A while back I added Redefining Life to the title.

Why did I do this?  Simple.  I want to help Women change the way they look at living with PMDD.  Really, to change the way Women look at living with any invisible disorder.  What I mean by invisible is that friends, family and coworkers can’t ‘see’ PMDD.  It’s not like a broken bone, or a scratch on your face, it’s much worse because there isn’t anything physical to show outsiders to help them understand.

One thing is for sure, it is debilitating, painful, and downright horrible unless it’s managed.

Unfortunately, managing PMDD isn’t simple, you can’t pop a magic pill, you can’t sleep it off, and you sure as heck can’t just ignore it.

To redefine your life with PMDD, or any other disorder/syndrome, you must look at what triggers make you worse.  It can be foods, certain exercises, stress, lack of sleep, too much junk food or caffeine, you get the picture.

SO, hold on to your socks!  This site is no longer going to just talk about PMDD, though obviously that will still be a major part.  I am now going to be adding new info to this site now to help you redefine your life.

Foods and recipes that can help you relieve some of your pain (physically& emotionally).

Recipes! Yummy, my favorite.  I really do enjoy cooking, for my family and friends, but I see what certain foods do to me.  Yes, I had my hysterectomy in Feb. which relieved my PMDD symptoms, however, I  also have IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and I am lactose intolerant.  So, food still plays an important role in my life, or I pay the price.

In addition to recipes, I will display pics of the final meal and post which cookbooks I use and why.  All of my recipes will not be lactose-free, no one else in my family deals with this so a lot of times I will cook them something scrumptious that includes cheese or dairy products.

Exercises that won’t make you feel worse.  Keep an eye out for more videos by me and awesome one’s I find online that I have tried.

More parenting tips and tricks when dealing with PMDD

and so much more!

What are you doing right now to redefine your life?

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Check out this link to get more info on vitamins and supplements, explains why they are important, what they do for your body. It will help you figure out which one’s you need.

http://www.holisticonline.com/remedies/cfs/fib_nutrition.htm

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I think articles like this are incredible. Of course, because I’m a Mom, I love knowing that if my child calls stressed out from anything, a listening ear and a simple, “it will be okay” can help relax them.

Also, I think the more we learn about these sort of techniques, the less often pills will be passed out. As you all know, I took meds for my PMDD, I’m not against meds, I just don’t think they need to be used on children. Stress is a natural occurrence that every person is going to go through at some point in their lives. The more we learn to relax ourselves naturally, the better we will all be, and that does not have to include pills.

Enjoy! Let me know what you think…

Mom’s Voice Soothes Stress, Even by Phone
Study Shows a Mother’s Voice Can Reduce Stress Levels in Young Girls
By Bill Hendrick
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

May 13, 2010 — A kind word from mom by phone may be as good as a hug in calming the frayed nerves of frazzled daughters, a new study indicates.

In the study, which involved 61 girls aged 7 to 12, researchers say a mere phone call from their moms helped reduce the stress levels of the youngsters.

Led by biological anthropologist Leslie Seltzer, PhD, of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the research team set out to measure fluctuations of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as of the “comfort” or “cuddle” hormone oxytocin.

The girls, all volunteers, were suddenly placed in stressful situations. They were asked without warning to deliver a speech in front of a group of strangers, an exercise that can create stress in people of any age.

Then they were drilled with difficult math questions — also in front of an audience. As expected, cortisol levels, known to increase with stress, skyrocketed when measured in saliva soon after the stressful situation.

Seltzer and Seth Pollak, PhD, a psychology professor at University of Wisconsin, Madison, then divided the girls into three groups.

The mothers of one group were on hand to hug and offer physical comfort to their daughters. Other girls were handed a telephone, with mom on the line. A third group watched an emotionally neutral film called March of the Penguins.

Researchers say the calming effect on the girls who were comforted by a hug or physical touch was more immediate, but that the stress hormone levels also quickly dropped in those who received soothing words from their mothers by phone.

For the girls who watched the film, cortisol levels were still considerably above normal an hour after their stressful experiences. Similarly, levels of the “cuddle hormone” oxytocin went up in girls who were hugged as well as those who received comforting phone calls, though not quite as fast in those whose mothers were not physically present.

Oxytocin levels were flat or low in the girls who watched the movie. The hormone levels were tested in samples of urine collected at various times during the course of the experiment.

