Latest news with #PremenstrualDysphoricDisorder
Daily Mail
9 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Vicky Pattison says 'doctors gaslit me' into thinking I wasn't ill as experts failed to diagnose her for five years despite suffering 'suicidal thoughts'
Vicky Pattison has revealed she has been 'gaslit by doctors' for years as medical experts failed to diagnose her with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. The TV personality, 37, has shed a light on misdiagnosis within the NHS for woman's health care as she revealed she was told by doctors that she wasn't ill at all despite experiencing 'suicidal thoughts' and several symptoms. Vicky revealed that she was 'repeatedly dismissed by her doctors' and only eventually was diagnosed properly after seeing a private doctor - which a lot of woman do not have the privilege of doing. The reality star, who presented Vicky Pattison Investigates: Medical Misogyny on Good Morning Britain on Monday, has now opened up about why the UK healthcare system is failing women, including herself. Speaking to The Sun, Vicky said: 'Women are so often the punching bags. At the moment, the healthcare system is telling women that their pain, suffering and debilitating conditions do not matter.' On GMB, shocking statistics have been revealed as three in five women have experienced reproductive health issues, yet a third have had to wait over a year for a diagnosis. The TV personality, 37, has shed a light on misdiagnosis within the NHS for woman's health care as she revealed she was told by doctors that she wasn't ill at all despite experiencing 'suicidal thoughts' Meanwhile, over half of them received a misdiagnosis, and 51 per cent said they had felt dismissed by a medical professional. And Vicky knows all too well as it took five years for her to be diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder after years of being told she was overreacting and suffering anxiety, depressive moods, rage and crippling cramps. However as her GP 'dismissed' her by saying she was just more 'sensitive' than the average woman, Vicky new something else was wrong. She said: 'When I hit my 30s, my period symptoms started becoming increasingly heightened. In some of my more intense and darker moments, I had suicidal thoughts. 'I knew what I was experiencing couldn't be right — it was just so debilitating. But for five years, I was repeatedly dismissed by my doctors.' She was advised by doctors that she needed 'antidepressants' as it was 'psychological' while another specialist telling the star to 'lose weight'. Vicky revealed that as she gets older 'it's gotten worse' and she is now 'anxious, emotional, exhausted and unrecognisable as herself' from around 10 days before her period. Eventually Vicky went to a private doctor three years ago, who told her she had 'PMDD' causing her to break down in tears after finally feeling relieved from a diagnosis. According to the Mind, 'Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) characterized by emotional and physical symptoms that significantly disrupt a person's daily life, particularly during the week or two before menstruation. 'It is a hormone-related mood disorder that can include symptoms like severe mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and physical discomfort'. The former Geordie Shore star said diagnosis is just the first step and she is still on the quest to find treatment that works as it is 'uncontrollable'. Vicky credit the help of her husband Ercan Ramadan, 31, who she tied the knot with last year after seven years of dating, for understanding as it has previously 'put a huge strain' on their relationship. Vicky has now contacted Health Secretary Wes Streeting to deliver news of GMB's findings and wants to see education on women's health improve in schools, get GPs more informed and give greater support to women in the workplace. The TV star said she understands Mr Streeting is a 'busy man' but she believes that 'ignore me' is the same as ignoring all the woman suffering in Britain and that 'our quality of life doesn't matter'. It comes after Vicky shared a candid snap of her 'belly hanging out' as she revealed the reality of returning home from holiday after her getaway with Ercan. The couple jetted off on a lavish holiday to the Maldives where she shared a slew of stunning bikini snaps. However, Vicky also shared a more realistic behind the scenes look at her life as she posed in a slouchy T-shirt with her stomach out, wearing a £650 hair growth helmet. She captioned the post: 'Awwww home sweet home.... I absolutely LOVED our holiday... but how nice is getting home as well? To your comfy old clothes, your own bed and your favourite snacks? 