VIDEO. What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?

“Unlike Pre Menstrual Syndrome, the psychological symptoms, really it’s more like something like a mental illness disorder, in fact, depressive disorders”, explains Charline, midwife. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects many women who, before their period, go through a depressive state. “The guess we have is that it’s a hormonal imbalance in favor of a lack of progesterone. So it’s going to be depressed moods for several days in a row, so specifically before menstruation. It can be a lack of interest in everyday activities, with real difficulty getting moving. It can be eating disorders specifically at this time, so no desire to eat at all or a very strong appetite.”

“We say to ourselves that it will legitimize all these sexist words”

“It’s something that’s more important than the will, it’s something that overwhelms”, explains the midwife. But there is still a certain taboo around this disorder. “I understand that you don’t want to be the person who constantly talks about your period, the person who complains about your period. In addition, it’s true that we have heard so much: ‘Ah well, you’re in a bad mood, what is it? Do you have your period?’, which, suddenly, we say to ourselves that it will legitimize all these sexist words.”

But there are ways to adapt to this disorder, and to live with it. “If I keep a diary and note the symptoms month by month, there is one side that can already be reassuring enough to say to oneself: OK, potentially, if tomorrow I have a big depression, I know, it is because it’s often like that five days before my period. So, knowing this, I can adapt my daily life, too, and less confront myself with situations that could amplify these symptoms.”