Mum bans herself from driving ... in case her PMT sparks 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.
Mrs Parnell, of Bracknell, Berkshire, 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. I knew it could be dangerous, the way I was feeling.’
Mrs 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 – even pushing one up against a wall.
Doctors prescribed antidepressants to help Mrs Parnell 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 eventually her aggression and rudeness was a factor when she and her husband split 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.
‘I know I have life pretty sweet. I have a good job, a pretty house, nice car and lots of holidays, so I have no reason to feel down.
‘I try to explain to people that I have PMDD, but it’s hard for them to understand, as it’s to do with the body’s chemical balance. My family always thought I was moody or sulky, but I want people to understand I have a condition and it’s not my fault.’
Mrs Parnell has learned to manage without antidepressants, instead using a healthy diet, exercise and positive thinking. Although she is now able to control her anger, 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, and just want to sit in bed and cry all day. I have had dark, suicidal thoughts, but I know that isn’t the answer.’
Mrs 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, sales manager Terry Dawson, 42.
‘I told Terry about my PMDD after about two weeks of dating, as I knew he would see me at my worst,’ she said. ‘I did ask doctors about a hysterectomy. Now I realise I don’t want to have the operation and I am trying to manage it on my own.’