Discussion Menstruation and suicidal ideation

[Heartaches]

As the title suggests, I created this post to discuss the possible link between menstruation and suicidal ideation (or suicide in general). It's not something I had given much thought until recently.

For many individuals, menstruation comes with significant emotional and physical ailments, with varying degrees of severity and length.

Until recently, not much research had been done regarding the relationship of the menstrual cycle with suicidal ideation, planning and attempts. And despite recent studies, there's still a lot which professionals and the general public don't know.

I'll leave some articles discussing studies about the topic, as well as particular cases.

"Suicide risk is higher in certain phases of the menstrual cycle" — by The Conversation

"What's the relationship between the menstrual cycle and suicidal ideation?" — by National Elf Service

"Menstrual cycles affect day-to-day suicide risk, UIC researchers find" — by UIC Today

PMDD related articles

"Living with PMS That Makes You Want to Die" — by VICE

"Why are some people more susceptible to severe PMS? Psychologists seek answers" — by the American Psychological Association

PCOS related articles

"Persons diagnosed with PCOS face 8-fold increase in suicide risk" — by Medical News Today

"New Study Reinforces PCOS-Suicide Connection" — by Psychiatrist.com

In my personal experience, I've noted my emotional state significantly worsens some days prior and during my cycle, almost until the very end. My suicidal ideation is turned up to 11 and I'm more prone to harming myself in some way. Not to mention, the physical baggage that makes it hard for me to do almost anything.

When I had my first attempt almost a year ago, I was in the middle of my menstrual cycle. I'm unsure if it was a significant factor in my decision.

I'm not under any treatment to help me during my cycles. I simply take my prescribed antidepressants and hope it passes fast enough.

How about you? What's your experience been like? Have you noticed a similar pattern during your cycle? Are you under treatment to especifically help you combat this issue? Has it been useful?

 

[Forever Sleep]

I'm usually in a terrible state the day before. Sometimes it's a relief to realise it's that causing it to be especially bad. It's not exactly causing my ideation- that's been there for decades but, it definitely intensifies it. I don't really trust medication though- unless it's absolutely necessary. I just check the calander- or, the app on my phone, figure it's that making me feel especially shit and sit it out.

 

[NearlyIrrelevantCake]

Another way it can be Hell: AFAB trans folks having to deal with the whole menstruation bullshit.

 

[NoPoint2Life]

Adding to the list: when perimenopause starts and makes everything even worse!

 

[NearlyIrrelevantCake]

Adding to the list: when perimenopause starts and makes everything even worse!

My mother bled for a year straight with practically no breaks. Hell.

Hot flashes have started coming for me this year.

 

[Heartaches]

Another way it can be Hell: AFAB trans folks having to deal with the whole menstruation bullshit.

I would add trans women on E as well. I don't know too much about the subject, but I've heard from some that they get almost identical symptoms (such as cramps and emotional dysregulation) to menstruation after sometime on HRT. And some intersex folks as well. But I agree with your statement.

If I do some additional scouring, I may add some articles on menstruation in relation to trans and intersex individuals in the future.

Truly, the bullshittery of menstruation transcends gender, sex, class, race and disability.

 

[IWasAlmostHere]

I finally caved and made an account so I could reply to this specific thread. My meds keep me stable, but when my period begins, all hell breaks loose. And I fall for it every single time. Today, I woke up excited and happy to spend my Saturday, and by lunchtime I was deep in SI, only realizing I was 1.5 days into my menstrual cycle. This has been a fascinating thread to read - thank you.

 

[Heartaches]

I finally caved and made an account so I could reply to this specific thread. My meds keep me stable, but when my period begins, all hell breaks loose. And I fall for it every single time. Today, I woke up excited and happy to spend my Saturday, and by lunchtime I was deep in SI, only realizing I was 1.5 days into my menstrual cycle. This has been a fascinating thread to read - thank you.

Welcome, I hope you find yourself comfortable around here. Happy this thread has been a good read. :)

I'm really sorry for what you've gone through, I relate a lot to your experience. I've been depressed but not too bad for a while, but now that I'm in my cycle, I am deeply suicidal, after many months of being relatively stable.

Much love to you and thank you for sharing

 

[Obliviate]

I'm so glad someone made a post regarding this. In my luteul phase which is before your period, I have CRAZY INSANE suicidal thoughts which is not normal. PMDD is apparently what it's called and for me it just prolongs into the actual period time. As women maybe we get 1 week of "normal". I'm tired of this shit.

 

[EvisceratedJester]

It's funny, because whenever my period is about to come I believe that I must be feeling suicidal and shitty because it, but then it I'll get to near the end of period and I'll still be feeling suicidal and shitty.

 

[Forveleth]

I'm not surprised the research wasn't done, but I mean, it's not surprising that there is a link between suicidality and menstrual cycles. Many, many, many women experience heightened emotion including depression in various strengths around the time of their period.

As I have aged and my depression has gotten worse, it has gotten worse by leaps and bounds around my period. As a teen and in my 20s, I would just get a little weepy and sometimes I would cry. In my 30s, my emotions started getting stronger. Now that I'm perimenopausal (I hit it early, lucky me) I definitely have PMDD and am extremely suicidal around my period. That is actually what I'm hoping to use to push me over the edge.

