Coping with Chronic Illness
- Love Island Australia host Sophie Monk, 44, says she suffered nearly two decades from a chronic condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) before receiving a diagnosis in 2018, one that took over 20 trips to the hospital to figure out.
- The menstrual condition – which, according to Johns Hopkins, is essentially a severe case of premenstrual syndrome (commonly known as PMS) – is a painful condition that can significantly alter your quality of life with symptoms such as panic attacks, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, cramps, bloating, breast tenderness, joint or muscle pain and difficulty concentrating.
- Since there are often mental health issues that accompany the physical symptoms from PMDD, a doctor may suggest a mental health evaluation. Recording your symptoms in a notebook or in your phone is always a good idea to track the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
- There are different treatment approaches that can help manage and alleviate symptoms, such as changes to your diet, regular exercise and stress management, such as meditation and relaxation. Speak with a healthcare professional to determine what might work best for your lifestyle.
In a recent interview with the Australian news site Now to Love, Monk discussed her private struggle and how she came to learn about what she was dealing with.
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“I’ve thrown myself out of the hospital, gone to work and not told anyone,” she said of privately powering through one of her many medical visits. “Growing up, I just assumed everyone had the same thing. I didn’t realize their pain was far less than mine. Women kind of just put up with it, don’t they?”
Not wanting other women to suffer in silence, Monk wants to raising awareness about these challenging conditions that many assume are normal, as she once did.
The reality star also wants to make sure people in similar situations are getting second opinions (or third, or fourth, or however many it takes, as we like to stress here at SurvivorNet).
RELATED: Learning About Premenstrual Dysmorphic Disorder (PMDD)
As for how she enjoys her personal life as a whole, Monk, who also formerly hosted Beauty and the Geek Australia, said she is a “hardcore gamer,” and despite her seemingly glamorous occupation, actually prefers cozy nights at home on the couch wearing “tracksuit pants” with her husband, Josh, a marketing executive and fellow Aussie.
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The couple, who married in 2022 after a chance meeting on an airplane the same year as her diagnosis, resides on the central coast of New South Wales.
“We love sitting on the couch playing The X-Files or Call of Duty, ordering in food, watching reality shows… Oh, and we love true crime!”
Unfortunately, Monk still suffers from symptoms but she now knows the timing and how to combat them. She wants to continue spreading the word about menstrual disorders, and says she has already inspired women to look into their own diagnoses.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health, PMDD affects up to 5% of women in their childbearing years and most women living with PMDD may experience depression or anxiety. Additionally, what causes PMDD or PMS is unknown, however, hormonal changes due to the menstrual cycle and serotonin levels in the brain may contribute to the health issue.
“PMDD causes severe irritability, depression, or anxiety in the week or two before your period starts,” the Office on Women’s Health explains. “Symptoms usually go away two to three days after your period starts. You may need medicine or other treatment to help with your symptoms.”
Symptoms of PMDD may include:
- Lasting irritability or anger
- Feelings of sadness or suicidal thoughts
- Feelings of anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Mood swings
- Lack of interest in daily activities and relationships
- Difficulty thinking or focusing
- Tiredness or low energy
- Food cravings
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cramps
- Bloating
- Breast tenderness
- Headaches
- Joint or muscle pain
Diagnosing PMDD
According to Johns Hopkins, “aside from a health history and physical and pelvic exam, there are very few diagnostic tests.”
Since there are often mental health issues that accompany the physical symptoms from PMDD, a doctor may suggest a mental health evaluation.
Recording your symptoms in a notebook or in your phone is always a good idea to track the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
“Over the course of a year, during most menstrual cycles, you must have 5 or more symptoms that have been present during the week before your period and stopping within a few days after your period starts,” Johns Hopkins notes.
Additionally, “Symptoms must be linked to significant distress. Or they must your ability to function in social, work, or other situations. Symptoms are not related to or made worse by another health condition.”
Treating PMDD
To reiterate, PMDD is a chronic, and often serious, condition. There are different treatment approaches that can help manage and alleviate symptoms, such as:
- Changes to your diet, increasing carbs and protein and decreasing caffeine, salt, sugar and alcohol
- Regular exercise
- Vitamin supplements, such as vitamin B-6, calcium and magnesium
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
- Birth control pills
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which alter serotonin levels in the brain
- Stress management, such as meditation and relaxation
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Unfortunately for some, the severity in symptoms can continue increasing up until menopause. It’s important to figure out a treatment plan with your doctor that works best for you and your lifestyle.
Body Image & Self-Acceptance
Many women dealing with chronic health issues like PMDD may struggle with body image issues.
It’s important to know that you are not alone. Consider joining a health forum or group, talk to a doctor or consult with a mental health professional or patient advocate to help you navigate through any bothersome symptoms you may be having, such as hair loss or changes to the skin.
Know that many of these changes are only temporary, and some can be managed with lifestyle changes.
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Dr. Marianna Strongin, a New York-based licensed clinical psychologist, says spending time in front of the mirror can help with body image.
Although “research has found that when looking in the mirror we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with” which can cause “a negative self-view and lower self- esteem,” it’s important to look at the parts of your body that you love and the parts of your body that you don’t.
Eventually, Dr. Strongin says, doing so can help you create a more accepting relationship with yourself.
“Body image is both the mental picture that you have of your body and the way you feel about your body when you look in a mirror,” she said.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you’re experiencing physical changes during your health journey, you might want to consider asking your doctor these questions:
- What exactly is causing these changes happening to my body?
- Are there ways to manage or minimize these changes?
- I’m struggling to cope with the changes to my body. Is there someone I can talk to about it?
- Is there a social worker here who can help connect me with a therapist?
- What resources are available to help me find a local support group?
Contributing by SurvivorNet staff.
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