'Just being able to let it all hang out while in your period pants with your belly hanging out like Winnie the Pooh in the comfort of your own home is a TOP feeling isn't it?!! 'Also, big shout out Mother Nature for giving my my period the day I travelled home... cheers lass!' The photo displayed quite the contrast between those shared by Vicky while on holiday, with the former I'm A Celeb winner sporting a glamorous look in a red bikini, which highlighted her stunning figure. But she had received backlash after posting the steamy snaps, with one fan taking to the comments section writing: 'God doesn't she love herself', with Vicky promptly hitting back: 'And what gave you that impression?! Or can you just not stand to see a confident woman?' She then shared two throwback snaps and revealed it has taken her years to get to the happy place she is at now and to 'finally feel comfortable in my own skin'. What is premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a more severe form of the more common premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMDD can cause severe physical and mental symptoms that begin seven to 10 days before menstruation and can continue for the first few days of a period, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Suffers can have depression (and even suicidal thoughts), anxiety or even anger during that period. People with PMDD may also struggle with fatigue and forgetfulness, along with headaches and difficulty sleeping. The disorder also includes more common symptoms shared with PMS, including bloating and cramps. PMDD may affect as many as 10 percent of people who have periods. No cure currently exists, but hormonal birth control and antidepressants have been found to help treat the condition, while over-the-counter pain relievers can help with some of the physical pain.
Scottish Sun
13 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Doctors gaslit me into thinking I wasn't ill – experts failed me & now I may never be a mother, reveals Vicky Pattison
Vicky has written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting about the issue of medical misogyny MEDICAL MISOGYNY Doctors gaslit me into thinking I wasn't ill – experts failed me & now I may never be a mother, reveals Vicky Pattison Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HER fiery temper on Geordie Shore won over an army of fans – but even though Vicky Pattison has smoothed out her rough edges, she has still managed to become an unfiltered voice on issues that matter. And now she's tackling a cause that is close to her heart. 3 Vicky Pattison says the UK healthcare system is failing women, including herself Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 It was when Vicky started dating her husband Ercan Ramadan seven years ago that her PMDD first emerged Credit: instagram In an exclusive chat with The Sun — which comes as she presents Vicky Pattison Investigates: Medical Misogyny today on Good Morning Britain — the former I'm A Celebrity winner tells us why the UK healthcare system is failing women, including herself. Vicky, 37, says: 'Women are so often the punching bags. 'At the moment, the healthcare system is telling women that their pain, suffering and debilitating conditions do not matter.' Shocking statistics revealed today by GMB show three in five women have experienced reproductive health issues, yet a third have had to wait over a year for a diagnosis. Meanwhile, over half of them received a misdiagnosis, and 51 per cent said they had felt dismissed by a medical professional. It's a feeling that Vicky knows all too well as it took five years of being made to feel like she was overreacting before she was finally diagnosed with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. In the meantime, she was suffering from anxiety, depressive moods, rage, crippling cramps, and a feeling of hopelessness. Her GP told her it was nothing unusual — she was just a bit more 'sensitive' than the average woman. 'When I hit my 30s, my period symptoms started becoming increasingly heightened,' she says. 'In some of my more intense and darker moments, I had suicidal thoughts. I'm A Celeb winner set to join Strictly after wowing bosses while supporting pal in audience last year 'I knew what I was experiencing couldn't be right — it was just so debilitating. 'But for five years, I was repeatedly dismissed by my doctors. "I was told everything from, 'This is just PMS, everyone experiences it, other women can just handle it better' to, 'This is psychological — you need antidepressants.' 