about how much I talk about my problems with my health, etc.

My hormones are ruining about a 1/3 of every month. I have serious resentments around this time too and congratulated myself for not starting a problem with my boyfriend this month over petty jealousies, the relationship not going anywhere, etc.

All I did this time was start saying my life is a mess and I need more time to take to care of myself and go forward in other areas, because I am a single woman, my car is old, and I can't afford a new one, ad nauseum.

It's really hell for me.

i seem to just obsess over thoughts all the time when i'm PMSing. currently i'm obsessing over the thought of what the break-up between me and my boyfriend will be like and thinking about it just makes me more and more depressed...except him and i aren't even close to breaking up lol in fact we're great right now. i hate pms.

Thank YOU to everyone who wrote in about intrusive thoughts!! I am sorry I am not alone and glad that I am not alone. I am going through nearly everything you all have written. I was scared to mention it bec. it sounds nuts. But, glad I did as I see that other women are courageously dealing with it in their own life. I am so sorry we all are going through this. But, I do THANK-YOU ALL for writing in about it!

I thought I was the only one who went through this. We live in the country and I tend to get very isolated in general because it's hard to make friends. The past few years have been really tough because my husband has serious back problems. He's had 2 surgeries and still suffers from chronic pain... but that's a story for another forum. Because of having to really stop my life to take care of him for so long, I started to lose track of myself. While all of this was going on I could tell my hormones were NOT helping. The week before my peroid I'd cry at the drop of a hat, have these feeling of jealousy that's not me at all, I felt like my honestly wonderful marriage is doomed during this week and the list keeps going. Once I got my period it was like I'm a new woman.

The hardest part for me is that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I go through during that time is not a good representation of who I am. It's been hard for my husband and kids because they really don't get it. One on hand I don't want to be alone and on the other hand I can't stand anyone who's around me.

I've talked to my GYN and the only help I got from them was suggesting I go on something like Yaz. I tried it and that was a horrible experience. I've realized that I need other forms of help... not pills right now. Mostly just knowing I'm not alone and there are other women to talk to about this to get some perspective.

Anyway -- sorry this is kinda long but this is my first post ever on DS but this thread moved me to open up a bit.

For me this has definitely gotten worse as I get into my 40's. It is so bad that I can hardly believe it. I believe this is part of perimenopause as my cycles are shortening and lengthening, including the length of bleeding, how much, etc.

I don't know if you can find my post here on all that I am trying, but maybe something in there will help you. I am on month two of Chinese herbs (that I get from an acupuncturist) and month three of Vitex and Evening Primrose Oil. These things are supposed to take about 3 months to reveal their full therapeutic value.

This month I am adding meditation and yoga and more exercise while I can. I get so tired and sore I can't exercise about four days before my period, but I think I can do a little something if I push it. Even 10 minutes of something has to have a calming effect on the mind and who knows how long that can last!

Yes! It is as though the suicidal thoughts enter a few days before my menstrual cycle starts. It is crazy! You don't even recognize who you are. I can't get motivated to work. I procrastinate like crazy. My tasks never get done. It is an endless battle, and I am not sure what to do either. I have tried B12 and a calcium supplement. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

I also am relieved to read that I am not alone. I also have obsessive thoughts and paranoia, especially related to my relationship, I can imagine things in my head that have no rational explanation, I'll have no proof but I feel they are true, I have to remind myself that I am just being irrational and that the feelings will go away, of course they come back the next month, but it helps to know that I am not alone. Thanks to everyone....

Hi! This is my first post to this forum, but I've done plenty of reading & can relate to many of your experiences. PMS is something I liteerally have to plan my life around. I keep a schedule & abstain from making any important decisions, move minor ones like shopping, avoid any social events & distance myself from anything resembling a 'normal' life. This has been the case for me since I was 12 & I'm now 44. Symptoms begin approx 3 days before my period, persist through the entire time & I need a couple of days for recovering afterwards. This means that in a 31 day month, I spend 10 days (1/3 of my life!) feeling the ways others have eloquently described herein. Like all of you, I've tried a battery of medications & strategies. Some have been helpful, but many bring side-effects or engender risks I do not want to take.

One good thing is that I never cultivated any bad lifestyle habits: smoking, excessive weight or scrawniness, no drinkong or drugs. I exercise regularly & eat well.

During this 10 day psychosis, though, I'd have uncontrollable cravings for sweets, salt & caffeine. As a teen & in my early 20's, I had no control over these cravings & would literally creep out of my house in the dark & during blizzards (like a junkie seeking a 'fix') to go get a large order of fries & some jelly bellys! I greatly reduced these elements from my diet during the rest of the month as a 'compromise' but who was I kidding? During that 10 days, I ate enough sugar to propel a heard of elephants right across Africa & enough salt to solidify the great lakes! It is a wonder I didn't do permanent damage.

The intrusive thoughts can range from repeated refrains from a song (one I don't even LIKE) to a generalized anger that manifests as indignant & hypercritical thoughts about some obscure issue that has nothing to do with me. When I'm in the hroes of unwanted thoughts, I become clumsy & trip over my own feet & drop/spill anything I touch.

This post has become dreadfully long & I thank anyone who slogs through it. In a future post, I'll share some coping strategies I've devised.