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Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS. PMDD can cause depression, anxiety and other physical and mental health symptoms during the two weeks leading up to your period. These symptoms can be so extreme that they get in the way of your daily life, like work, school, or your relationships. PMDD symptoms usually go away once your period starts, or a day or two after.​

What causes PMDD?​

It’s not yet known what exactly causes PMDD, but scientists think it’s connected to the hormonal changes that happen during your menstrual cycle and a chemical in your brain that affects mood called serotonin.​

What are the symptoms of PMDD?​

The symptoms are worse than those of PMS, causing big problems in your daily life. If you have any of the following symptoms, and they consistently happen to you in the week or two leading up to your period (or become a lot worse then), talk with your doctor about PMDD.​

Symptoms of PMDD include:​

  • Depression
  • Nervousness or anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Feeling very tired
  • Not being able to sleep
  • Trouble staying focused
  • Breast tenderness
  • Headaches
  • Cramps
  • Joint pain
  • Bloating
  • Food cravings​

How is PMS/PMDD treated?​

If you think you have PMDD visit your doctor for a blood test or other tests or exams to rule out other causes of your symptoms. They may also ask you questions about any history with anxiety or depression you might have had in the past.​

There is no one PMDD/PMS treatment or medication that works for everyone. Your options may include:​

  • Reading the Quran and other books.
  • Eating natural remedies like honey and dried fruits to re-energise you and help the brain regain energy.
  • Eating talbeenah – made with barley flour, water and milk to soothe the heart, take away grief and cleanse your stomach. 
  • Over-the-counter pain medicine (like ibuprofen or aspirin).
  • Diet changes and regular exercise.​

Dhikr and dua are one of the great remedies that will get rid of the thoughts going through your mind and the things your heart is grieving over.

These are three narrated dua’s from the Prophet (PBUH):​

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

Allaahumma ‘innee ‘a’oothu bika minal-hammi walhazani, wal’ajzi walkasali, walbukhli waljubni, wa dhala’id-dayni wa ghalabatir-rijaal

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from grief and sadness, from weakness and from laziness, from miserliness and from cowardice, from being overcome by debt and overpowered by men (i.e. others).​

للّهُـمَّ إِنِّي عَبْـدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْـدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِـكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَـدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُـكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّـيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أِوْ أَنْزَلْتَـهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْـتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِـكَ أَوِ اسْتَـأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْـبِ عِنْـدَكَ أَنْ تَجْـعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيـعَ قَلْبِـي، وَنورَ صَـدْرِي وجَلَاءَ حُـزْنِي وذَهَابَ هَمِّـي

Allaahumma ‘innee ‘abduka, ibnu ‘abdika, ibnu ‘amatika, naasiyatee biyadika, maadhin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadhaa’uka, ‘as’aluka bikulli ismin huwa laka, sammayta bihi nafsaka, ‘aw ‘anzaltahu fee kitaabika, ‘aw ‘allamtahu ‘ahadan min khalqika, ‘awista’tharta bihi fee ‘ilmil-ghaybi ‘indaka, ‘an taj’alal-Qur’aana rabee’a qalbee, wa noora sadree, wa jalaa’a huznee, wa thahaaba hammee.

O Allah, I am Your slave and the son of Your male slave and the son of your female slave. My forehead is in Your Hand ( you have control over me). I am subject to Your decree, and Your decision upon me is justice itself. I ask You by every name that is Yours by which You have named Yourself, or which You revealed in Your Book,or which You have taught any one of Your creation, or which You have kept to Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the removal of my sorrow and the departure of my worries.”​

لا إلهَ إلا أنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظّالِمِيْنَ

Laa ilaaha illa Anta, subhaanaka inni kuntu min al-zaalimeen​

None has the right to be worshipped but You (O Allaah), Glorified (and Exalted) be You (above all that (evil) they associate with You).​

If you reach a stage where those ill thoughts are not going away anymore and it is a constant mental battle, hasten to treat the problem with ruqyah as prescribed in shariah. You should also consider seeking psychological help but be mindful of side effects from some of the drugs they prescribe. Do some research on the drugs they suggest – studies suggest people can’t cope without antidepressants once they start taking them.