Hi,
So sorry to hear what you're going through. Just so you know, I have bipolar too and am on medication - lithium etc that doesn't make a blind bit of difference when the time of the month comes around. I'm also taking prozac for the pmdd but that doesn't always work either. This month was pretty bad because I was stressed; I've been feeling tired quite a lot, no enthusiasm, can't get rid of the mood. Generally I try to exercise as much as I can, walk the dogs etc and try to think positive and not let the anxiety take over. Don't deal with this on your own, you can fight it and remember it is not your fault and that you are not alone.

I don't have bipolar (as far as I know), outside of my menstrual cycle I usually feel okay and pretty stable, however, recently I got an IUD fitted, as I cannot use hormone-based contraceptives due to how sensitive I am to them. My GP informed me that for a few months my menstrual symptoms, from cramps to PMS, may get worse as my body adjusts to the foreign object. I've struggled with clinical depression before and am still recovering from a subsequent eating disorder, I began my cycle yesterday, so today it hit me like a freight train, one might say. My suicidal and self-destructive tendencies have begun to resurface, and while one minute I wouldn't dream of wanting to kill myself, the next minute I've completely checked out. The worst part is my fiance suffers from manic depression, so he's obviously not entirely capable of helping me in these situations, as much as he tries to. I don't know if this is PMDD or just PMS, but I've never struggled like this before with my hormonal cycle and I just feel terrified all the time. It's really difficult not to relapse into starvation because that's what used to help me feel in control. I haven't been to the doctors since this began to occur, personally, I prefer holistic methods of treatment for various things, but I'm starting to think that maybe that's just not enough right now? I'm finishing my last year at university whilst trying to balance work, as such it's becoming increasingly difficult to function and meet deadlines. I haven't slept properly in months, either. Does anyone have any home remedies, little exercises I can try, maybe, that can, at least temporarily, help me balance things out? Perhaps once I find the time and emotional energy to do so I can visit my GP again, but until that point, not just for my sake, but for the mental well-being of my partner, I need something, anything, that can help.

My PMS just started to get really bad a few cycles ago and I've found organic red raspberry leaf tea to really help w/ my depression. The Yogi brand one is the best and you can buy it online

I feel ya sweetie... but for me , it's more physical than emotional. I definitely do feel more down than usual, but my body really gets hit hard! I get horrible migrains, fatigue, my back and shoulders hurt REALLY bad, I get dehydrated and constipated, and I have no energy what so ever. I'm currently a stay-at-home mom because I can't keep a job. There's no possible way I could go to work when feeling like this. I don't feel like ppl take me seriously when I try explaining it either. When I was a teenager, I didn't have it like this... it wasn't until after I had my daughter. It interferes with my life so much! Getting only 2 weeks per month of feeling "normal" and myself, really takes a tole on me. I've tried anti-depressants (never doing that again) and I'm just tired of trying things that only seem to make it worse, or don't make a difference at all. This is just all so frustrating!

Hi there :)

I am so sorry about how you're feeling. I don't have BPD, but my sister does so I'm familiar. I reached out though because I see the same desperation in you that I feel with PPMD and I want you to know you're not alone. I'm tortured mentally with this for all but about a week a month, and I've done everything from call suicide hotlines to therapy, to MRI's..... I'm exhausted of it. It's ruining my life. Becoming my life. This is all I am now, I feel and I feel less alone already just saying this to you because I know you might feel the same.

Much love

Hey there :)
I also have Bipolar and PMDD so I know just how you feel, I feel like I wrote your post actually when I read it, it was that familiar. You're right, the meds don't help with PMDD, except in the case of sedatives or antipsychotics (which I use) but even then it just masks the symptoms. It sucks for us because we have a neurological disorder and PMDD comes in making us crazy due to our hormones. I get weird thoughts when I'm having PMDD, I can get oversexualized or think too much of sex even if I don't want to have anything to do with it! I also get depressed and the thoughts you described, think about self-harm, etc. I've done the same as you, pinch my skin or pull my hair to get my head away from it all. You're not alone! Does your doc prescribe you a sedative for panic? It has saved my life to have a sedative on hand when the thoughts get too bad. Clonazepam is really good for circular thoughts, I've read that in many books and that's what helps me. Wishing you the best! :) *hugs you*