'I was told by one doctor, 'Maybe it'll be better if you lose weight.'' Her voice breaks when she reflects on the battle she still faces. Vicky says: 'Every month, you lose yourself — and as I've gotten older, it's gotten worse. "It used to last a few days, but now it's seven to ten days before my period. 'I'm anxious, I'm emotional, I'm exhausted, and I'm completely unrecognisable from the woman I am the rest of the time. 'The things that bring me joy don't bring me joy.' It was only three years ago, after hitting countless dead ends, that she went to a private doctor — a step she knows many women can't take. 'SPICY MOMENTS' 'I broke down when she said I had PMDD,' Vicky says. 'I'd had five years of being gaslit.' Yet sadly for Vicky and so many other women, diagnosis is just the first step. She is still on the quest to find treatment that works. She explains: 'I've read all the blogs, I follow all the accounts, I've got some great premenstrual supplements that I swear by. 'But even if you exercise, your diet is good and you're doing all those things you know help, you can't control the uncontrollable and the PMDD symptoms will rage. 'The only thing that helps me is communicating. "Whether it's to my agent, to the people I work with, or to my family, I say: 'I know what's about to happen. "There will be some spicy moments where I'm raging. Please know that's not me.'' So much of her personal healing has come from her husband of almost a year, Ercan Ramadan, 31. The pair had only just started dating around seven years ago when Vicky's PMDD first emerged. She recalls: 'It did initially put a huge strain on our relationship. 3 Vicky's now written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to deliver news of GMB's findings Credit: Getty 'Now I help him understand. "I'll go to him: 'I think I'm coming into my spicy week' — where you can't remember names, you can't remember where you're supposed to be, you're practically narcoleptic. 'He'll just handle me with kid gloves. I am very lucky that I have a man who understands. 'I know everyone's not in that position, but they can't give you empathy if they don't understand, so do try to explain it.' Vicky's now written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to deliver news of GMB's findings. She wants to see education on women's health improve in schools, get GPs more informed and give greater support to women in the workplace when they are in pain. Vicky says: 'I know Wes Streeting is a busy man, and I don't think for one second he's going to see a letter from Vicky Pattison and think, 'Ooh I should make time for her.' 'But it's not about ignoring me. It's about what ignoring me says to women in Britain. "You are saying to half the population that our pain, our suffering, our quality of life doesn't matter. That is inexcusable.' Appearing alongside Vicky on GMB today are three women who have also been fobbed off by the healthcare system. I think people wrote me off a long time ago, but I'm really grateful that I parlayed a stint on reality TV to where I am now Vicky Pattison Kelly Swingler, 44, from Cambridgeshire, waited 34 years for a diagnosis of adenomyosis, and it took two years for Rachael Twimasi-Corson, 35, from London, to get a call from a mental health nurse after identifying her PMDD symptoms through social media. Meanwhile, Manika Kaur, 27, from Newcastle, received an endometriosis diagnosis after ten years of debilitating pain. Vicky adds: 'I'm hoping that the Government realises this can't be ignored anymore.' As for her personal journey, PMDD is still a battle — and it's one affecting her plans to become a mum after freezing her eggs in 2023 and making embryos with Ercan. She wells up as she says: 'I am a woman of a certain age who would love to have kids. "But my fear is that my condition will make it very difficult to be the mum that I want to be. "You want to be this lovely, patient mother, but I do worry what I'll be like with PMDD — because you're short-tempered, you're exhausted." Yet having opened up in previous years about her body image issues, her struggles with alcohol and finding herself in toxic relationships, she is used to showing her vulnerable side. She says: 'I think people wrote me off a long time ago, but I'm really grateful that I parlayed a stint on reality TV to where I am now, and that I'm able to use my platform to champion issues that are so important to me. 'I'm going to be a thorn in the side of people making decisions, because I believe it's important. 'I hope they're ready, because I'm fired up.'
India.com
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet singer who was body-shamed for her weight, attempted suicide at 20, overcame mental health issues by..., her name is...
