One of the best options to combat PMDD most effectively is therapy. One pro is that therapy can be provided by various people such as a psychologists, social workers, therapists, or counselors. Additionally, it does not require the individual to meet in person because most companies offer an phone call/video call option. There are several forms of therapy that exist, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Couples Therapy, Humanistic Therapy, Art Therapy, etc. Each one is dedicated to aiding individuals in different ways. In some cases, therapists will use mediums and physical objects to help ease the mind of any anxiety and feelings of depression, whereas others focus on the individuals feelings towards certain topics and work together to come up with coping mechanisms and advice. With PMDD specifically, one's emotions are significantly heightened leading them to become more emotional about certain aspects of their life, whether that be relationships, family, identity, friends, etc. To combat this, researchers and doctors suggest therapy so that they can freely speak about their emotions and gain the support that they need.
Cognitive behavioral therapy ( CBT ) is a form of talk therapy that has proven most effective for treating PMDD. This form of therapy focuses on changing one's outlook to be more positive and teaches various skills to deal with anxiety, depression, and stress.
Another form of behavioral therapy that has been effective in dealing with PMDD is Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCBT). This form of therapy focuses on raising awareness and acceptance of negative thoughts and sensations. It also incorporates mindfulness techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and guided imagery. One important factor of MBCBT is that rather than resisting and ignoring the obvious physical and emotional symptoms of PMDD, MBCBT encourages women to accept these changes without judgment, consequently decreasing depression and anxiety in women who suffer from PMS and PMDD.
Another effective way to combat PMDD is through medication, more specifically, certain psychiatric medications help alleviate the physical and emotional symptoms associated with PMDD. To provide the best outcome medications are often combined with therapy to improve their overall effectiveness. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have proven effective by altering levels of serotonin in the brain. Researchers have found that taking SSRIs continuously or only during the luteal phase can help reduce symptoms heavily. Also, higher doses can be effective in alleviating some of the physical symptoms. Additionally, selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) like venlafaxine are helpful to decrease mood symptoms.
Your body is your responsibility, take the right steps to get back on track!
Psyche&Cycle
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