In this thought-provoking episode of PMDD Pep Talk, Jes takes us on a deep dive into why PMDD can often be mistaken for narcissism. With empathy and expertise, she explores how PMDD symptoms impact our ability to connect with others and how this can be misconstrued as narcissistic behavior. If you've ever wondered if PMDD shapes how you see yourself and how others view you, this episode will provide clarity and understanding.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The difference between narcissism as a trait and as a clinical disorder.
• How PMDD symptoms can mimic traits associated with narcissism.
• The impact of cognitive empathy deficits in women with PMDD.
• Understanding the distinction between survival states and stable personality traits.
• Why the diagnostic criteria for narcissistic personality disorder may not adequately reflect women's presentations.
• How relationship dynamics can complicate perceptions of narcissism in those with PMDD.
• The role of personal distress in altering empathetic responses during the luteal phase.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"Your empathy isn't missing. You are in a distressed state which is flooding you with inputs."

"The problem is that you're swamped by your own distress, so much so that you can't really climb out of it far enough to see another person's side and perspective."

"PMDD might feel like your whole story, but it's just a chapter, and you get to write what comes next."

"A survival state can look like a trait that’s cranked up, but a trait doesn’t crank up and crank down."

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

In this heartwarming and empowering episode, we dive into Jamie's transformative journey with PMDD. After struggling in silence for 17 years, Jamie found herself on a quest for help amidst relentless symptoms that had hijacked her life. She shares her emotional path from feeling like her world was falling apart to redefining her relationship with her body and reclaiming her life.

For years, Jamie was trapped in a cycle of exhaustion, grumpiness, and memory lapses. Despite trying various medications, her symptoms persisted, tearing through her relationships and haunting her daily existence. Feeling misunderstood and overwhelmed, she faced significant life challenges with little relief or support.

The turning point came when Jamie discovered Jes and the PMDD rehab program. Through personalized coaching and a holistic approach, she learned to understand her symptoms, dig deep into the root causes, and prioritize her needs, something she had never dared to do before.

Today, Jamie's life is a testament to resilience and transformation. Her sleep has significantly improved, reducing her PMDD symptom days from ten to just three each month. Nutritional changes and targeted exercises have empowered her, bringing a newfound self-respect and peace. Jamie is now able to embrace her life's challenges with hope and joy, rather than fear and shame.

👉 "I feel like a whole different human than when I started with you."

👉 "The world isn't crashing down on me anymore."

👉 "I'm nicer to myself, I'm nicer to my family, my body is happy."

👉 "I'm not carrying the guilt and shame anymore."

👉 "I feel like I can love myself like someone who doesn't have PMDD."

Jamie's story is a beacon of hope for women worldwide battling the shadows of PMDD. It speaks to the power of understanding, the importance of the right support, and the impact of loving oneself enough to fight for a better life.

If you're feeling trapped by PMDD like Jamie once did, this story is for you. Remember, there is a community ready to support you, and solutions tailored to your needs await. You are not alone, and with the right help, you too can transform your life.

❤️ If this story resonated with you, please subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

In this episode of PMDD Pep Talk, Jes dives into how understanding and aligning with your core values can help you navigate the challenging waters of PMDD. Discover how these deeply personal guideposts can bridge the gap between who you are at your core and the person PMDD sometimes makes you think you are. You won’t find a cure-all solution, but you’ll find a meaningful compass to steer you back to yourself.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How PMDD alters perception and self-identity beyond just mood.
• The role core values play in anchoring your identity despite PMDD symptoms.
• How your values can help break cycles of guilt and shame.
• Why values work is crucial and where it fits within therapeutic approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
• How reflecting on values improves decision-making and emotional regulation.
• The importance of doing values work before high-stress PMDD episodes.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"PMDD might feel like your whole story, but it's just a chapter, and you get to write what comes next."

"Your core values are the compass that points you back to who you really are."

"The compass doesn't keep you from taking a wrong turn, but it can help you to find your way back."

"When you repeat those behaviors over and over, it becomes your quality of life, so it is a little self-fulfilling prophecy with PMDD."