Neha Bhasin, the voice behind hits like Dhunki, Kuch Khaas, and Jag Ghoomeya — recently opened up about a haunting chapter from her early years in showbiz. Speaking on Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiyaa's podcast, Neha revealed she attempted suicide at just 20, after being body-shamed while part of India's first all-girls pop band, Viva. The day everything changed It was 2003 — a year after Neha's big break on Coke [V] Popstars. The moment she describes is seared into her memory. A man from the channel played a video of her in a boardroom, circled her stomach on-screen and said, 'See, you are so fat. Because of this, we can't release the video.' Neha was 50 kg at the time. Distraught and confused, she went home and downed over half a bottle of fat burners. 'That was my way of trying to commit suicide… For two days, I was throwing up. The band didn't know what had happened,' she said. Decades of silence and now spilling the truth This wasn't just a one-time trauma. Neha later revealed she has been silently battling Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) since her teens — a severe hormonal condition affecting her functionality for half the month. Diagnosed in 2022 with low progesterone, she finally broke her silence on social media in 2024, hoping her story would resonate with others. A star who refused to disappear Post Viva, Neha rose again, solo. From Bollywood chartbusters to Tamil, Telugu, and Punjabi tracks, her versatility shone through. She made waves in reality shows like Bigg Boss OTT and Bigg Boss 15, cementing her image as one of Indian music's boldest voices. Neha's confessions highlight the devastating cost of beauty standards in showbiz — and her survival stands as a quiet rebellion in an industry still learning how to be kind.
Graziadaily
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Graziadaily
Is Vicky Pattison Going On Strictly Come Dancing? All The Rumours So Far
Summer might have only just arrived, but Strictly fans already have their minds set on who could be competing for the glitter ball trophy this autumn. One rumoured contestant thought to be joining the line-up is Vicky Pattison. The TV personality is thought to have attracted the attention of the show's producers when she supported Pete Wicks from the audience during last year's series. The bosses were said to be so impressed that they now want to make her part of the next line-up. A source told The Sun: 'Vicky loved watching Pete on the series and was in awe of the detail that goes into every performance. She has great energy and will no doubt be a hit with the viewers. Vicky's done plenty of reality shows but is ready to be out of her comfort zone on the dance floor.' Vicky originally rose to fame on Geordie Shore, where she became well loved for her outspoken personality and dramatic romances. In 2015, Vicky took part in I'm A Celebrity, where she was crowned Queen Of The Jungle. In a 2022 interview with The Metro, Vicky opened up about how her time in the jungle changed her. 'My time spent in I'm A Celeb was completely pivotal for me, not just professionally, I'll never be able to express how grateful I am,' she told the outlet. 'Personally, it allowed us to see the person I could be, you know? When everyone tells you you're a certain thing – drunk, loud, aggressive – you hear these things enough to start to believe them and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. I was becoming a very lost, sad caricature. It was really nice and I'll always be grateful and always be a little bit jealous when everyone else gets to go.' Alongside her TV credentials, Vicky has been outspoken about her battle with [Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder {href=' }), a debilitating condition which causes severe emotional and physical symptoms in the weeks leading up to a period. This isn't the first time that Vicky has been linked to Strictly. In an interview with The Sun last year, Vicky addressed the possibility of her taking part in the show. 'Like when I found out Pete was doing it, the first thing I did was ring him and see if he was OK. Because me and him are more like stand in the corner, drink and have a laugh than you know, centre of the dance floor people. And he was saying he was really nervous, and I think that's how I'll be,' she said. She continued 'But sometimes, I just like my comfort zone and especially now I'm about to get married and everything like, I don't know, I don't know if I ever would. I don't know if it's for me, but like never say never.' As for the other Strictly line up rumours, it's also been reported that bosses are eyeing up Queen Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles, Georgia Toffolo and The Apprentice's Thomas Skinner for the show. Another rumoured star set to be taking part is Stacey Solomon, who hasn't ruled out the glitter ball before. She previously told the Metro: 'I would never say never but I am a terrible dancer, an absolutely terrible dancer! I don't know why but I have no rhythm when it comes to movement. I have rhythm with singing or listening to music but when it comes to moving my feet I am left-footed, I have two left feet!,' adding 'But I am obsessed with it, I'm obsessed with the costumes. And also I would love to learn a new skill like that. I love learning anything to be honest.'
