Christina Bohn was misdiagnosed for years. Christina lived with a debilitating disorder: premenstrual dysphoric disorder. She didn't know about pmdd and her mental health issues were not linked to her menstrual cycle until it was too late. Her mother is joining me today to share Christina's story and increase awareness and understanding of pmdd. We want you, your doctor, your family, and everyone to know about pmdd. Let's decrease unnecessary suffering. Let's get women the support they need. Let's help to decrease misdiagnosis of health problems. You can watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUN7KX3bC_k&t=3s

Take Aways

• Christina died because of premenstrual dysphoric disorder 
• Christina had sought help from mental health professionals and doctors for 11+ years
• Marybeth and her husband Steve now spread awareness of PMDD through the Christina Bohn Foundation
• Christina was happy, musical, academically high achieving, and active growing up
• Her mom, Marybeth, noticed that sometimes Christina had big/unusual reactions, but was extremely capable most of the time.
• When Christina was finishing her last semester of nursing school, her mom noticed something was off. 
• Christina worried a lot about her nursing exams (which she aced).
• During Christina's career, at times she voiced to her mom that she was a terrible employee and that her employers regretted hiring her. Neither of which was true.
• Christina was suicidal at times and would take herself to the emergency room for help.
• Marybeth believes hormonal birth control totally changed Christina's world for the worse.
• Christina was really good at how she was feeling inside.
• Marybeth and Steve tried to perceive Christina's needs and meet them.
• In 2020, Christina was required to undergo Electroconvulsive therapy for treatment resistant depression. She'd admitted herself to the ER the previous day, but now felt good physically and clear of mind. They would not let her go home (from ER) until she had done the first treatment.
• Christina was required to continue ECT. She was supposed to do 12 sessions in 1 months time. Throughout treatment, she expressed to her mom that her brain was being fried, her memory was being erased, and she was exhausted. 
• When Christina told her doctor she wanted to stop ECT (this would be her tenth round), the doctor yelled at her and told her to get up on the table. Christina complied.
• After Christina's eleventh ECT, she asked her parents if she could come home and recuperate for a few weeks. Her parents were happy to help and have her home.
• Christina's appearance was shocking to her parents. She was "a mere shell of herself". Her parents had no idea things were this bad.
• Christina FaceTimed her children every day. 
• She confessed to her mom some negative beliefs she (Christina) had been harboring about them (her parents). 
• Christina held onto her negative perception of some specific interactions for years and ye

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