What makes PMDD different from PMS?

Kevin Mangelschots·22/07/2025·0 comments

While PMS can cause mood swings, irritability, and physical discomfort, PMDD involves more intense emotional and behavioral symptoms, including:

  • Severe mood swings.
    A woman who's crying and looking sad.
  • Depression or hopelessness.
  • Irritability or anger.
  • Anxiety or tension.
  • Difficulty concentrating.
  • Fatigue or low energy.
  • Sleep problems (too much or too little).
  • Changes in appetite or food cravings.
  • Physical symptoms like bloating, breast tenderness, or joint/muscle pain.

The key difference is that PMDD symptoms are debilitating, often leading to disruptions in work, school, or social life.

Some women even report suicidal thoughts during this time.

–> My elaborate premenstrual dysphoric disorder guide can be found here.

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Kevin

Hi there, I’m Kevin Mangelschots! A little more about myself: - I'm 33 years old. - I’m a registered, licensed, and practicing therapist with a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy. - Currently practicing at a rehabilitation center located in Belgium. Longtime fitness and gaming enthusiast. - Turned towards psychology, philosophy, mental health, and self-improvement to improve my chronic depression. - My goal is to share evidence-based information with the world that I know is helpful and useful to improve depression and overall well-being. In short, I’m just a guy trying to make sense of the world by thinking about ideas, studying psychology, philosophy, and mental and physical health. I strive to apply my degree in healthcare (occupational therapy) to explain concepts as clearly as possible, based on current research findings.

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