What It’s Like To Have PMDD w/ Emma Hardy
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
This is a Triple J podcast.
Being that like actually I was in a good bubbly mood most of the month was actually so surprising because it feels so overwhelming.
Hi, Dee with you for the Hookup Podcast. And if you're new and if you've never heard of us before, welcome. And this is where we talk about all things love, sex, dating, and relationships. We have two episodes a week, one on Tuesdays with Poop and I, where we hear from you. And then on Thursdays, I like to delve a bit deeper into a topic, either with an expert or chat to someone about their story. And a couple of years ago, I did an episode on PMDD. which is premenstrual dysphoric disorder with Dr. Theresa Larkin, who is a professor from the University of Wollongong. And we basically did a everything you need to know about PMDD. So just quickly, PMDD is something that impacts people who menstruate.
It's similar to PMS, but a lot worse and an actual diagnosable medical condition. Some of the symptoms are depression, anxiety, anger, crying, paranoia, sleep problems, headaches, breasts, tenderness, acne, nausea, muscle pain, food cravings. And to be properly diagnosed with PMDD, you have to have at least five symptoms that start seven to 10 days before you get your period. And then those symptoms have to go away after you start bleeding. And for a lot of people, it can be one of the most debilitating conditions and fully fuck with your relationships, your work and your everyday life. And for some, you know, they can even become suicidal. So this is a bit of a heads up that we are going to be talking about that in this episode.
And like I said, in that ep with Teresa, we basically looked at it through like a medical lens, right? But we have never actually heard from someone on the hookup who actually experiences PMDD. So in this episode, you're going to hear from a new author called Emma Hardy. She's just released her debut book, Periodic Bitch. I love the title, which is all about her journey of experiencing PMDD, getting diagnosed, and the impact that it's had on her life, her career, and her relationships. It's such an incredible book. It's so well written. And, you know, it's not even just her story. She explores a lot of the myths and taboos that surround menstruation, as well as a lot of the history of quote unquote hysterical illnesses and the stories that we tell about women with conditions like PMDD.
So let's get into it. Emma, thank you so much for coming into the studio.
Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here.
Now, before we do chat about your experience, how would you explain PMDD?
So, I mean, like the offhand way that I usually talk about PMDD, which no doctor would particularly like, is I describe it as being like extreme PMS, because that's the language that most people have to talk about premenstrual illness. But the reality is, is that it's like PMS, but debilitating. So
What is PMDD and how does it differ from PMS?
affects like quite a few people it's very under it's very under diagnosed so like I when I was researching the book I found that's between like three and ten percent of people which is like who menstruate which is a big gap of people but it's like extreme irritability before your period in like the seven to ten days before your period before menstruation extreme irritability you have suicidal ideation often and you're unable to work and interpersonal conflicts with friends, families, partners. That's kind of like the big DSM criteria for it. For me, I just felt like I was crazy. It felt like I was out of control. It feels like I can't trust myself. And it feels like I might do something insane at any moment and to be unable to stop myself.
So like the feelings that I have before PMDD is this like kind of building of tension. And then afterwards, I like, I'm almost fearful of what I could have done to myself or other people.
And so when did you realize that this was something that was related to your menstrual cycle? Because, you know, for a lot of people and even just like, you know, people who experience PMS might just be like, oh, I just assume I'm like a moody person.
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