Scots woman's 'life-saving' diagnosis after mum heard symptoms while watching daytime TV

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An Edinburgh woman has shared her struggle to get a diagnosis for a rare medical condition after suffering from severe mental health symptoms for twelve years.Stephanie Gray, who lives in the Gyle area, claims she was 'ignored and mistreated' by healthcare professionals when she experienced severe depression and suicidal thoughts during her period cycle.The 30-year-old bravely spoke about her battle and how the symptoms became so unbearable that she attempted to take her own life while studying nursing in Dundee in 2013.However, it was through a chance circumstance that her mum, Loraine, learned about the condition, called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), while watching Loose Women and recognised that her daughter suffered from symptoms linked to the condition.

Symptoms of PMDD can be both physical and mental, with many women experiencing cramps, headaches, and joint and muscle pain, reports Edinburgh Live.

Sufferers can also experience behavioural issues such as binge eating, problems sleeping, as well as mental and emotional symptoms, such as feeling very anxious, angry, depressed or, in some cases, even suicidal.After Loraine fought hard for her daughter, Stephanie was eventually given a diagnosis - but this came after years of being treated like a 'hysterical woman '.Stephanie is telling her story to help other women stand up against the unfair treatment they can get from doctors in the UK and to let people know about her condition."Since my teens I've always struggled with mental health," she shared. "I never really addressed anything until I first went to uni in Dundee in 2013 as I had a bit of an emotional breakdown there."Unfortunately I attempted suicide while at university.