What should you know about premenstrual depression symptoms?

The pattern may include sadness, tearfulness, hopeless thoughts, reduced enjoyment, feeling anxious, irritability, fatigue, daytime sleepiness, sleep changes or difficulty concentrating. Symptoms can affect work, study and close relationships. A symptom diary recording mood, sleep and bleeding across several cycles can show whether symptoms reliably start in the premenstrual phase and ease after menstruation begins. Depression can occur independently of the cycle, so symptoms that continue throughout the month deserve assessment.

Keep regular sleep and wake times, eat consistently, use gentle physical activity and reduce alcohol if it worsens mood or sleep. Write down symptoms and their effect on daily life rather than relying on memory. A clinician can review the pattern, current medicines, contraception, thyroid or other health concerns, and discuss therapy or treatment options suited to pregnancy plans and personal circumstances. Support from a trusted person can make it easier to notice worsening mood.

Arrange medical care when symptoms disrupt daily activities, recur across cycles, or do not improve after the period starts. Seek urgent help now for thoughts of self-harm, suicide, harming someone else, or feeling unable to stay safe; contact local emergency services or a crisis service and stay with a trusted person.

Could my symptom diary fit a premenstrual pattern? What other causes should we check? Which treatments are compatible with my medicines, contraception or pregnancy plans? What should I do if my mood becomes unsafe?