How do I use Me v PMDD?

Me v PMDD is an app to track the symptoms and treatments of PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) to help you better manage your cycle and PMDD. 

First Steps

When you first download and open Me v PMDD, you will be asked to select which symptoms you would like to track. These symptoms encompass all of the symptoms of PMDD as outlined by the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as well as some additional symptoms which have been anecdotally confirmed by many individuals with PMDD. You may choose to track as many or as few symptoms as you like.

Learn More

• What is PMDD?
• Can Me v PMDD help diagnose PMDD?
• How is PMDD diagnosed?

Next, you'll be asked to either input the first day of your last menstrual cycle (the first day of bleeding during your period - Cycle Day 1) or choose to track symptoms based on calendar day, not cycle day for reasons of preference, birth control that prevents periods, irregular cycle length, past hysterectomy, etc. The choice is yours.

Symptom Tracking

Then, you are ready to begin tracking the PMDD symptoms you experience each day. We recommend you track symptoms at around the same time each day (possibly before bed) for the most accuracy, as it can be hard to remember what we experience in days past as our cycles progress and change.

Each symptom is tracked based on your subjective rating of severity on a scale from 0-10, 0 being no symptom, 1-3 being mild severity, 4-6 being moderate severity, 7-10 being high or extreme severity. It's all up to you as to what feels like a 2 vs. an 8, but we suggest you try to stay consistent with what each severity level feels like so your data tracking best reflects your experience over time. 

If you don't experience some symptoms on a given day, simply leave the slider bar at 0, and change the slider bar only for the symptoms you experienced that day. If you don't experience any symptoms one day, you don't need to do anything. The app will record 0 for all symptoms if you do not save an entry on a given day.

If you forget to track symptoms you can return to a day in the last 30 days to input your symptom data. Remember, tracking in retrospect is usually not as accurate as tracking symptoms day of, but please do what works best for you.

If you have any additional questions about Symptom Tracking email [e-mail] and we'll be happy to help.

Treatment Tracking

The other main feature of Me v PMDD is Treatment Tracking. The initial release of Me v PMDD only allows for tracking medication and supplement treatments, but future updates will expand the types of treatments to include therapy, diets, lifestyle changes, and more.

(Treatment Tracking instructions - coming soon...)

Self-Love Journal

Me v PMDD also includes a Self-Love Journal to keep all your thoughts and notes related to Me v PMDD in one place. This journal is yours to use as you like. Here are some suggestions of what to note in your Self-Love Journal:

• Your Safety/Self-Care Plan (scroll down for PDF) - as outlined by IAPMD
• Notes of encouragement and support from loved ones
• Venting thoughts
• Describing feelings/symptoms
• Daily diary entries to describe your journey with PMDD
• Inspiring quotes
• Topics you're working on in therapy or counseling

We encourage you to use this journal to help yourself grow!

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These are the main features of Me v PMDD at this point, but we hope to expand these features to better support PMDD Warriors. If you have an idea or suggestion to make the app better please email us at [e-mail].