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

In this episode of PMDD Pep Talk, Jes unpacks why PMDD often makes us push loved ones away, using the powerful metaphor of drowning. Discover how to navigate these turbulent waters without feeling overwhelmed by guilt or shame, and learn practical strategies for creating a support system that truly understands your challenges.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Understand the metaphor of the "drowning girl" and how it relates to PMDD.
• Differentiate between shame and guilt, and learn how each affects your healing.
• Discover the importance of preparing a support system on "dry land" before PMDD symptoms strike.
• Recognize the instinctive survival responses during PMDD episodes.
• Identify tools and strategies to communicate and coordinate with your support network effectively.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"You cannot heal from a place of 'I am broken, I am the problem, I am bad...'"

"Drowning does not look like drowning, and neither does PMDD."

"A drowning person will drown the lifeguard... this is just so relevant for PMDD."

"We need more self-compassion, and that starts with understanding the drowning girl metaphor."

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

When Jo joined us on the podcast, she shared her journey with PMDD, a condition she had been living with since age 13 but couldn't name for most of that time. For over two decades she was dealing with debilitating hormonal mood symptoms that were affecting her relationships, her memory, her sense of self, and nearly every area of her daily life.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How Jo spent more than 20 years with PMDD before she had a name for what was happening.
• The intense irritability and rejection sensitivity that strained her relationships with family and partners.
• Why brain fog, memory loss, and a persistent mental block became some of her hardest symptoms to live with.
• What a full week of recovery after every PMDD episode actually cost her.
• How years of doctors, SSRIs, and a copper IUD left her feeling worse instead of better.
• The moment on Instagram when PMDD came up and everything finally made sense.
• Why she calls her HTMA the most productive test she has done so far.
• How mineral correction, dietary shifts, and personalized support changed her memory, her mornings, and her relationships.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"My memory has gotten so much better. That's been a big thing."

"I'm a lot happier now than I have been most of my life."

"I can find support for myself and I don't have to worry or feel ashamed of myself."

"I don't take things as personal, I feel more connected, not so distant."

"This is the happiest I've ever been."

The Bigger Picture:

Jo's story shows that 20+ years of suffering doesn't have to be the whole story. Through root cause testing, mineral rebalancing, nutritional shifts, and a community that finally understood what she was going through, Jo found a version of herself she had never fully met before, and she's still becoming her.

What This Means For You:

Jo's transformation shows that PMDD doesn't have to run your life, your relationships, or your sense of self. With the right approach and support, you can:

• Finally understand what's actually driving your symptoms
• Reclaim your memory, focus, and emotional steadiness
• Show up differently at home, at work, and in your relationships
• Break free from the shame spiral that keeps so many of us stuck
• Experience a version of yourself that feels secure, connected, and genuinely happy

♥ If this podcast has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or more hopeful in your healing, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review PMDD Pep Talk. Your words don't just help us grow, they help someone in the depths of their cycle find this support when they need it most. Every subscribe click, rate, and review helps us reach more people who are still suffering in silence.

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

In this episode of PMDD Pep Talk, Jes introduces the concept of "state changing," a powerful, yet simple approach to managing PMDD-related rage and overwhelm. Drawing from personal experiences and insights, Jes shares practical tools that can help shift your body's response during heightened emotional states. Discover how you can navigate these challenges with proactive strategies that go beyond traditional calming techniques.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of state changing for PMDD management.
• Why calming down or meditation may not work during high escalation states.
• Simple, effective state change strategies you can use anywhere, anytime.
• The role of physical activity in managing stress hormones and emotions.
• How changing your environment can powerfully affect your mental state.
• The benefits of small acts of kindness during emotional spirals.
• How somatic techniques like humming can help reset your nervous system.
• The difference between state changing and avoiding feelings.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"When your alarm is loud, you are moving out of a conscious ability to be in a thinking state."

"A state change is when you deliberately do something that shifts your physical state or your surroundings so that your emotional state has something to follow."

"You change your kid state, you change your animal state. You are allowed to change your own state."

"The spiral was anchored to the place that you were physically in."

Resources Mentioned:

- Episode 46 - Escalation Patterns with PMDD

- Episode 33 - Nervous System Regulation

- Episode 40 - Building Your PMDD Emergency Kit

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

When Allie joined us on the podcast, she shared how PMDD hijacked her life for nearly two years, starting after a concussion that triggered symptoms so severe and relentless she was suffering for 25 days out of every cycle.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How a concussion became the trigger point for nearly two years of severe PMDD symptoms.
• What it looks like to be symptomatic for 25 days out of every cycle.
• The severe depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and intrusive thoughts Allie lived with.
• Why paranoia, brain fog, and disorientation left her feeling completely outside her own body.
• How sleep paralysis, nightmares, headaches, tinnitus, and worsening Crohn's symptoms stacked on top of each other.
• What countless ER visits and scans did and didn't tell her.
• Why temporary relief through birth control still wasn't her long term answer.
• How symptom mapping, nutrition, supplementation, nervous system regulation, and cycle phase education reduced her moderate to severe symptoms by roughly 8 days per cycle.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"Living felt like a fight every single day, just to get up in the morning, take a shower, go to work. That was pulling teeth."

