Here's the updated blog with the PMDD Reset Method promotion added:

What Is PMDD? Understanding the Condition That's Hijacking Your Life

Have you ever noticed a specific time each month when everything feels heavier, harder, and more overwhelming — almost like someone flipped a switch? You might be experiencing Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, more commonly known as PMDD.

PMDD is a serious, clinically recognised condition that goes far beyond typical PMS. It's not just physical discomfort — it's an intense combination of emotional and physical symptoms that can make you feel like a stranger to yourself. The good news? You're not alone, and understanding what's happening in your body is the first step toward feeling more in control.

How Does PMDD Show Up?

PMDD symptoms appear during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle — the one to two weeks before your period arrives. For many women, this window feels like an emotional and physical rollercoaster that's impossible to get off.

Common signs include feeling irritable, angry, or overwhelmed for no clear reason; intense sadness or hopelessness; fatigue so heavy it feels like walking through wet cement; aches, pains, or physical sensitivity that seem to appear from nowhere; brain fog and difficulty concentrating; and intrusive thoughts that don't feel like "you."

If any of this sounds familiar, you're not imagining it and you're not "too sensitive." These symptoms are real, they're recognised by medical professionals, and they deserve to be taken seriously.

Why Does PMDD Happen?

PMDD is not a hormonal imbalance — your hormone levels are actually normal. The difference is in how your brain responds to those normal hormonal shifts across your cycle. Think of it like your emotional dial being turned up to maximum: everything feels more intense, and even small things can feel completely unbearable.

It's not about weakness or lack of willpower. It's a neurobiological response you didn't choose and can't simply push through.

How Do You Know If It's PMDD?

If you've been struggling for a while, you might wonder whether it's stress, burnout, anxiety, or something else entirely. The key distinguishing factor with PMDD is timing. Symptoms consistently appear in the days or weeks before your period, then ease — often quite quickly — once bleeding begins.

Tracking your symptoms over two to three cycles is one of the most useful things you can do. Write down what you're feeling and when, and look for the pattern. This information is also invaluable when advocating for yourself with a doctor or specialist.

What Can You Do About PMDD?

PMDD can feel all-consuming, but there are real, evidence-based ways to manage it. Some of what helps includes small daily practices like gentle movement, nourishing meals, and protecting your energy during the luteal phase; emotional support from a counsellor, trusted friend, or PMDD-specific community; and practical tools that help you prepare before symptoms peak rather than scrambling in the middle of an episode.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. In my clinical experience, most women do best with a combination of approaches — often medication alongside lifestyle changes — and it takes some time to find the right balance. That's completely normal and worth persisting through.

Ready to Stop Surviving and Start Thriving?

If you're done white-knuckling through every luteal phase, The PMDD Reset Method™ was built for you.

It's a therapist-designed program created by me — a registered counsellor and PMDD survivor — that gives you a proven system to cut through the chaos and feel steadier across every phase of your cycle. Inside you'll find a 6-module evidence-based framework drawing on DBT, ACT, and Family Systems therapy; monthly live group support calls; a private members-only community; and 20+ practical tools and templates you can use the moment symptoms hit.

You don't have to figure this out alone, and you don't have to keep suffering through the same cycle month after month.

👉 Join The PMDD Reset Method™ for just $19/month — and try it risk-free for 7 days.

You Deserve to Feel Understood

PMDD can make you feel out of control, unreliable, or like you're failing at life. None of that is true. Recognising that your symptoms are real and valid is a significant step forward — and one you should feel proud of taking.