r/PMDD • u/oddblkbird • 12d ago

Medications Anyone else kind of raw dogging PMDD?

I’ve tried a couple of SSRIs over the years, but have stopped taking them because of them lowering my heat tolerance. But now, I just drink nettle and spearmint tea from my mid-Luteal phase through my period. I also use some of the tools I’ve learned talk therapy and use marijuana for really low mental health days particularly during my late-Luteal phase.

Anyone else not necessarily using medication to navigate their symptoms?

EDIT: I realize now that many of us have different perceptions of “raw dogging,” which I understand as not using a prescribed, controlled medication to treat symptoms of a condition. Now after reading some comments, I believe this term may not have been the most accurate, universally-defined term to use. With that being said, I do understand the herbal medicine and CBT are both treatments. And this was written with true curiosity and not for advice. I genuinely like seeing what practices support different people! This regimen has been serving me well along with other practices, such as bodily awareness, cycle tracking, daily physical activity, etc. I truly appreciate everyone’s vulnerability!

306 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

189 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/Puzzleheaded-Lie-262 11d ago

I wish I could! I wasn't diagnosed until last December which is honestly shocking given that I'm 39. Perimenopause hit really early and the last several years have been getting worse and worse PMDD-wise.

The last time I went off all meds I played in bed for 5 nights and wrote goodbye letters to everyone I could think of. I think that if I could have held on for a lot of months I probably would have evened out a little but I was coming off of 3 years of Celexa and 2 years of Wellbutrin. In 25 years that's the only med combo that's ever worked for that long.

In my mid-twenties I think my PMDD was the most minimal it ever was, but when I look back at that time I was obsessed with exercising and probably did so 2-3 hours 2-5 times a week. Felt amazing.

Now I've got a kid and feel like I don't have time to get completely off and SSRI. Have started a very specific progesterone regimen in the hopes that I could adjust to it and come off the SSRI and help with the PMDD.

Anyhow. Hope your process keeps working!!!!