PMDD: Another Label, Another Layer of Healing
Alright, let’s talk about PMDD—Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
Or as I like to call it: another fucking diagnosis.
Don’t get me wrong—I’m not knocking the label itself. It’s valid. It’s real.
But when you’ve been collecting diagnoses like reusable grocery bags, it starts to feel like just another thing to add to the pile.
I’m still deep in my PMDD healing journey. But I’ve already seen some pretty drastic changes, so I wanted to share where I’m at right now.
And a future update? I’m sure it’ll be even better.
⸻
The Symptoms: Ruminating Thoughts and Explosive Anger
When I first came off my meds and started doing serious healing work, I felt better—like, actually better. Big shifts were happening.
But there was still this pattern I couldn’t ignore.
For me, PMDD showed up in a perfect storm of symptoms:
• Endless ruminating thoughts (always negative)
• Explosive anger that felt out of control—not just fiery Aries vibes, but full-on, unacceptable rage
• Feeling like a completely different person
It didn’t make sense. I’d done so much work, so much healing.
And yet, here I was—still feeling like I had no control over my own body.
⸻
The Cycle We Didn’t See Coming
It was my partner who noticed it first. She quietly started tracking my cycle—and surprise, surprise: the patterns matched up.
The ruminating thoughts, the anger, the disconnect from myself—it wasn’t random.
It was my body yelling at me. Telling me there was work to be done. That support was needed.
Once we realized that, things started making more sense.
But that didn’t make it any less brutal.
It was brutal for her—having to live with someone who turned into a completely different person.
It was brutal for me—feeling like I had no control, even after all the healing I’d done.
I felt discouraged. Angry. Exhausted.
⸻
PMDD: The Duct Tape Approach
My partner, being the amazing human she is, dove into research. She came back with a folder full of TikTok videos and medical info.
I watched them. Women describing exactly how I felt.
Doctors explaining that if I went in for help, they’d hand me the same depression or anxiety meds I’d already tried (and crashed on) during the worst of my mental health journey.
That’s what frustrates me about the medical approach: they treat the symptom, not the cause.
Here’s the analogy I always use:
If your car’s back tire goes flat and your passenger points it out, duct-taping their mouth shut doesn’t fix the tire.
The tire’s still flat. You’re just ignoring it—until you’re driving on the rim, and now the rim’s bent and everything’s worse.
That’s what the system’s response to PMDD felt like.
Another symptom. Another thing they wanted to slap a patch on.
And sure—sometimes relief is necessary. There’s a time and place for meds.
I even explored a couple of over-the-counter options:
• Pepcid AC – Yep, the heartburn med. Something about it supposedly helps PMDD symptoms (weird, I know). I tried it a few times. Did it help? Maybe. But I didn’t want to take it long-term.
• Quercetin – This felt more aligned with my values. I tried it—and I definitely noticed a difference.
But even with supplements, I knew they weren’t the fix.
I wanted to understand why this was happening.
What was my body trying to say?
Because masking something for 10 years?
That’s not healing.
That’s not living.
That’s barely surviving.
⸻
Searching for Real Support
So—what now?
As I kept healing, my diet shifted. My exercise ramped up. My nervous system calmed.
The snowball effect of true healing.
I brought PMDD into one of my BodyTalk sessions.
Sometimes BodyTalk clears things instantly (yay!).
Sometimes it’s like peeling an onion—layer after layer.
My PMDD? Definitely an onion.
But I’m working through it, piece by piece.
⸻
Healing in Layers
BodyTalk sessions have revealed so much—about yin-yang balance, uterus energy, and trauma tied to my cycle.
My symptoms aren’t gone—but they’re not what they used to be.
What once was a 12/10 is now maybe a 2/10.
Some months, I don’t even notice it.
The ruminating thoughts still try to creep in—that old brain wiring, trying to keep me “safe” by scanning for danger.
But I see it now. I meet it with awareness.
And that’s part of the healing too.
⸻
Where I Am Now
I’m still healing.
Still peeling back layers.
Still learning how to live from my heart, not my head.
But PMDD doesn’t control me anymore. And for that, I’m grateful.
BodyTalk helped me work through the root causes—not just the symptoms.
It’s helped me listen to my body, understand its signals, and honor what it needs.
This isn’t the end of the story.
It’s just where I’m at right now.
And I’m so damn grateful to be here.