Express Tribune
06-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Unseen. Misunderstood. Suicidal
On paper, M* is living the life. She has a job she likes as a biomedical scientist and research fellow in women's health. She has found her purpose: working to improve the lives of women with chronic health conditions through her FemTech start-up. So why does she want to kill herself every month? What is PMDD? M suffers from PMDD, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a much more severe form of PMS, premenstrual syndrome. According to Dr. Benicio Frey, a psychiatrist at the Women's Health Concerns Clinic at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, Canada, both PMS and PMDD are recognised through mental and physical symptoms in the preceding 1-2 weeks before menstruation, in what is called the luteal phase. The mental symptoms may include emotional sensitivity, depression, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty paying attention, memory issues and irritability, while the physical symptoms may include breast tenderness, cramps, bloating, fatigue, increased appetite for carbs, changes in sleep, and changes in appetite. 'Both PMDD and PMS affect the quality of life, but PMDD brings the patient to the hospital,' says Dr. Anum Aziz, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist at Agha Khan University Hospital in Karachi. PMDD has symptoms that 'are severe enough to cause patients difficulty functioning in their daily life, whether it's work, relationships, family dynamics, and so forth,' adds Dr. Frey. Another relatively common symptom of PMDD is suicidal ideation/thoughts that may lead to suicide attempts. 'PMDD is a different beast from PMS. It's a severe, disabling mood disorder linked to your cycle. We're talking panic attacks, rage, crushing sadness, suicidal thoughts, and full-body dysregulation. It's not bad PMS. It's a hormonal hijacking of your brain chemistry,' says BACP-certified psychotherapist Shifa Lodhi. PMDD affects around 3% of the population. '3% is pretty significant if you think about it from a population perspective. Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population, it's a big deal. OCD affects 2% of the population, it's a big deal. Bipolar type 1 affects 1% of the population, it's a big deal. So, 3% of PMDD is equally a big deal,' Dr. Frey says. What causes PMDD? Unlike other mental health conditions and mood disorders where the cause is often not easily pinpointed, researchers and doctors have been able to identify the cause of PMDD: the brain's sensitivity to hormonal changes. 'It is the estrogen hormone, which when deficient leads to irritability, and progesterone, if it is in abundant range, leads to emotional unwellness,' says Dr. Aziz. 'It's not the hormone itself, it's the fluctuation from low to high, and sometimes from high to low, that really triggers the brain to respond with symptoms,' Dr. Frey elaborates. Those with PMDD have brains that are more sensitive to this change than those with just PMS or neither. 'When progesterone drops, serotonin does too, especially in PMDD. That disrupts the brain's ability to regulate distress. Cortisol may also spike, adding panic and anxiety. You end up with a chemical cocktail of despair, rage, and hopelessness,' adds Shifa. There are also pre-existing conditions that make people at a higher risk for PMDD. 'There's a high prevalence of other comorbid psychiatric conditions, especially PTSD and mood disorders. So someone suffering from PMDD, just about half of them, at least, have another psychiatric condition,' says Dr. Frey. 'People often come with the problems of menstrual irregularities. So, that brings them to the hospital and then we diagnose them to have PMDD or PMS. PCOS, polycystic ovarian syndrome, is mostly related, as well as obesity, menstrual irregularities, and subfertility,' adds Dr. Aziz. Depression, anxiety, ADHD, generational trauma history, and thyroid disorders also make PMDD more likely, according to Shifa. 'Think of PMDD as an amplifier for what's already underneath. It doesn't create the wound, but it rips off the scab,' she says. L*, a 44-year-old educator from Lahore with PMDD and complex PTSD adds to this, saying, 'a lot of these diseases are definitely connected to traumas, especially childhood traumas. I've grown up in a very dysfunctional household. My dad was an alcoholic, with some serious mental health issues. My mom is sort of not emotionally there or available at all. So, wanting to disappear, wanting to kill myself, the ideation started pretty young and then there were attempts which usually had to do with my dad.' How can it make one suicidal? People with PMDD are almost seven times at higher risk of suicide attempt and almost four times as likely to exhibit suicidal ideation. The hormonal fluctuations that come with PMDD can cause patients to become so depressed and fatigued they become suicidal. 