Introduction Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a debilitating mood disorder that impacts women during the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle, causing severe emotional and physical symptoms. For individuals with an anxious attachment style , characterised by feelings and behaviours such as fear of abandonment and a constant need for reassurance, PMDD often intensifies relationship challenges and internal distress. This blog explores how PMDD and anxious attachment

PMDD doesn’t create attachment wounds , but it can magnifies existing attachment patterns, when women head into there luteal phase and sensitivity and emotional shifts intensify. Your attachment style influences how you experience and respond to the heightened emotional and physical symptoms of PMDD, and understanding this interplay can be transformative in healing and navigating relationships. This blog is a basic overview of each attachment style and its interaction with P

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is more than just a hormone problem. It is a complex systems-level interaction  between reproductive hormones , brain chemistry, and the stress-response network that affects your mood, energy, and sense of safety. This guide breaks down each hormone and system involved so you can understand exactly  what happens in the body and why your symptoms feel so intense. 1. Estrogen Estrogen is one of the most influential hormones in PMDD becau

PMDD can feel incredibly challenging , especially when you are just becoming aware you have it or are navigating a new diagnosis. Much of the information online focuses on the struggle rather than the possibility of healing . This guide is here to offer hope, clarity, and education so you can better understand your body’s systems and begin building understanding and awareness. PMDD is a complex condition that affects both the brain and the body. Women with PMDD aren’t overr

Introduction Stress triggers a full-body response, affecting hormones, the nervous system, and the brain all together. In women with PMDD or PMS , the HPA axis (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis) often becomes more sensitive and less adaptable to hormonal shifts. This can make mood changes , fatigue, and emotional swings feel more intense during vulnerable phases of the menstrual cycle . Knowledge is power and when you begin to understand how your stress response works, you

Most women grow up knowing only the basics about their menstrual cycle: you bleed, you ovulate, and the rest is a mystery you’re meant to “just deal with.” But your cycle is not simply a monthly inconvenience, it is a biological rhythm, a psychological landscape, and for many women, an emotional compass. When you track your cycle, and begin to embody its rhythms, you aren’t just counting days. You’re learning the language of your body. This awareness can help you understand m

If you’ve ever found yourself reaching for extra snacks, sweets, or comfort food before your period , you’re not alone. Many women experience what’s often called binge eating before the period , a powerful mix of hormonal shifts, emotional sensitivity, and nervous system overwhelm. During the luteal phase, the two weeks leading up to menstruation, the body’s chemistry changes dramatically. Progesterone rises, estrogen drops, and serotonin (the neurotransmitter that helps you

If you ever wonder “does PMDD make you tired?”  or “can PMDD cause anxiety?”  The answer is yes, and these symptoms are your body asking for deeper care, not more effort. If you live with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) , you know that fatigue and brain fog  can be among the hardest symptoms to cope with.  Whether it shows up as brain fog during your period , feeling spacey in the luteal phase, or a sense that you “just can’t think straight,” these shifts can be deep

For so many women, getting a diagnosis of  PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)  feels draining. You know something is wrong, your mood crashes, rage, panic, or despair come like clockwork before your period, but the medical system often dismisses it as “just PMS.” If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone . Many women I support in my Support Group   share the same story: years of misdiagnosis, shame, and thinking they were “too hormonal” or "too emotional" before finall

Living with ADHD already means navigating a brain that runs on its own rhythm, quick starts, sudden stops, bursts of focus followed by exhaustion. For many, the days before a period don’t just bring mood swings or cramps; they bring a tidal wave. Ordinary ADHD challenges, losing focus mid-task, forgetting what you walked into a room for, feeling emotions at full volume, become amplified. It’s not “just PMS.” It’s the nervous system colliding with hormonal change , and the imp

For years, one of my clients lived in silence with painful cycles . As a teenager, she masked her discomfort because no one in her family had experienced the same struggles. After becoming a mother, her body felt like a stranger: “One day I was fine, the next, I was consumed by rage or despair. It felt like I was losing my mind.” Doctors suggested antidepressants. Friends told her she was “just hormonal.” But deep down, she knew something bigger was happening. It wasn’t until

For decades, premenstrual changes were dismissed as moodiness or exaggeration. Today, research has made it clear, premenstrual disorders are real , neurobiological conditions  that affect millions worldwide. Yet, even now, terms are often confused. Many people know about PMS , fewer have heard of PME , and most have only recently encountered  PMDD . Understanding how these conditions differ, and overlap is essential for accurate diagnosis, compassionate support, and effective

Just as many people learn to recognise patterns of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) , PME (Premenstrual Exacerbation) , or PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)  in their reproductive years, the transition into perimenopause  can bring new layers of complexity. For some, symptoms intensify; for others, they shift shape in ways that are confusing or destabilising. Understanding how these conditions interact with perimenopause is key to managing health, relationships , and daily li

For centuries, menstruation has been surrounded by stigma , misunderstanding, and silence. While many people experience mild changes in mood, energy, and body during their cycle, for some, the symptoms are severe, life-disrupting , and cyclical, appearing predictably in the luteal phase and easing after menstruation begins. Today, we know this as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), but recognition of PMDD as a diagnosable condition has been a long and contested journe

Throughout the month, your cycle shifts and hormones fluctuate , which affects both your body and mind. This blog will guide you through the differences between PMS, PMT, and PMDD, explaining what they actually mean, how they differ, and how you can support your cycle to flow through your feminine rhythm with more ease. Premenstrual Tension (PMT) to Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) Premenstrual Tension (PMT) is one of the earliest terms used to describe what many women experi

I first sensed something was deeply off when I was 13. My moods cratered with each cycle . I was misdiagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder , and I carried that weight for years. I left home in search of relief, I studied tantric yoga in Guatemala, wandered through monasteries in India, trained in MMA in Mexico’s deserts, and learned Muay Thai in Thailand, each practice helping me reclaim strength, presence, and a sense of agency in a body that betrayed me every mont

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)  already brings unique challenges around focus, organisation, and emotional regulation. When combined with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) , these difficulties can intensify, especially in the days before a period. Research suggests that people with ADHD are significantly more likely to also experience PMDD, a combination that can deeply affect quality of life , relationships , and daily functioning. If you’r

Many people experience sleep disturbances  in the days leading up to menstruation, commonly referred to as period insomnia . These difficulties typically arise during the luteal phase , 10-16 days before your period, and often improve once menstruation begins. For individuals with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) , these sleep issues can be particularly intense, impacting mood, focus, energy levels, increasing the likelihood of fatigue and binge eating , and significa

Many women living with ADHD notice a shift in their mood, focus, and energy in the days before their period. For some, these changes go beyond typical PMS and instead align with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)  , a severe hormonal condition that magnifies emotional, physical, and cognitive challenges. Research shows that around 40% of women with ADHD also experience PMDD. That overlap is striking, yet many women never receive a diagnosis that addresses both. Instead, t