IAPMD Position Statement on COVID-19
The IAPMD Board of Directors approved the following position statement on the coronavirus pandemic. The position statement will be used to guide IAPMD’s programming and messaging as it relates to the pandemic and COVID-19.
COVID-19 has profoundly impacted nearly every community around the world. As we cope with sudden daily life changes and great uncertainty, none of us are immune to the widespread indirect symptoms of a pandemic: stress and anxiety.
Most individuals with premenstrual disorders deal with immense stress and anxiety on a monthly basis and have developed skills to cope, which will prove helpful now. However, stress can also exacerbate existing symptoms of PMDD or PME and impact the length and timing of the menstrual cycle creating additional stress and confusion for many in our community. During this unprecedented time, we at IAPMD remain steadfast in supporting individuals with premenstrual disorders and are bolstering our support services to meet the increased need.
IAPMD is a primarily virtual organization, as such we have not had to adjust to rapid workplace changes to allow for work-from-home. Instead, we have increased staffing of our one-to-one peer support chat line for the next two months; created resources for coping and maintaining daily wellbeing, in collaboration with our Clinical Advisory Board; and are encouraging our community through social media and email to practice self-care and reach out for support when needed.
The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with PMDD Awareness Month, which takes place each year in April. We thoughtfully considered if the awareness campaign would be insensitive given the global crisis, but affirmed that PMDD does not stop for a pandemic and neither should our focus and efforts. We intended to host various in-person awareness events and attend a PMDD conference in the UK, but adjusted these plans to support our community in raising awareness virtually instead. Fortunately, much of our planning and preparation for these events can set a foundation for PMDD Awareness Month 2021.
Below we offer guidance and resources on common concerns of our community during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Isolation:
Social distancing and self-isolation have greatly diminished the spread of COVID-19, but it can take a toll on our mental health; increasing feelings of loneliness, and unsurprisingly, isolation. Our Clinical Advisory Board member, psychologist Liisa Hantsoo, Ph.D. shares some tips on maintaining social connections while social distancing:
“If you are feeling cut off from others, see if you can maintain those ties even from six feet apart! Try calling or texting a friend, or emailing a coworker to see how they’re doing. Having virtual hangouts, group chats or Skype happy hours with friends is another way to stay connected. Try an afternoon Google Hangouts coffee break with a friend, or see if a few friends want to Facetime over a beer after work from their living rooms, instead of the local pub. Also, keep in touch with friends or relatives who are older, immunocompromised, or live alone – they will feel supported knowing that someone is keeping an eye out for them, and it will help them to feel less isolated too.”
Read more: Coping with Coronavirus by Liisa Hantsoo, Ph.D.
Coping Strategies Not Currently Available
Many individuals with PMDD and PME rely on their routine of coping strategies to make it through difficult days, like exercising at the gym or visiting a friend. Due to community lockdowns, local business closures (gyms, coffee shops, libraries, museums, etc.), and guidelines to avoid meeting in-person with friends and loved ones we don’t live with, some of these coping strategies are not available right now. While there are still many ways to cope inside at home, it is not easy to rapidly adjust, especially when struggling with debilitating symptoms.
We suggest acknowledging the impact of this disruption and trying not to minimize it, even if it seems trivial in the scheme of things. It’s okay and helpful to grieve the loss of habits, routines, and coping strategies. Then, we recommend making a Self-Care Plan with coping strategies that are still available. Here is our Self-Care Plan template and a list of Crisis Survival Skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to give some ideas of coping strategies. Our peer support team is also available to provide support.
Thoughts of Suicide and Self-Harm
Suicidal ideation and self-harm are common symptoms of PMDD that might be exacerbated by increased stress during the pandemic. At IAPMD, we always want to help our community members stay safe. Our peer support team is available to talk and help individuals through the dark moments. Most of our peer support volunteers have experienced thoughts of suicide in their journey too. They understand, don't judge, and want to help.
IAPMD Peer support is not yet staffed 24/7, so if support is needed right away, we suggest reaching out to the following crisis text and phone lines, or an area crisis center:
Crisis Text Line (US and Canada)
US: Text 'HOME' to 741741
Canada: Text 'HOME' to 686868
Suicide Prevention Lifeline (US and Canada)
Call 1-800-273-8255
Shout (UK)
Text 'SHOUT' to 85258
Samaritans (UK)
Call 116 123
Lifeline (Australia)
Call 13 11 14
For those struggling and in need of emergency help to stay safe, hospitals are open and there to help. It is understandable to be more nervous about going to the hospital these days where there may be patients with COVID-19, but most hospitals keep departments separate and are diligent about best practices to reduce the spread of the virus.
Resources:
Crisis Survival Skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Medications:
Many PMDD sufferers rely on regular medications and supplements to manage their condition. So far, in most countries, pharmacies and grocery stores remain open, providing access to prescriptions for oral contraceptives and other medications. It is likely that even if the outbreak worsens where you live, pharmacies will remain open, in particular, mail-order pharmacies. When filling a new or existing prescription, we recommend people ask their doctor for a 60 or 90-day refill, if possible.
Learn More: Medication Access During COVID-19 by Mental Health America (MHA)
Appointments:
With lockdowns and stay-at-home regulations, many health practitioners have had to cancel in-person appointments. However, most are quickly shifting their practices to embrace telemedicine where they can meet with patients or clients over the phone or through a video call.
Insurers are expanding their coverage for telemedicine services and government agencies are loosening some restrictions so that doctors can prescribe medications without in-person visits. It is still up to the individual practice and practitioner to adopt these policy changes and go virtual, but luckily most are willing to make these adjustments. Health practitioners want to continue supporting their patients and clients during this time, as well as stay in business themselves.
Menstrual Products:
Most people who menstruate usually keep about a month's supply of period products on hand. While we don’t know how long the outbreak will be, ensuring you have two months' worth of period supplies at home might be reasonable. We also encourage everyone to remember that others need supplies and to be considerate and not to hoard or stockpile products.
In addition, this outbreak may be a good time for those who menstruate to consider a reusable menstrual blood collector like a cup, washable pads, or absorbent underwear.
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This is an unprecedented time for our global community, but we will get through this.
We are even stronger together.