Mum bans herself from driving ... in case of PMT road rage
A MOTHER whose extreme premenstrual tension triggers dangerous road rage had to ban herself from driving in the week before her period.
For a few days each month, when Charlotte Parnell got behind the wheel she became unable to control her anger, and would soon be driving aggressively and swearing at other motorists. Charlotte said: ‘It was dangerous. I felt furious behind the wheel. I’d shout and swear at people out of the window. If people cut me up, I’d be so mad.’
The 35-year-old’s mood swings became so bad she would be depressed for one week every month, spending days before her period sobbing in her bedroom. Eventually she was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – a debilitating form of premenstrual tension (PMT) which causes pain and bloating as well as angry, irrational and volatile behaviour.
She added: ‘My road rage was out of control. It got to the point where I didn’t dare drive in my PMDD week.’
Parnell first experienced extreme premenstrual symptoms aged 14 when she started feeling isolated and depressed in the week before her period. However, by 17, anger had taken over, which saw her shouting at shop assistants and picking fights with work colleagues. Doctors prescribed antidepressants to help her deal with her violent mood swings, and when she was around 21 a GP finally her told her he believed she had PMDD.
But drugs did little to curb her rages, and things only got worse when she gave birth to daughter Leyla in May 2011. She suffered from both pre and post-natal depression and split with her husband two years later. The health firm representative said: ‘With my PMDD, I feel like two different people. One is the normal me, the other lives in a completely different world. I feel fine once my period starts, but the week before is like hell. ‘My family always thought I was moody or sulky, but I want people to understand I have a condition.’
Charlotte has learned to manage without antidepressants, with a healthy diet, exercise and positive thinking. But she still admits to feeling desperately down for one week every month.
She said: ‘In my PMDD week I don’t want to go out, socialise or shower. I am a lot less angry now, but I feel really down and sad.’
Parnell has filmed videos for her own YouTube channel to raise awareness of the condition and help other sufferers, and is supported by her partner of three years.