Women are four times likely to suffer from depression than men. While men are 50% as likely than women to seek treatment. As a result, women can suffer from depression or from being the caretaker for their husband or partner. And the whole family suffers.
As a male, I am not an expert on womens’ issues. I do know that depression is a “stealth” disease that can be debilitating and sometimes fatal-suicide. Rather than seek treatment men turn to alcohol and drugs. Women then become the “caretakers.” Depression crosses all genders, ethnic groups and economic classes.
This is my limited understanding of what women go through during PMS; You are very irritable and screaming at your children for days; you just burst into tears again and told your husband he’s never understood you anyway. No one at home or work can do anything right.
The dozens of little things you juggle without much thought every day seem so overwhelming you’ve simply not done them. You even tried to play tennis to relax, but most of your shots were off target. Your back hurts; your breasts are tender; it seems like you spend four or five days a month feeling like this. Could this be premenstrual syndrome (PMS)? Or maybe it is clinical depression?
More than 100 different physical and psychological symptoms have been associated with PMS. Bloating, abdominal pain, decreased coordination, breast tenderness, headache, back, joint, and muscle pains, oversleeping or insomnia, change in appetite, and food cravings are common physical complaints. Irritability, anxiety, wanting to be alone, decreased interest in usual activities, mood swings, depression, loss of interest in sex, extreme lack of energy and difficulty concentrating are frequent psychological components of PMS.
I have learned that severe PMS (now called premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD) has a biological basis. We know hormones have effects on neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) like serotonin and noradrenalin, and a variety of serotonin abnormalities have been found throughout the menstrual cycle in women with PMS. Antidepressants that affect serotonin, like Prozac and Zoloft (SSRIs), have been effective for more than 70 percent of women with PMDD. Newer strategies that use these medications during only part of the menstrual cycle are now being employed for some women.
When antidepressants are used to treat depression, it may take three or four weeks before they are effective. Many antidepressants don’t work for women or simply stop working, i.e. “prozac poop out”. In PMDD the positive effect is almost immediate. This means some women can take the medication starting a day or two before their symptoms typically begin and stop it once menstruation has begun.
What about hormonal treatments for PMS? Medications like leuprolide that turn off ovulation are effective but have more side effects and carry the potential for long-term risks like osteoporosis. Progesterone and oral contraceptives had been widely used for PMS, but many studies have now shown high dose estrogen and progestin contraceptives are not effective. In fact, some studies have demonstrated these oral contraceptives worsened depressive symptoms in some women.
Developing new coping strategies — such as enlisting the support of your family, and trying to limit over scheduling yourself on the days when your symptoms are likely to be at their worst — can be extremely helpful. Some popular treatments like vitamin B-6, evening primrose oil and thyroid hormone have generally not been found to be helpful.
However, many strategies and antidepressants don’t work in the long term. The FDA has approved the only long term treatment option for depression; vagus nerve stimulation. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy involves a ninety-minute out-patient procedure. IT is NOT related to shock treatments or ECT. Vagus nerve stimulation changed my life completely from one of utter despair to genuine happiness and joy. There is no article long enough to express my gratitude for this remarkable therapy.
You can learn learn more about vagus nerve stimulation by visiting http://www.OutoftheBlackHole.com There is a free newsletter to keep you up-to-date on this FDA approved medical breakthrough.
Charles Donovan was a patient in the FDA investigational trial of vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment for chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant depression. He was implanted with the vagus nerve stimulator in April of 2001. He chronicles his journey from the grips of depression thanks to vagus nerve stimulation therapy in his book:
Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression
His all inclusive book prepares depression sufferers to make an informed decision about this ninety-minute out-patient procedure. It is a “must read” before you discuss this treatment with your psychiatrist. A prescription for the procedure is required from an M.D. and it is covered by most insurance plans.
He is the founder of the http://www.VagusNerveStimulation.com Web Site and Bulletin.