Vicky Pattison enjoyed a relaxing spa break on the weekend after revealing she suffered from ‘suicidal thoughts’ because of her PMDD.
The 35-year-old reality star was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder earlier this year and revealed that the condition left her suffering from a ‘constant cycle’ of despair at certain periods of the month.
After opening up about her condition in a bid to help fellow sufferers, the reality star spent the weekend at a retreat with her fiancé Ercan Ramadan.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Vicky shared snaps from her getaway as she modelled a tiny bikini while relaxing by the hot tub.
Vicky looked sensational in a tiny leopard print two piece that showcased her incredible figure.
Time out: Vicky Pattison enjoyed a relaxing spa break on the weekend after revealing she suffered from ‘suicidal thoughts’ because of her PMDD
The getaway comes after she appeared on Good Morning Britain last week to discuss her PMDD.
She said: ‘Honestly, the best way I’ve ever heard it described is that PMDD is like building a sand castle of good habits, great relationships positive habits, going for morning runs, drinking green juice giving birth to an avocado, whatever it is.
‘And then every month, a wave comes and takes away all those things and leaves only hopelessness and despair.
‘It’s this constant cycle. It was despair, hopelessness, overwhelm, chronic fatigue, crippling anxiety, and – in some darker moments – suicidal thoughts.’
The former Geordie Shore star went on to explain that the condition can often be misdiagnosed as depression and called on the NHS to start treating the two as separate issues as she revealed where she is at with her treatment.
She added: ’10 percent of women are diagnosed with PMDD but the number of people could be much higher could be much higher. It’s often misdiagnosed as depression.
‘When I explained my symptoms, I was offered anti-depressants. I think if I was suffering with depression and every day I woke up with feelings of despair and hopelessness, I would take antidepressants, I have no problems accepting this.
‘However, this was different. I love my life, I’m very fortunate, I’m mentally strong, and all the rest of it, this is just 10 days of the month.
‘And I don’t think it’s too much to ask for women suffering from PMDD rather than depression, because they are different.
‘It’s not a one-size-fits-all with medication and because my diagnosis is relatively recent, I’m on the first course of action which is like a combination contraceptive pill. I’m hopeful that the symptoms will alleviate.’
Sizzling: Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Vicky shared snaps from her getaway as she modelled a tiny bikini while relaxing by the hot tub
Vicky previously took her plight to parliament.
Appearing before the Women and Equalities Committee as part of its inquiry into women’s reproductive health, she also revealed she ended up paying for private healthcare after failing to get the care she needed on the NHS.
She explained: ‘I can go to gym, eat right, work hard and nurture my relationships and then no matter how hard I try, after two and a half weeks, there is nothing I can do.
‘I am short tempered beyond belief, I am irritable. For ten days of the month, I don’t recognise myself.
‘I was always told exactly the same thing: “This is PMS. This is what women go through. Every other woman in the world is dealing with this”.’
This made her feel ‘even more invalidated’, she said, as she wondered if she just needed to just ‘get on with it’.
She said: ‘PMDD gets zero sunlight. It’s commonly misdiagnosed in women as ADHD and depression. The first thing I was offered was antidepressants. I’m not depressed.
‘If it wasn’t for the online forums, the Instagram groups, I don’t think I would have got to where I am.
‘I wouldn’t have had the confidence to insist there was something wrong. I’ve been invalidated so many times.’
Sharing her journey: The reality star was diagnosed with premenstrual dysphoric disorder earlier this year and revealed that the condition left her suffering from a ‘constant cycle’ of despair at certain periods of the month
