Ever feel like your PMS is like a hurricane while everyone else’s is like a rainy day? 

Here’s the deal:

PMS is pretty common, affecting about 75% of people with their periods, so it often overshadows something more serious called Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD can be mistaken for PMS, but it’s not the same. PMDD affects somewhere between 3% and 8% of people with their period, and it’s also more serious.

A week or two before your period starts, hormone levels begin to fall after ovulation occurs. So during this time you may experience irritability, depression, tension, and/or anxiety. You’ll usually feel relief from these symptoms about two to three days after your period starts. 

That’s a long time to be feeling that way. If this sounds familiar, you may need medicine or other treatment to help with your symptoms.