Former The Bachelorette Angie Kent has opened up about suffering PMDD, saying it makes her “feel like an alien” and “like somebody has taken over” her body.
PMDD is short for Premenstrual dysphoric disorder which is a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Kent told Daily Telegraph that she was diagnosed with PMDD this year after laparoscopy for her polycystic ovarian syndrome.
“There’s negative connotations around it, you feel guilty about experiencing these feelings you have no control over,” Kent told the publication.
She added, “Leading up to my period I’m a different person, I thought I was bipolar, I was so manic and completely not myself… I’d have thoughts every day Angie wouldn’t have.
Kent described the condition as “debilitating” and said it’s left her feeling “overwhelmed”, “lost” and like a “psychopath”.
PMDD affects 15% of females who are in the reproductive age group and The TV star said that she wants to raise awareness about the severity of it and put a stop to “medical gaslighting”.
“Everything hurts, you can’t explain that, people would think I’ve been on a bender, with more education they would understand.”
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“I am much more sensitive to things, I find it very difficult to concentrate, I am functioning but I am not present, I am floating,” she said.
She added, “I want to create a space for people to be diagnosed quicker and get the right help instead of having to suffer for as long as I did.”
Angie suffers from various other health issues, including endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), adenomyosis, fibroids and interstitial cystitis.
Angie rose to fame after starring in Channel 10’s popular show Gogglebox. From there, she went on to become the lead on The Bachelorette Australia and then undertook a stint in the jungle for I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Australia.
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