Dealing with PMDD with Elizabeth Ferreira

09.13.2021 - By Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Forrest Hanson Play

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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that includes severe anxiety, depression, and feelings of shame. It affects 5-10% of women, and most don't even know they have it. On today's episode, Forrest is joined by his partner Elizabeth Ferreira to explore what PMDD is, how to know if you might have it, effective practices for managing PMDD, and how to create a happy, healthy, fulfilling relationship alongside it.

About Our Guest: Elizabeth is a graduate student studying somatic psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies. If you'd like to hear more from Elizabeth and learn about somatic psychology, she's just started a YouTube channel!

During this conversation we focused on psychological and lifestyle change-based interventions for PMDD. Not everyone has a life that allows them to make these changes, and in addition to these practices many people need significant medical intervention to feel relief. Treatment options range from oral contraceptives and SSRIs to chemical menopause or even a full hysterectomy and oophorectomy.

Some of these interventions come with significant side effects, and this podcast episode is no replacement for consulting with a physician. To learn more about medical options, check out the links below:

The International Association for Pre-Menstrual Disorders

IAPMD Facebook Support Group

Watch the Episode: Prefer watching video? You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

2:00: What’s PMDD?

4:45: Diagnostic criteria for PMDD.

8:20: Challenges of awareness around “invisible” problems.

10:00: The experience of a PMDD episode.

15:15: Practices that help PMDD.

27:05: Externalizing PMDD.

29:45: Therapy and PMDD.

33:30: Accepting your needs.

39:30: Dealing with shame and isolation.

44:45: Continuing to meet the challenge.

49:00: Partnering someone with PMDD.

54:45: Recap

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