Having PMDD is no laughing matter, even though others may not take it seriously. In an article in Journal of the American Medical Association (1999;281:368-374) one woman said, "I'm tired of these [PMS] jokes, too, because if you live in my body, it's not a pleasant thing to have to go through every single month where you feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I don't find it really amusing. It's like making fun of someone who has crutches or is in a wheelchair. I wish people were more sympathetic. It's a valid problem that needs attention."
Remember, the symptoms of PMDD are not trivial. Symptoms tend to be described in terms of "markedly depressed mood," "marked anxiety, tension," and "persistent and marked anger or irritability" [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, 1994, p. 717]. Not only that, but PMDD may interfere greatly with performance at work or school, may cause absenteeism, and may strain and disrupt relationships with family and friends.
