"Woman shares distressing effects of overlooked mental condition": Woman divulges traumatic influence on her mindscape.
Kim Cormack, 36, isn't your average menstruating woman. While most women might experience some mood swings before their period, Kim transforms into someone entirely different.
Content Warning: This article contains references to suicide.
The bubbly, chatty, life-loving Kim metamorphoses into a depressed, crying, angry woman in the days and weeks before her period. It took years to understand and diagnose her condition, premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
"I was so depressed and crying all the time, and angry," Kim reminisces.
PMDD is caused by heightened sensitivity to hormonal shifts during the menstrual cycle, affecting around 5% of menstruating women, particularly one in twenty in the UK. Despite its prevalence, PMDD wasn't an official diagnosis by the World Health Organization until 2019.
The symptoms, including anger, anxiety, and severe depression, can last for up to three weeks of the monthly cycle. The impact of the disorder varies, but it can have a disastrous effect on all aspects of one's life. Kim shared how the condition even led her to consider taking her own life in a desperate attempt to escape the unbearable symptoms.
"I actually sneaked out of the house at 10 o'clock at night. It was raining, and I went to one of the local parks and just sat in the dark. I had a pocket full of sleeping tablets," says Kim. Despite the grave danger, she managed to overcome her suicidal thoughts.
According to a global study, 72% of PMDD patients have experienced active suicidal ideation at some point, with 34% attempting suicide. The condition is often misunderstood, not only by those in the medical field but also by the general public.
Dr. Hannah Short, a specialist in menopause and premenstrual disorders, notes that some of her patients have tried to take their lives due to severe PMDD. She believes raising awareness of the connection between the menstrual cycle and these intense feelings is crucial, especially for young girls and women.
"This thing has hijacked my mind and makes these decisions, and it makes you so vulnerable as a person," adds Kim.
Phoebe Williams, who founded The PMDD Project, a charity designed to raise awareness and train professionals, emphasizes that PMDD is debilitating and its high suicide rates require immediate attention from the government and healthcare sector. The charity offers treatment options, primarily medications and talking therapies, to help women with PMDD manage their symptoms.
As a trustee of The PMDD Project, Kim is dedicated to spreading awareness, hoping it might prevent other women from experiencing the same emotional turmoil she did. After receiving a diagnosis and seeking appropriate treatment, Kim is learning to live with PMDD and focusing on enjoying a better quality of life. Future treatment may involve a hysterectomy, which Kim admits is a difficult decision, but she remains hopeful that this choice will lead to a happier, healthier life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, please reach out to Samaritans in the UK (116 123 or [email protected]) or the Samaritans branch in your area in the US (1 (800) 273-TALK).
- Kim Cormack, a woman dealing with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), shared that she had once considered taking her own life due to the unbearable symptoms.
- Numerous PMDD patients, including some of Dr. Hannah Short's, have admitted to having active suicidal ideation at some point, with a significant portion attempting suicide.
- Despite PMDD being a severe condition affecting around 5% of menstruating women, it wasn't officially recognized by the World Health Organization until 2019.
- Kim, who is a trustee of The PMDD Project, advocates for raising awareness about PMDD to prevent other women from experiencing the emotional turmoil that she did.
- As Kim continues to manage her PMDD symptoms, she is hopeful that a potential future treatment, such as a hysterectomy, could lead to a happier, healthier life.