'In many people, this is the only time in their lives that they feel suicidal. They don't feel suicidal outside of the premenstrual phase,' says Dr. Frey, cementing just how alarming this condition sometimes is. He has had some patients who needed to stay at the hospital for a few days before their period because they felt unsafe during this time. 'For many, it feels like their personality changes. The intrusive thoughts get louder. Hope disappears. The person doesn't want to die, they just want the suffering to stop. But at that moment, it's hard to tell the difference and many women can't,' says Shifa. 'I think I'm a monster for 10 days every month. I cry, scream, there have been instances I lashed out at my husband and children and then fantasized about ending it all. Then my period comes, and I'm okay again but ashamed,' one patient told Shifa. Another patient's mood swings and sudden suicidal thoughts were so extreme she thought she had bipolar disorder. 'The pain would become unbearable, sometimes so intense that I couldn't get out of bed without help. I would feel completely drained and immobilised, both physically and mentally. It felt like I was losing control of myself for two weeks out of every month,' says M. M* also struggles with other chronic conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. These conditions feed into her PMDD and vice versa. 'Each condition flares at the same time or triggers the others, creating layers of pain, fatigue, and neurological disruption that feel inescapable. The physical suffering fuels emotional distress, and the emotional distress makes it even harder to cope physically. It's relentless, month after month, with no real break in between,' she says. 'The suicidal ideation doesn't stem from a desire to die, but rather from a desperate need for the pain, physical, emotional, existential, to stop. In the darkest moments, it feels like I am drowning in something invisible and inescapable, and that there's no lifeline in sight,' says M. Perhaps the most impacted area of life for those suffering from PMDD is their social life. 'The relationships are mostly affected and people are affected by the irritability of that person,' says Dr. Aziz. 'I've lost friendships and relationships because of this condition. People often don't understand, or they grow tired of the inconsistency and unpredictability of my health. Being left behind or misunderstood by people I love has added another layer of grief and loneliness, fuelling further depression and anxiety,' says M. L adds to this, talking about how her PMDD has affected her relationship with her partner. 'I might start snapping and yelling at him. I got my period yesterday and the day before yesterday, everything he was doing was getting on my nerves. So my patience level gets really low. I want to cry and I want to just disappear,' she says. PMDD can also aggravate other pre-existing mental illnesses or traumas to make the patient suicidal. 'Quite often the premenstrual period is a period of exacerbation of other psychiatric conditions as well. So the hormonal sensitivity may play a role worsening whatever else someone might be suffering from,' says Dr. Frey. For M this looked like worse mental symptoms following her father's death and for one of Dr. Aziz's patients, it looked like needing to be admitted into the psychiatric ward after being on the verge of killing herself because of bullying. L's symptoms also worsened after her father's death, along with perimenopause, leading to her not having her period at all for 2 months. How can PMDD be treated? Despite the severity of PMDD, all is not lost. Since we know the exact cause of the disorder, PMDD can be treated. The first step is diagnosis. 'The diagnosis requires a two-menstrual cycle daily symptom charting for us to be really accurate about the validity of the diagnosis of PMDD. So, people need to track their symptoms daily for two months and bring that information to the clinician so we can confirm that it is a case of PMDD,' says Dr. Frey. Then the patient's mental symptoms can be tracked on the DSM scale, a manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental conditions and disorders, according to Dr. Aziz. Once a diagnosis has been secured, treatment can begin. There are several methods of treating PMDD. 'First line treatments tend to be serotonin-based the hormonal treatments, like oral contraceptives, are second-line treatment,' says Dr. Frey. 