Today's guest post welcomes author Eryn Speers' unvarnished reaction to the news that National Institutes of Health (NIH) researchers have
discovered molecular mechanisms that may underlie a woman’s susceptibility to
disabling irritability, sadness, and anxiety in the days leading up to her
menstrual period. I couldn't have said it better myself, which is why I asked permission to reprint Eryn's original Facebook post here.
The bottom line is this NIH discovery is good news for us all. Please be sure to watch the five minute video (link provided) at the end.
I have been through the gambit, had my moments of doubt, and
a few good months where I thought I was "free" of PMDD. Chalking it
up to stress, or difficult times, only to have it return with a vengeance. In
my frustration I began my research again, shaking my head every time I ended up
down the same road: eat clean, eliminate sugar and caffeine, get your hormone
levels checked, get acupuncture, see a naturopath, try anti-depressants and
Cognitive Behavior Theory. The list goes on and on, as we know. What I, myself, have come to realize,
is that all this conflicting information just makes it all worse. That's why I
am taking this new research as a cue to stop blaming myself, and to stop
listening to all the noise and babble about what the "correct"
treatment of PMDD is. While it's a good idea for anyone to reduce sugar intake,
exercise regularly, and investigate possible food sensitivities - these things
will make anyone feel better in general, but to continue to go in circles just
adds stress to what is already a stressful situation.
I hope this new research helps others to do the same. Yes,
it means we still suffer until they find a way to use the info to come up with
a therapy that targets the actual cause of the problem, as opposed to the
symptoms. However, at least those of us who are desperate and tired of trying
everything to no avail, can try to find some hope in knowing that they are
really working on it.
This is a disorder on a cellular level, and I am ready to
accept whatever treatments they come up with in order to get my life back. My
hope is that those of you who are very anti-pharma will try to trust, for a
while, and give yourself a break from feeling that the only one who can correct
the problem is you.
This puts so much undo pressure on us, and also nurtures an
environment of pessimism and fear. We deserve to feel better! This problem is
not caused by us. This is not a matter of poor diet or lifestyle choices, or a
hormonal imbalance. All we can do right now is cope as best we can, and we're
all doing that.
We're here to support one another, and I feel that we should
all encourage one another to stay open to the possibilities as the research
advances. Please, I implore you to keep trying new therapies until you are
finally free of this awful disease. If you want to take anti-depressants in the
meantime because they help, great! If you want to take birth control, or stay
100% natural in your efforts to get through and lessen the severity of your
symptoms - also great!
However, please don't let the way this disease makes you
feel hopeless and useless allow others to tell you exactly how to approach your
own health. Don't let the fear and skepticism of others stop you from trying a
drug that has been specifically developed to treat this issue in the future.
They ARE working on it.
Have faith! ~ES
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