“It was [previously] understood that oxytocin release in the context of social bonding usually required physical contact,” Seltzer says in a news release. “But it’s clear from these results that a mother’s voice can have the same effect as a hug, even if she’s not standing there.”

The relief from anxiety lasts, Pollak says. “By the time the children go home, they’re still enjoying the benefits of this relief and their cortisol levels are still low,” he says in the news release.
Gender Differences in Reacting to Stress

The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B, and they square with a “tend and befriend” theory, explaining how stress regulation may differ between females and males.

Gender Differences in Reacting to Stress continued…

Males, when confronted with a threat, may be more likely to choose between fight or flight. But females with offspring in tow, or slowed by pregnancy, may have evolved to make different choices.

“You might not be able to run with a child or defend yourself without endangering both of you,” Seltzer says. She adds that it might make more sense for a female to create or use a social bond to deal with a stressor, either through touch or soothing communication.

“Apparently, this hormone oxytocin reduces stress in females after both types of contact, and in doing so may strengthen bonds between individuals,” Seltzer says.

Seltzer tells WebMD in an email that stress effects on boys were not addressed in this study, but experiments on young guys are under way. “The results aren’t all in, but yes, boys do look different. So do girls who interact with dad instead of mom.”

So would a hug from a dad, or a soothing phone call, do any good for children of either gender? “We just don’t know,” Pollak tells WebMD in an email. “But hormone systems between males and females may also be different. This was the very first study of its kind using the voice.”

Seltzer says her team “chose to focus on girls for this particular study because the hormone oxytocin, which we think helps regulate social behavior, is typically studied in females because of its role in maternal-infant attachment.”

She adds that “male children are equally interesting in their own right and will be the subjects of future work.”

In addition to reducing stress, oxytocin also may strengthen bonds between people, Seltzer says.

“For years,” Pollak says, “I’ve seen students leaving exams and the first thing they do is pull out their cell phone and make a call. I used to think, ‘How could those over-attentive, helicopter parents encourage that?’ But now? Maybe it’s a quick and dirty way to feel better.”

The fact that “a simple telephone call” could raise oxytocin levels “is really exciting,” he adds.

Seltzer is testing whether other methods of communication, such as text messaging, could have the same calming effect as a phone call or hug.

“On the one hand, we’re curious to see if this effect is unique to humans,” she says in the news release. “On the other, we’re hoping researchers who study vocal communication will consider looking at oxytocin release in other animals and applying it to broader questions of social behavior and evolutionary biology.”

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This has been something I have gone back and forth with for a while, but now Ning is going to start charging, so the decision was made easier.

The Ning Women’s Only forum will be dissolved. I mentioned before that they are going to start charging for me to keep it and I didn’t have enough responses from Women wanting to pay $2.95/mth to keep it.

If, and I hope you will, would like to stay involved with all of us in a discussion setting, you can go to our PMDD FB Forum and join for free.

This page currently has 381 fans so it is current and has a lot of activity.

If you already started the paypal payment plan for the ning forum, I will be sending you your $2.95 back (there were 2 of you).

I apologize for the inconvenience, but currently paying $19.95/month just isn’t feasible.

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I told you all I was going to start putting a lot of focus on diet and exercise.  I came across this great little video (very quick) of a few ab exercises you can do from home.

I’m all for, fast exercises that do the trick, so I thought I would share.

If you are having a lot of back pain during your 2 wk hell time this may bother you some, however, if you can do a little and more during your good times, you will benefit.

Watch the video.

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Hey guys.

I have my computer set up so that whenever anything regarding PMDD/PMS goes around on the Internet it lets me know.  I can keep up with the ‘latest and greatest’ if you will on research and studies.

What I have come across this past week are a couple of sites on PMDD, they ask questions that sound very general and laid back.  One question I am seeing a lot is, “any other Women have PMDD, please answer these questions.”  It makes it look as though they may have PMDD and just need help.  Most of you are like me and want to spread the word and help, however, when I look deeper into the sites for a contact, stories, etc… I find nothing.

So, just keep in mind not all sites are created equal.  Make sure you know who you are sharing your story with and what they will be doing with it.

Stef, PMDD Advocate & Coach

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I know I harp on everyone about how important exercise is in addition to getting good sleep, taking your vitamins, living a stress free life, and more.

Believe me, having 4 kids makes it difficult for me to keep up with it all too, especially the sleep. :) So, when I’m screaming it from the rooftops at you, it’s a reminder to me too.

