What is Dixie D’amelio’s Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?

By Joseph Last updated Oct 23, 2022

Dixie D’Amelio recently disclosed that she was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The 21-year-old TikTok star went on Instagram Live earlier this month to talk about how she’s feeling and why she took a break from social media.

The condition “really disrupts” her life, she said, affecting her mood, personality, relationships, and anxiety for two weeks out of every month. When Dixie D’Amelio started putting her mental health first, she noticed a “huge change” in her life.

I wasn’t feeling great and not really sure why,” she began. “I recently got diagnosed with this thing called PMDD, which is premenstrual dysphoric disorder. It really affects your moods and your behavior and many different parts of your life,” D’Amelio continued. “I feel like I didn’t realize how much it was affecting me until I got to this point I was in last week.

I have never been so low … and having no idea what was wrong with me was very alarming,” she explained. “I just felt like I had no control over my body or mind and I had no idea what was wrong but it would turn on and off like a light switch.

That was very confusing to me because how can I go one day feeling fine and then the next day not wanting to be here anymore?

What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a chronic, disabling illness. During the week before you start bleeding, you may experience a wide variety of debilitating mental, emotional, and sometimes physical symptoms, as described by the Cleveland Clinic.

Depression, anxiety, and even suicidal ideation are all symptoms of extreme exhaustion. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a much more severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The extreme “mood symptoms” and their cyclical presentation are the distinguishing features.

During an Instagram Live, D’Amelio revealed that PMDD had caused her to have sudden thoughts of suicide.

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What Are the Causes of PMDD?

It is unclear to specialists why some women experience PMDD. Hormonal fluctuations following ovulation and prior to menstruation, when estrogen and progesterone levels are dropping, may play a role in bringing on these symptoms.

The brain chemical serotonin, which controls emotions, appetite, and sleep, could also play a role. Just like other hormones, serotonin levels fluctuate during the menstrual cycle.

What Are the Symptoms of PMDD?

PMDD symptoms typically begin a week or two before menstruation and subside once bleeding begins. Possible symptoms include:

Irritation or anger
Anxiety and panic attacks
Sadness and ideas of death
Concentration issues
Weakness and lack of vitality
Strong desires for food
Headaches
Insomnia
Mood swings

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How to Deal With PMDD?

Extreme symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) necessitate seeking medical treatment. PMDD has no known cure, but it can be managed with medication. Both antidepressants and hormonal birth control are used to treat patients with psychiatric disorders.

If you’re experiencing physical symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, or breast tenderness, it’s recommended that you take over-the-counter pain relievers. Overall symptom control can be improved by adopting healthy lifestyle habits like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.

Changes in reproductive hormones like oestrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle may play a role in triggering premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), but the exact cause is unknown.

The neurotransmitter serotonin, which affects your disposition, your sleep patterns, and your hunger signals, may play a role, as may some inherited characteristics or the psychological strains of daily life.

Mood-related psychiatric disorders, such as bipolar disorder, are unfortunately a common misdiagnosis among PMDD sufferers. There are cases where doctors simply ignore the complaints of female patients and the illness goes undetected.

Seek medical advice if you feel you may be suffering from PMDD. For a proper diagnosis, you may need to keep track of your symptoms for multiple menstrual cycles.

D’Amelio is “very happy” now that she has found a way to control her symptoms through treatment: There should be no shame in seeking help for PMDD; it is a serious illness. It’s important to see a doctor right away if you’re sick.