Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)Everyone experiences unhappiness during their life, whether it's a specific situation or not. It becomes more serious when the cause is some form of “depression”. It is a fact that women suffer from depression about twice as often as men (1). These women-specific causes can be complex, as can the solutions (3). A common syndrome affecting approximately 3-8% of women of reproductive age is called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) (4). PMDD is specifically known as a mood disorder characterized by severe depression, irritability, and tension whose symptoms worsen about a week before a woman's period and usually settle in afterward (5) . PMDD can be devastating in all areas of a woman's daily life, including family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or go to school (3). Many people still believe that the emotional symptoms caused by PMDD are not real and that a woman should be able to get rid of the symptoms if only she tried hard enough. Because of these inaccurate beliefs, women suffering from this depression may not recognize that they have a treatable disorder or be discouraged from seeking or continuing treatment. Often, women's concerns about their condition are not taken seriously, leading to feelings of doubt, frustration, and hopelessness (6). Feeling sad or stressed during a menstrual period does not necessarily mean that a woman has PMDD. This is a common assumption among women who are confused about their emotional state. As a woman suffering from monthly PMS, I can admit that PMDD has become questionable in my mind. There have been many times when I have suffered from constant fatigue... middle of paper ... suffering so that women can continue to live prosperous and fulfilling lives without the burden of the horrible symptoms of PMDD. Sources 1) You know? Depression, http://www.depression-net.com/dep.html2) Information and treatment of depression, http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/index.html3) Women and depressive episodes, http:// www. .womens-health.com/health_center/mental/depress_pms.html4) Recognize the range of mood disorders in women, http://mentalhelp.net/articles/women.htm5) Health tips for women, http://health.indiahit.com/6) Quick self-test, http://www.womens-health.com/health_center/mental/depress_pms.html7) PMDD symptoms and treatment, http://my.webmd .com/content/article/39/1663_525578) Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web2/www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010221/msgs/55293.html