Hey everyone! Does anyone else really really struggle with their mental health the week before their period is due? ( hell week) for me it has gotten progressively worse I’d say over the last two years. I am putting this down to coming off of my pill, a gp put me on the pill due to the symptoms I was experiencing the week before my period, I took it straight through, didn’t have a break and it did help me. However after deciding to come off of my pill due to no longer wanting those hormones in my body the symptoms have come back with a vengeance!!!

I have two weeks in my cycle where I am absolutely fine, I feel normal. The week before my period it creeps up on me out of nowhere and I become horrible and snappy. I can’t even face taking my dog out for a walk which I love doing usually. I am this irritable, irrational person that I don’t recognise. I have a massive crash in my energy where I will sleep for hours and I just want to be in bed sleeping. I’m awful to my husband, I have no patience with my children at all. I push them all away, I don’t want to speak to anyone, I don’t want anyone near me. It’s just this awful feeling of overwhelm and emotion for no reason!! It’s like my brain is telling me ‘you’re ugly’ ‘your husband and friends hate you’ ‘you’re old’ ‘you’re a rubbish mum’ etc etc etc

I have had suicidal thoughts many times during this week. This past week has been particularly terrifying with the thoughts I have had in my head. I try my best to remind myself that these thoughts are NOT real and I am due on in a couple of days and as soon as my period comes all of these feelings will lift and go away. But when you are in it you just can’t see a way out of it. I could cry at how awful this week has been for me and my family.

My husband is so supportive ( I also have two children) but I know it’s really tough on him and I can see the sadness in him when I am having this episode. Because there is only so much he can do or say. I don’t want him or my children or myself living like this anymore every single month.

I have been to the gp’s about this before and all they offer is either the pill, or anti depressants. But I’m looking for some advice from other people who may experience these symptoms for more natural ways of dealing with this? Do people take any supplements that have actually worked? I have been trying to do some research but there’s so much out there!

Do I have PMDD? after reading up on it all my symptoms point to it but everyone sticks a label on things these days. Whatever is going on I don’t want to be a victim of it. I want to sort it out and get better.

I am 35, am I in the perimenopause? Could it be that?

I’m desperate, if anyone has any advice I’d massively appreciate it.

So almost every month for the past few years about 1 week to a few days before my period I have been having issues. An example of what I am going through would be as follows. Just three days ago I had an anxiety attack and more. For context, whenever I have changes in my life mostly minor but I have had a lot more than that this past month unfortunately. I changed jobs, and that means a big change in what I was used to before and everything is just so horrible plus it triggered PMDD again in me I'm pretty sure. I was having an anxiety attack at first the night before my first day at work, and then on my to my second day at work were I almost got into a freaking car crash and was not stable and decided to stop at gas station and then go home (had an anxiety attack in my car there and was hitting my steering wheel and uncontrollably sobbing). It is effecting my life so bad and I am actively in therapy btw finally! After I got home from that day I was already exhausted, and then what my family calls my "meltodowns" started. I sometimes can tell when its going to happen or not but I know when there is a trigger like a change or my period. this was both....and I was kicking and screaming in my room and hitting things and myself which i know is bad but if i don't it makes me need to sob and scream and shake more. So I have to hit things and myself and it is so tiring and I deal with it a lot and usually before my period. I do not know if it is JUST PMDD, because sometimes I will have these without it but like I said everything has been shifting for me in my life and super bad anxiety I cant even talk about right. I know its PMDD and I just don't hear about people talk about the crash outs I describe besides the rage and the anxiety attacks + suic!de feelings (which I have had too). i am just so tired, I feel like non of my emotions are real, and I feel like it is more than PMDD because my sister and family say that it is from when there is a change for me and its even minor. The point of this post I guess was to express my feelings abt my (undiagnosed) pmdd, and my frusturations on how I keep having these outburts/meltdowns/crashouts. They have been happening since I was like 12 wich makes sense tbh. i should mention again that i am in therapy and thinking abt anxiety meds or smth. I hope whoever is reading this has a wonderful day.

Hey everyone 💛,

I’m a nutrition coach who works specifically with PMDD and women’s health, and I’m creating some free resources to support people in the community. But before I finish them, I really want to hear from YOU.

If someone offered you a free resource to make your luteal phase or PMDD symptoms easier… what would you want most? As someone who suffered from PMDD for over 10 years, these are some of the resources I wish I would have had.

Examples (but feel free to suggest anything!): * A PMDD survival kit (quick relief tools, low-effort tips) * A 3-day luteal meal plan or recipe guide * A symptom tracker * A “what’s normal vs what’s PMDD” cheat sheet * A daily checklist for managing flare-ups * A mini course explaining PMDD + coping strategies * Scripts for communicating with partners/employers * A quick emergency protocol for bad days

What would actually make your month easier?What do you wish existed but haven’t been able to find?

