This isn't your typical pep talk episode, but it's the most important conversation we need to have. Jes and her dad Chris dive deep into the shocking 2022 research linking PMDD to self-harm and suicidal ideation, sharing Jes's personal 17-year journey with undiagnosed PMDD and the precursors that lead women down this devastating path. This raw, honest conversation offers hope and practical insights for breaking the dangerous cycle of silence.

This episode discusses self-harm and suicidal ideation. If you're experiencing active thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or your local emergency services. Your hosts are not clinical counselors and cannot provide crisis intervention.

• The devastating statistics from 2022 research: 72% of PMDD patients experience suicidal thoughts, 49% make plans, and 34% attempt suicide

• The hidden precursors to self-injurious thoughts, including automatic negative thoughts and how they spiral during the luteal phase

• Why isolation and shame fuel the cycle of self-harm, and how breaking the silence can be life-saving

• The various forms of self-sabotage beyond physical harm (running, fighting, disordered eating, perfectionism, risky behaviors)

• How trauma and nervous system dysregulation connect to PMDD and self-harm patterns

• The importance of communicating with your support system about what's really happening in your mind

"PMDD awareness is suicide prevention - I'm not hyping this up here. This is reality."

"You cannot think 'I'm worthless' 25 times in one minute... for 14 days and not end up with self-injurious thoughts and behaviors."

"Healing PMDD isn't just about managing symptoms, it's about transforming your life. This challenge, as brutal as it can be, is an invitation to know yourself more deeply."

Episode Highlights:

[00:06:36] - The shocking 2022 BMC Psychiatry study statistics that shook the PMDD world

[00:18:59] - How automatic negative thoughts create a spiral leading to self-harm

[00:27:20] - The various forms of self-sabotage women don't recognize as self-harm

[00:45:48] - Dad's perspective on learning about Jes's 17 years of hidden struggle

[00:56:22] - How breaking the silence transformed their relationship and Jes's life

• BMC Psychiatry 2022 study: "Prevalence of Lifetime Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in a Global Sample of 599 Patients Reporting Prospectively Confirmed Diagnosis with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder" -https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-022-03851-0

• PMDD Rehab program lesson on automatic negative thoughts and self-sabotage

https://hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-rehab-course

• Automatic negative thoughts workbook -

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/z3VZsifo

• Symptom mapping kit (free resource for tracking PMDD patterns)

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/symptommappingkit

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 

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PMDD awareness saves lives. Your 30-second review could be the reason another woman finally finds this podcast and discovers she's not alone, she's not "crazy," and there is hope. The woman who finds us because of your review might be in her darkest moment, searching for answers just like you once did. Please take a moment to rate PMDD Pep Talk and share how this podcast has helped you.

Every review spreads awareness. Every bit of awareness has the power to save lives.

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Watch the episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/FqJi1Z3X_pg

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You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor

Youtube: @hermoodmentor

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

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Looking for more support?

✦︎  Grab our FREE Symptom Mapping Kit- The first step to healing instead of dealing with your symptoms is to map your symptom pattern.

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/symptommappingkit

Ready to learn how to reduce and manage your PMDD symptoms?

✦︎  Join us in the PMDD Rehab Course.

https://hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-rehab-course