'If they cannot use hormones and antidepressants also didn't work, there is a natural compound, a berry called Chasteberry or Vitex, which has been shown in some meta-analysis to help people with particularly milder forms of PMDD or PMS,' he adds. 'We should not be treating just their physical symptoms. The focus should be on mental well-being, as well as their lifestyle choices,' says Dr. Aziz, advocating for a more multi-faceted approach in PMDD treatment. Shifa suggests talk therapy and CBT, while M advocates for making more compassionate and thorough mental health resources that focus on hormonal disorders readily available. 'First of all, there's very few trauma-informed therapists. Secondly, there are next to none trauma-informed gynecologists. In all of Pakistan, I found one,' adds L. 'Healthcare systems should also integrate holistic care models that consider the interplay of PMDD with other chronic conditions, such as endometriosis or fibromyalgia, rather than treating symptoms in isolation,' says M. 'Some choose to suppress ovulation entirely. In extreme cases, even hysterectomy is considered. It's that serious,' says Shifa, highlighting the severity of the condition. Why have you not heard about this? If PMDD is such a big deal, why have you not heard about it and its link to suicidal ideation? The answer is simple: our society deems both women's bodies and mental health too taboo to talk about. A prime example of how women's bodies are often overlooked in the medical and scientific field is how painkillers are less effective on women because the majority of them are tested only on men. 'Science was built for men, by men. For centuries, female bodies were considered too complicated to study. Female hormone cycles were excluded from research to avoid data variability. It's sexist, lazy science,' says Shifa. Shifa also talks about how women's bodies themselves are often considered too 'vulgar' to talk about in Pakistan, even if just natural processes like menstruation are being discussed. 'Sadly, we live in a society which in some sectors doesn't even acknowledge that women have periods,' she says, 'We don't talk about periods, pain, or mental health. Patriarchy wants women to be strong but not too emotional. It's also tied to control, silencing women's experiences keeps them manageable.' 'Women's health, including women's mental health, has been largely dismissed, neglected and minimized throughout the years,' says Dr. Frey. 'The PMDD and suicidal ideation connection isn't mainstream knowledge partly because many doctors aren't trained to spot it, and partly because women are taught to downplay their pain,' adds Shifa. Dr. Aziz talks about how often when she brings up psychiatric help to her patients, their families refuse the idea because of how controversial the topic is in Pakistan. 'They have to plan for their marriage. And if their in-laws or proposed in-laws know that the patient is visiting the psychiatrist, there would be a threat to her future life. They would rather go to some spiritual hakim instead of going to a proper psychiatrist,' she says. L elaborates on this saying that she is reluctant to voice her suicidal thoughts out of fear of people taking advantage of her mental state rather than understanding it. She also expressed how rather than viewing suicidal ideation as a mental health crisis, people in Pakistan often view it as a 'comment on one's character being bad.' In fact, this is also the reason PMDD is underdiagnosed, which then feeds back into the cycle of lack of awareness about it since many people don't know they have it to begin with.'It's because PMDD and even women's mental health in general is not a core part of the educational curriculum in training health professionals. if we don't train professionals on assessment and diagnosis and treatment, you know, what can they do when they see people with PMDD?,' says Dr. Frey. 'I did notice it in my 20s but there was no validation for it until my 40s. So I would say I did notice it pretty young but at the time there was no talk of PMDD. It didn't exist technically back then, this idea that women are emotional, and they are just crazy, especially around their period. I felt like I was constantly fighting that. So I didn't pay attention to my own PMS because I felt that that would do a disservice to women in the world,' adds L. 'The diagnosis of PMDD is DSM-5 scale-based diagnosis. Physicians do not use this scale as it is mostly used by the psychiatrist or a specialist. So, it is not well diagnosed,' adds Dr. Aziz. This lack of awareness in doctors often leads to them misdiagnosing patients, undermining them and simply refusing to hear them out. 