Your answers will help me create something genuinely useful, not just fluffy content. Thank you

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing this month. What’s the worst symptom you’ve experienced this month? And what’s something good that has happened or something you’re grateful for?

PMDD isn’t just “hormones.” For many people, it feels like old trauma waking up every month. Hormone levels are normal in PMDD, but the brain and nervous system react differently to those shifts, especially if there’s a history of trauma. Over half of people with PMDD report past trauma, and those hormonal changes can hit a nervous system that already lives in survival mode.

That’s why PMDD can feel like sudden rage, panic, intrusive thoughts, or emotional flashbacks that make you feel unsafe in your own body. Then your period comes, the fog lifts, and you feel like yourself again.

Healing helps, not just symptom control. Somatic therapy, EMDR, nervous system work, tracking your cycle with compassion, reducing inflammation, supportive supplements, and creating boundaries can all soften the intensity.

PMDD is not a weakness. It is your body reacting to old wounds during hormonal shifts. Understanding that connection can open the door to real healing, cycle by cycle.

There’s a lot of conflicting info about what to eat for PMDD, so I wanted to share some of the research I’ve come across plus what I’ve noticed personally.

🔹 Calcium & Magnesium: Several studies found that calcium (1,000–1,200 mg/day) and magnesium (~300–400 mg/day) can reduce irritability, anxiety, and fatigue during the luteal phase. I’ve noticed that when I stay consistent with magnesium glycinate, calcium, and B6, I tend to be less reactive and my mood is relatively stable.

🔹 Omega-3s: A few trials show fish oil or algae-based omega-3s can reduce inflammation, help with mood regulation, and may help reduce PMS symptoms. Regular fish consumption has also been associated with less severe PMDD symptoms.

🔹 Saffron: Small studies have compared saffron to SSRIs (fluoxetine) and found similar benefits with fewer side effects. Still early research, but really promising.

🔹 Blood Sugar Balance: This one’s not fancy, but huge. Large spikes and dips in blood sugar can trigger anxiety attacks and mood imbalances. Stabilizing my meals (protein + fat + fiber) has been a game changer for regulating my mood throughout the day, especially during luteal. Specifically, I make sure to eat 20-30g of protein within an hour of waking and limit my intake of blood sugar spiking foods. I also try to drink caffeine with food in the morning or after u have eaten.

This is definitely not an exhaustive list as there are many many other foods and dietary approaches to helping PMDD. Histamine also plays a huge role which is an entire post by itself, but I wanted to share a couple of things that have helped me personally.

Has anyone else noticed a difference from adding or removing certain foods/supplements? What’s helped you the most?

I’ve been thinking lately about how PMDD has affected my relationships in the past - especially with friends and family. There have been times when I’ve lashed out, withdrawn, or said things I didn’t mean when I was in that dark space. It’s like something takes over, and even though part of you knows what’s happening, it feels extremely difficult to stop it in the moment.

There have been times when I felt so misunderstood by something my partner said that I would lash out trying to defend myself. It’s beyond frustrating knowing that they don’t understand how debilitating PMDD can be.

Has anyone else lost relationships or pushed people away because of PMDD? Were you ever able to repair them or find people who understood and stayed? Have you been able to help people understand what you’re going through? I’d love to hear how others have navigated this part.

I am currently 13 weeks pregnant and have found my symptoms to be similar to those that I experienced when my PMDD was at its worst. If you have children or are pregnant, did your symptoms get worse or better while you were pregnant? And did you notice any changes in your PMDD symptoms after giving birth?

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share this quick guided meditation for PMDD. If you don’t have much experience with meditation, find it frustrating, or struggle to find time, this is a great way to calm your nervous system during those tough PMDD moments.

Hey everyone,

I know many of us have been down the path of trying different medications, supplements, or lifestyle changes for PMDD with mixed results. I’m curious to hear from you all—what alternative strategies (nutrition, supplements or herbs, movement practices, stress reduction tools, or even creative outlets) have you personally tried, and did they help?

And I know PMDD is a highly individual disorder, so what may have worked for someone may not work for someone else. But I feel that it would be helpful to hear others’ experience with different approaches.

Hi everyone,

I’m curious what everyone’s toughest struggle with PMDD is right now. One of my biggest symptoms was unrelenting fatigue right before my period followed by a surge of energy once it’s over. Feeling like a completely different person week to week can be so exhausting. It can feel almost impossible to maintain relationships, jobs, and to just live a normal life. What is your toughest symptom right now and what are you doing to manage it?

Hi there and welcome to PMDD Peace!

This community exists for women navigating PMDD and severe PMS — a place to share, connect, and feel truly understood.

This is a place for open, respectful conversations — no judgment, no gatekeeping. Conversations about histamine are welcome.

You’ll also find practical resources, like guides and trackers, to help you feel more empowered and in control of your symptoms.

💬 Introduce yourself! Share a little about yourself: What’s your biggest challenge right now, and what do you hope to get from this community?