PMDD is not a disorder that you can just pop a pill and instantly you’re cured. As a matter of fact, as most of you already know, there isn’t a cure. This is why I am constantly sharing how important it is to take care of yourself. All we can do is learn how to manage PMDD, and even if you have surgery like I did to alleviate PMDD, you are still going to most likely take HRT (hormone replacement). This still means healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle are going to play a huge role in your life.

Example: when your body isn’t making estrogen it’s important to do some sort of strength training in addition to your cardio. You need to keep your bones strong to prevent bone loss and osteoporosis.

I found an article here that discusses why Energy & Weight Loss go together and how to optimize both.  I don’t know about you, but I’m always looking for healthy ways to get more energy (without caffeine craziness) and with summertime weather here, ways to lose weight and tone up.

Jayson over at Prograde Nutrition states:

Your level of energy every day is determined by how much ATP your mitochondria create so that the proper enzymes can be activated to make our bodies move and function properly.  This can effect your healthy weight loss since you may not have the energy to commit 100% to your exercise for calorie burning workouts.

Continue reading here

Stay tuned for more articles, tips and tricks – I’m learning to exercise more, eat right (w/o getting bored w/ recipes) and take care of myself right along with you.

Stef Prose, PMDD Advocate & Coach

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While there aren’t any books on PMDD and exercise, I was catching up over at fibrohaven.com, they were talking about a Yoga for Fibromyalgia book.

For anyone that doesn’t know what fibromyalgia is, here is the wiki definition:

“is a medical disorder characterized by chronic widespread pain and allodynia, a heightened and painful response to pressure.^[1] Fibromyalgia symptoms are not restricted to pain, leading to the use of the alternative term fibromyalgia syndrome for the condition. Other core symptoms include debilitating fatigue, sleep disturbance, and joint stiffness. Some patients^[2] may also report difficulty with swallowing,^[3] bowel and bladder abnormalities,^[4] numbness and tingling,^[5] and cognitive dysfunction.^[6] Fibromyalgia is frequently comorbid with psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety and stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder.^[7][8] Not all people with fibromyalgia experience all associated symptoms.^[9] Fibromyalgia is estimated to affect 2-4% of the population,^[7] with a female to male incidence ratio of approximately 9:1.^[10]“

Yes, PMDD and fibromyalgia are so different, however, there are a couple of things that are similiar and stop us from exercising.  Exhaustion, depression & pain.  So, for anyone struggling with working in an exercise routine during their 1-2 week hell time, or for that matter- any time, this type of yoga for fibromyalgia would be perfect.

Fibrohaven has broken down the book into different categories and explains why it is excellent for anyone with fibromyalgia.  Check it out, I think you will agree that this would also be an incredible book & workout program for any Woman living w/ PMDD.

Read about yoga for Fibromyalgia here.

You can find the book here, along w/ a couple of others.

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I am still offering PMDD Companion Services for anyone that is interested.

My goal is to support you and encourage healthier behaviors during your 1-2 week PMDD ‘hell’ times. To work with you, putting into action necessary tools & techniques to live happier and healthier, even with your PMDD. Work through problems as they occur so that you can learn to do it on your own, not depend on others, including me.

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OK ladies,

As I said above, I am stepping up the game here at Redefining Life w/ PMDD Network~! I am adding an accountability section, and YES! I expect everyone to participate. :)
You will benefit from this if you do, I promise.

I have said it over and over again, you can NOT just pop some magic pill to cure PMDD, there isn’t a pill and there isn’t a ‘cure’ though some have had incredible results from a hysterectomy, others not so much.

You MUST take care of yourself and while it may not seem ‘fair’, it is what it is.  We need exercise daily, if not daily then start with 3x/week, adequate amount of sleep, healthy diet, vitamins & for some medication.

I am adding a daily and a weekly accountability section, under the healthier living category.  If it’s too hard for you to remember what you did, how long and when, print a calendar and mark it.

Goal: Workout at least 3x/week, post what you did (no matter how small), how long you did the activity, and when.

I WILL be keeping a printed chart of this to make it easier for me to keep up with all of you, individually.  I mean business here, ladies. :)

Again, doesn’t matter how big or small the physical activity is, it’s about getting up off that couch and doing it.  I will also be posting ideas for anyone that needs a little help along the way.

C’mon ladies, let’s give that PMDD a punch in the face!

Reply to this if you plan on joining in the fun!

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