Are you a woman that suffers from severe PMS every single month? Have you ever talked with your doctor about how severe your symptoms are? If your symptoms are becoming life altering, it's time to discuss the possibility of you suffering from PMDD instead of PMS.

What is PMDD?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a medical condition which worsens the symptoms associated with PMS. During the 7-10 days leading up to the first day of the bleeding, you may begin to experience extreme emotional imbalances. You may feel extremely depressed, hopeless, agitated or tense – not just a little annoyed, but seriously cannot control your emotions. It can become debilitating and take over your life.

PMDD is diagnosed by tracking the symptoms that you're been experiencing. Your doctor will present you with a journal to write down the symptoms that you're experiencing each day. After a couple of cycles, the doctor will take a look at your journal and help you come up with a plan for treatment.

How is PMDD treated?

PMDD is treated with hormone stabilizing medication. In many cases, a low dose of Prozac will be prescribed to be taken during the week before the period's start and throughout the week of bleeding.

Another option for treatment is medical marijuana. The legalization of medical marijuana has opened the door to new non-pharmaceutical treatments for ailments such as PMDD. With the right strain of marijuana, your symptoms will decrease and as your symptoms change, you can change the strain of marijuana that you consume to help ease the symptoms.

You see, some strains are designed to help with symptoms like nausea or loss of appetite – others will help to manage stress and anxiety. Working with a skilled and knowledgeable professional at the dispensary will help you to find the strains that will be most beneficial to your symptoms without having to turn to those pharmaceuticals that come with so many side effects.

Your life doesn't have to come to a screeching halt because your monthly cycle is coming. Your friends, family and coworkers will likely be almost as relieved that you've begun some sort of treatment as you are. With the right plan in place and the right treatments prescribed, PMDD is a condition that you can live with – you won't have to spend as much time waiting for a good day to come along to enjoy the one life that you get to live.

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