Can anyone tell me something about menstrual psychosis or bi-polar disorder exacerbated by menses?

[Tami323]

I am a female and I know all about menstrual symptoms (both mild and severe) but I am at a total loss with this one. My girlfriend turns into a crazy person when she gets her period. I dont mean "regular" crazy, I mean clinically deranged. She becomes highly irrational, paranoid, aggressive, accusitory, and deluded. She hears things all wrong and runs with it. She says things that couldnt be further from the truth and fully believes it. she twists my words. She bullies me. She thinks she is totally right when she is so far from rational I am a little frightened. She makes things up and when I try to defend myself or explain how she is miscontruing the situation she screams and wont let me talk. She reduces me to tears and acts as though I was abusive, then she locks herself in the bedroom. Hours later (or the next day) she acts normal until I say something else (no matter how benign) to set her off (it could be "pass the salt") I can do or say NOTHING right. It is important to mention that this doesnt happen every month. (but often enough) There is also a bit of mental illness in her family (i think her mom is an undiagnosed manic-depressive or bi-polar.) I am not a Doctor, and there are so many illnesses out there I couldnt possibly find the right web pages. So I am begging ANY of you who know ANYTHING about this to PLEASE reply. My relationship and sanity depend on it!! thank you for your time!! (P.S. this is almost always accompanied by her period

[manicmary]

I am BP and before mood stabilizer had terrible mood swings before my period.  Ths is one of the reasons I was really glad to find this site and their mood tracker.  I use it everyday (almost) and have found the written documentation to be a great tool for me.  If you can suggested to your partner (or you could track it for her) that she use the mood tracker for a few months you might find it helpful.

I am sure she does not mean to treat you the way she does, but you do really need to take care of your needs first than hers.

[LeftCoastChick]

Hi there! When she isn't in her paranoid state,does she have any depression, anxiety or manic/hypomanic mood swings?

If she really isn't willing to get help, you must consider your needs, you can become co-dependant.I have a friend who had to finally leave the relationship because her partner wasn't willing to get help. She is responsible to do that.  

She may need immediate help, call the police, get an ambulance, she needs help in that state, there is nothing you can do. Hormones can do a bit, but it sounds like it's much much more then that.  I get really bad mood swings, but I have never had psychosis or delusions, that's off the chart.  Most police depts have special police units for interventions if you feel you are at risk or she is.

My pdoc and therapist walked me through to set up a binder of what to do if I'm unable to take care and/or make healthy decisions. I put down which hospital, what treatments are okay and not, I can't be put in isolation in any way, things like that. Has she not had a clinical diagnosis? It might not be BP, but sounds like a possibility. You both need to get some help,. so she and your relationship is healthy. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but being direct I think is very important in your situation.

Please take care, and I hope things smooth out. LCC

[jst4shanell]

I am Bipolar 1 and I actually suffered from this same thing.  I would also hear and see things as well.  I guess you could call it menstrual psychosis.  I was also unbelievably paranoid to the point of thinking my clients at work were out to get me.  This happened every month.  I finally broke down and went to my gynocologist and was prescribed birth control that I take all month long.  I skip the placebo's.  It has made life so much easier.  Now, I started taking the birth control before I started taking medication again for the BP.  So i'm not sure if it was hormones or the BP and hormones combined.  I'm not sure but I do know that my periods weren't always like that.  It just slowly started getting worse and worse over at least a 10 year span.  Anyways, the birthcontrol all month long and the lack of periods has been a godsend for me.  Maybe you can convince her to give it a try.  What's not better than not getting your period.

[horselover65]

I'm sorry you're going through this. My psychiatrist told me that it was rare that a bipolar person would have moods solely linked with her cycles, but possible. Mine tend to get worse and whether it is from bipolar or something separate is yet to be determined.

Good advice from bulldozer!

I would only add that perhaps her family history is making her afraid to address this. She may feel better about herself if she stays in denial. I hope she will get help soon, but it could take some convincing. Good luck!

[bernie40]

Welcome to the site.

Has your girlfriend been diagnosed with BP or any other mental illness?

If you girlfriend is alright in between periods then it is worth talking to her when she is not on a period and getting her to go and see her Dr.  This could be purely down to hormones.

If she is already seeing a psychiatrist then she needs to tell him/her about the wild change in moods around her period.

Many women experience violent mood swings around their period without it being anything to do with BP.  If she has BP then yes her cycle may also influence her moods.  The fact that her moods get to the point where you actually feel scared means that this needs to be addressed as soon as possible.

So, if she has a psychiatrist then get her to arrange an appointment to discuss this, if she doesn't have a psychiatrist then she needs to discuss it with her Doctor.