Vicky Pattison “cried” when she was diagnosed with PMDD.
Vicky Pattison got emotional being told she had PMDD
The 35-year-old reality star was emotional after being “heard in a medical setting’ about the debilitating mental anguish caused by Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder - which includes mood swings and a lack of energy - she goes through during her menstrual cycle before her period.
She wrote on her Instagram: “It's like my brain hates me - I am depressed, despondent, hopeless have no interest in things that usually bring me so much joy, and trying to not only deal with that but hide it all from everyone has left me exhausted and overwhelmed”
This week I decided enough was enough and went private and told myself I wouldn't be dismissed. 'When the doctor said to me 'it sounds like you have PMDD' I cried.
'I cried because I felt f****** heard in a medical setting for the first time in years and also I cried because hopefully now I can start trying to manage this rather than just 'get on with it'- like I feel like women are expected to.
The 'Geordie Shore' legend also went into great detail about the impact the condition had had on her “whole adult life” and how she is excited to move forward with her life like her upcoming wedding to her fiancee Ercan Ramadan, 39.
She added: “I have struggled with my periods my whole adult life - but over the last five years or so my PMS symptoms have been completely out of control - it has affected my relationships, my work my quality of life.
“At times, it made me feel like I was going insane - I just do not recognise myself for 2 weeks of the month ever so gradually - that time frame is becoming longer - and sometimes, when I'm proper in the midst of this and totally consumed by my own dark thoughts I convince myself that I'm never going to get better, that these feelings and thoughts aren't temporary. That this is who I am now. And that terrifies me."
The former 'Loose Women' panellist went on to add that she had spoken to doctors about her concerns "for years" and was simply made to feel "hysterical" but thanked her family and friends for their support.
“For years I have been to see doctors and spoke at length about my concerns and in best case scenarios I was pacified- repeatedly told: 'let's take out your implant', 'periods do get worse as women get older', 'that will be your cyst' etc.
“In worst case scenarios I was made to feel like I was hysterical and unable to deal with the physical and mental ramifications of a period like every other woman could. I was made to feel weak.
“And I felt embarrassed that I was making a fuss when everyone else seemed to be ok. So I would leave and I vow to take it on the chin.
“But the last couple of months have made me realise I can't go on like this - I'm getting married to the most amazing man, I have the best family and friends and a job I love - and yet I still spend half the month lost.”
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