 

[Daphne]

My moods were all over the place. Menopausal now and I'm glad.

 

[fallendevil]

Dude I want to get on BC so bad bc of my periods but i come from a traditional Asian household so if my mom ever found out then she'd think I'm fucking on the side and will kick me out (girl i wish lol no one wants my chopped ahh)

I'm on my period right now and I've been so angry and angsty for the past 5 days, it's been like this for years. It was a lot worse when I was 11-13 because I'd cramp so aggressively but they've chilled out as I've gotten older, the only thing I worry about is the suicidal thoughts and depression.

 

[_Gollum_]

Adding to the list: when perimenopause starts and makes everything even worse!

It's not even over when you hit menopause because then you have a whole host of other symptoms to deal with!

 

[Polyxo]

Dawg I started my period a few days ago and i am suicidal as fuckkkk. Like I know that my suicide is gonna be all planned out but this is the very first time I ever felt like I could impulsively off myself. I couldnt stop debating myself about gulping down my SN right when I got home from work (at work I also wasted ten minutes at a time thinking about dying). I spent an hour in bed staring at the ceiling convincing myself not to do it yet. It's horrible. I really feel like I'm going crazy.

 

[Obliviate]

Dawg I started my period a few days ago and i am suicidal as fuckkkk. Like I know that my suicide is gonna be all planned out but this is the very first time I ever felt like I could impulsively off myself. I couldnt stop debating myself about gulping down my SN right when I got home from work (at work I also wasted ten minutes at a time thinking about dying). I spent an hour in bed staring at the ceiling convincing myself not to do it yet. It's horrible. I really feel like I'm going crazy.

I literally had the same thoughts. The fact that we can LITERALLY be going insane losing pints of blood and still expected to go to work like normal. I hate this fuck ass world.

 

[Kwalls]

This is something that scares the shit out of me. Sometimes, during certain parts of my cycle, I could CTB without any reluctance. But then the next day my period starts and I'm in a great mood. I feel like I can't trust my mind or my brain because of how intense my emotions get during my cycle. It's hell.

 

[Leyna]

I recently realized my period is what caused my increase in suicidal thoughts. Like clockwork, a few days before and during my period my suicidal thoughts shoot up. Working with my gynecologist to see if i can get rid of my period

 

[eggsausagerice]

period starting in a few days. i already want to ctb because whenever my period comes i get extremely emotional and everything makes me sad. i hate it. and i hate the misogyny that comes from someone born a woman having a period since it just gets used as the butt of a joke. i think i've had suicidal thoughts every time i've gotten my period. it just depresses me a lot. i don't even want to admit that i have it anymore because then it's just going to be used as an excuse that i'm depressed and that i can't get over myself. i hate that my body is able to control the way i feel. if i were born a man, i would never have to deal with this.

 

[littlelady774]

I get very depressed on my period and have been diagnosed with PMDD. The plus side is it would be a benefit to do SN during your cycle because you would have an anemic head start

 

[FrustratedMTFtrans]

I admire and envy biological females for the things they experience and can do that I can't. From reading the various posts in this forum, it is clear that menstruation time often puts a female in a mood to CBT, as does also her feeling down on account of period pains, headaches, changes in body temperature, hot flushes and sleepless nights at that time. If only I could be driven to CBT this way!

If she plans CBT anyway, it can apparently tip the balance towards doing it right away, with post menopausal women having their own problems that can lead them so easily to CBT.

What about ovulation and getting pregnant? Do these things also boost a female's desire to CBT? Or rather to hesitate about or to delay CBT?

I know these are intimate subjects that biological females prefer to discuss among themselves, but I can't help wondering how a biological female likes to deal with such issues. So please don't be upset or embarrassed at my asking you to reveal intimate secrets. You can respond discretely, of course, if not here in the forum.

 

[Zyntkalla]

I guess i'm lucky cause when i'm on it. I don't really get any side effects. The the only ones I get are some cramps, but they're not too severe I can still manage to do things.

My issues are more my brain with epilepsy. And I think I have a mutation that causes way more harm than it helps and it is a pretty severe issue.

 

[FrustratedMTFtrans]

I admire and envy biological females for the things they experience and can do that I can't. From reading the various posts in this forum, it is clear that menstruation time often puts a female in a mood to CBT, as does also her feeling down on account of period pains, headaches, changes in body temperature, hot flushes and sleepless nights at that time. If she plans CBT anyway, it can apparently tip the balance towards doing it right away, with post menopausal women having their own problems that can lead them so easily to CBT.

What about ovulation and getting pregnant? Do these things also boost a female's desire to CBT?

We can all expect to have involuntary peeing as body functions as the CBT process concludes, but If a female feels she can't resist doing CBT during her period time, can she expect to have more period bleeding as well?

 

[FinalDestination]

I find it's either just before or just after. Most recently it's been just after. It's just this wholly swallowing hopelessness. It's harder than usual to distract myself it's like all I can think about is dying. My mind plays it out how I will do it step by step over and over on loop.

 

[charlavail]

I have PMDD and it is hell on earth. Most days I don't want to live but I heavily SH, drink, act recklessly and have almost attempted basically every month for a very long time. It sometimes gets better depending on the medication (as in it's not 10 days before my period it's 3) but I still having panic attacks and think about dying and then I check the app and it's the day before my period. again, hell.