Marianne Barry, a 29-year-old woman from Cardiff, struggles with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which affects about 8% of women yet is often misdiagnosed for years. Despite wanting a child, she grapples with the detrimental impact of PMDD, which necessitates daily contraceptive use that alleviates her symptoms. After a painful eight-year journey to diagnosis, Marianne's experience sheds light on the condition's debilitating nature, prompting calls for improved awareness and treatment options by the Welsh government. Symptoms include extreme anxiety and depressive episodes, significantly affecting her quality of life.
"I want to have a child, but I also want to be sane," said Marianne, illustrating the conflicting desires faced by women with PMDD.
Marianne spent eight years seeking a diagnosis, highlighting the long wait for women with PMDD and the overwhelming symptoms they endure.
The NHS states symptoms of PMDD, which include severe anxiety and depressive episodes, can significantly disrupt everyday life.
"You almost feel like you've made it up because you have this really bad low and then everything seems to start getting better again," Marianne reflects on PMDD.
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