Feeling really down before your period? You're definitely not alone. But how do you know if what you're experiencing is PMDD, depression, or something else entirely? Let's break it down.

What's PMDD?

PMDD stands for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and it's basically a more severe version of PMS. We're not talking about just feeling a little moody or bloated. PMDD symptoms can be intense and seriously affect your daily life.

People with PMDD might experience:

• Intense sadness or feelings of hopelessness
• Severe anxiety or feeling on edge
• Major mood swings
• Irritability or anger
• Loss of interest in things you usually enjoy
• Trouble concentrating
• Fatigue or low energy
• Changes in sleep or appetite

Here's the key thing about PMDD: it's tied to your menstrual cycle. These symptoms typically show up during the luteal phase (the week or two before your period) and go away once your period starts or shortly after. If you're tracking your symptoms and noticing this pattern month after month, PMDD might be what's going on.

What About Clinical Depression?

Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder) involves similar feelings, but the timing and duration are different. With depression:

• Symptoms last for at least two weeks or longer, and they're not tied to your cycle
• You might feel helpless or hopeless most of the time
• Daily tasks or social activities feel impossible to handle
• There's a general loss of interest in things, even stuff you used to love
• Symptoms don't follow a predictable pattern or go away on their own

Depression isn't something that comes and goes with your period. It sticks around regardless of where you are in your cycle.

Why It's Hard to Tell the Difference

When you're in the thick of it—whether it's PMDD or depression—it can be really hard to see the difference. Both can make you feel awful, and both deserve to be taken seriously.

The main way to tell them apart is by tracking when your symptoms show up and how long they last. If they're consistently showing up before your period and going away once it starts, PMDD is more likely. If they're constant and not tied to your cycle, depression might be what's going on.

And here's something important: you can actually have both PMDD and depression at the same time. Depression can also get worse during certain phases of your cycle, which can make things even more confusing.

What to Do

Whether you're dealing with PMDD, depression, or you're not sure which one it is, please talk to someone. A doctor, therapist, school counselor, or trusted adult can help you figure out what's going on.

The good news is that there are treatments available for both PMDD and depression that can really help. This might include:

• Therapy (like cognitive behavioral therapy)
• Medication (antidepressants, birth control, or other options)
• Lifestyle changes (exercise, sleep, nutrition)
• Stress management techniques

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you definitely don't have to just push through it. Getting help isn't weak; it's actually one of the strongest things you can do for yourself.

If you're tracking your symptoms in the Aavia app, bring that data with you when you talk to your doctor. Having a record of when symptoms show up and how severe they are can really help with getting the right diagnosis and treatment.

You deserve to feel like yourself again. 🫶