This is no joke (but it probably won’t stop us from making one later). PMS is real dan it can be severe.

Here is something from the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), where a severe form of PMS is listed as a Depressive Disorder Not Otherwise Specified:

“Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: in most menstrual cycles during the past year, symptoms (e.g., markedly depressed mood, marked anxiety, marked affective lability, decreased interest in activities) regularly occurred during the last week of the luteal phase (and remitted within a few days of the onset of menses). These symptoms must be severe enough to markedly interfere with work, school, or usual activities and be entirely absent for at least I week postmenses.”

Now, this is much more serious than your wife yelling at you for not taking out the garbage.

Premenstrual dysmorphic disorder (PMDD) affects around 3 to 8 percent of women during their reproductive years. Exactly what causes it is not fully understood, but the sequence of events begins with ovulation, which triggers a series of changes in neurotransmitters. The most important of these is serotonin, and a reduction in serotonin has been found in the second half of the menstrual cycle. There have been many medical studies on this topic and there are many different treatment options. The most effective approaches are the use of drugs that either block serotonin reuptake (antidepressants) or suppress ovulation (birth control pills). Other options include: exercise which helps increase endorphins, Vitamin B6 dietary changes including reduced caffeine and increased complex carbohydrates, and Vitex agnus-castus extract Ze 440 (Chaste berry fruit).