'I believe doctors need to have good bedside manners, to be empathetic, compassionate, and truly listen to their patients instead of dismissing their experiences or approaching medical care with a god syndrome attitude,' says M. L agrees with the notion that Pakistani doctors' bedside manner needs improvement, saying, 'our doctors really are not good with that.' Raising awareness So now that you know about PMDD, what should you do? 'Normalize it. De-shame it. And create spaces where people can say, 'I think I have PMDD' without being dismissed,' says Shifa. She emphasizes the need for government and private companies to play their part as well as social media in destigmatising menstrual health. M seconds this, saying 'building a strong support network of understanding friends, family, and healthcare professionals has been crucial. I also use my platform on social media to share my experience, which not only helps me process my feelings but also connects me with others going through similar challenges.' 'Advocating for myself and connecting with others who understand what I'm going through has been empowering,' she adds. Dr. Frey backs this, further emphasizing the need for community when dealing with PMDD. 'I would also recommend they be linked to support groups like IAPMD and PMDD Canada, these are open to international have peer support, educational programs, tons of reliable information people can get about their premenstrual disorders and get help and support,' he says. 'Greater awareness and education are crucial, both among healthcare professionals and the general public. Many people, including doctors, still underestimate how severe and disabling PMDD can be, which leads to delayed diagnosis and inadequate support,' says M. 'If there had been more awareness and honest conversations when I first started experiencing symptoms, I might have felt less isolated and more empowered to seek help sooner,' she adds. 'I think if therapists sort of take a lead and say that this is a real thing, and there's solutions for it, and it can happen to a lot of people. It'll be up to the psychologists or therapists to put out videos, explainers, things like that, that have outreach, especially for our population,' says L. Pakistan is a country where the entire reproductive chapter is often ripped out of school books or simply skipped. This has a long lasting impact on how ill-informed the general public is on life altering and saving information about their bodies. Dr. Aziz brings up how menstrual and mental health should be topics that are covered in school curriculums. She adds that doctors like herself are willing to hold information sessions in schools if teachers are unable or unwilling to teach about this necessary topic. It is also important to remember that just because the emotional symptoms and suicidal ideation caused by PMDD are a result of a hormonal imbalance, they are not any less valid and acting like they are can have a further detrimental effect on patient's mental health. 'Because it's connected to menstruation, there's often a tendency for others, sometimes even healthcare professionals, to minimize or dismiss the emotional pain as 'just hormones' or typical PMS. This can make the pain feel misunderstood or invalidated, which is incredibly frustrating when the symptoms are so severe and disabling. So, while the link to the menstrual cycle brings clarity for me, it doesn't always translate into better understanding or empathy from others,' says M. 'For those who don't get it: believe her. Don't gaslight or joke about 'that time of the month.' This is serious, and your empathy might just be her lifeline,' adds Shifa. This increased awareness can help lead to a diagnosis which in turn validates people's struggles and helps them prepare for their symptoms. 'Getting a name for what I was experiencing was both a relief and a wake-up call; it validated my pain and gave me the motivation to seek proper support,' says M. Getting a diagnosis can also help people with PMDD explain their symptoms to loved ones and be understood. 'People around me have also understood it a lot better including the boomer lot, like my parents. By the end of his life, with my diagnosis, my dad would just flat out say, you're about to get your period, like, is this the situation? My mother's even become aware of it,' says L. 'If people knew suicidal thoughts were hormonally driven and treatable, they'd get help instead of feeling broken. Awareness doesn't just validate Pakistani women's experience, it saves lives,' Shifa concludes. *Names changed to preserve privacy