"The doom and irritability is at an all-time low. And no cramps, which I loved."

"It is possible to work through this. It's possible to feel better. It takes a lot, but the natural approach is every penny worth it."

"You're not alone. Stay in that fight. There is light at the end of the tunnel."

The Bigger Picture:

Allie's story shows that PMDD, even when it spans nearly your entire cycle and every doctor has sent you home with no answers, can be understood, reduced, and managed with the right root cause approach.

What This Means For You:

Allie's transformation shows PMDD doesn't have to be your whole story. With the right support, you can:

• Reclaim days, even weeks, of your month from severe symptoms
• Understand your cycle phases and stop being blindsided by your own body
• Build nervous system tools that work before symptoms escalate
• Address root causes like gut health and nutrient depletion keeping you stuck
• Finally have the energy and capacity to pursue the life you want

♥ If this podcast has ever made you feel seen, less alone, or more hopeful in your healing, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review PMDD Pep Talk. Your words don't just help us grow, they help someone in the depths of their cycle find this support when they need it most. Every subscribe click, rate, and review helps us reach more people who are still suffering in silence.

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

In this episode of the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast, Jes dives into why meditation may not be your friend during a PMDD meltdown. Through her personal experience and professional expertise, Jes reveals the importance of understanding your PMDD symptom escalation scale and matching the right tools to your current state. By tuning into this conversation, you'll equip yourself with practical strategies for navigating PMDD more effectively.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Discover the 4 zones of PMDD symptom escalation from regulated to crisis.
• Understand why certain tools, like meditation, may be ineffective or even detrimental during high-intensity moments.
• Explore the trigger loop, including anchors, triggers, feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and their impact on your cycle.
• Learn the critical difference between managing symptoms and transforming your life with PMDD.
• Get practical advice on building a personalized escalation scale menu for accessible, real-time support.
• Why co-regulation is essential in the crisis zone and how to have a plan in place before reaching this state.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

Struggling with PMDD since adolescence can feel like a never-ending battle against a tide of emotions and lost time. In this episode, Jes dives deep into the journey of living with PMDD from a young age and how it impacts the flow of life, relationships, identity, and beyond. Together, we'll explore the grief of lost years and the hope of reclaiming your life from these symptoms.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The average time between PMDD symptom onset and diagnosis and its impact on life.
• How undiagnosed and misdiagnosed PMDD affects adolescence and early adulthood.
• The implications of misdiagnosis and how it shapes personal identity.
• Understanding the trauma link with PMDD and its effect on symptoms.
• The reality of PMDD in terms of lost days and how symptom mapping can be vital.
• How grief and hope coexist in the journey toward healing and reclaiming life.
• Practical steps for shifting the narrative from being a problem to facing a challenge.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"PMDD might feel like your whole story, but it's just a chapter, and you get to write what comes next."

"There's a huge overlap between PMDD and trauma, and the trauma is one of the root causes of PMDD."

"You can't grieve something you can't see, and you can't see it clearly until you start to get far enough away from it."

"Even now, I still feel like I'm playing catch-up in my career, in some of my relationships, in my sense of self."

"The grief means that you're far enough out of the worst of it to finally see it."

Resources Mentioned:

See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98

**Episode Title: Jen's PMDD Story and Symptom Transformation**

**Show Notes:**

From an unrelenting cycle of anxiety, rage, and debilitating physical symptoms, Jen's journey with PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) was fraught with search and struggle. For years, she questioned her sanity and sought remedies that failed to bring relief. But beneath her suffering, hope awaited—a testament to resilience and transformative healing.

For 17 long years, Jen's life was overshadowed by the disruptive force of PMDD. Symptoms that intensified post-pregnancy made everyday tasks feel insurmountable, leading her to step away from a career she dearly loved. Despite trying medications, therapies, and numerous lifestyle changes, nothing fully alleviated her pain or restored her life’s balance.

Everything shifted when Jen stumbled upon Her Mood Mentor on Instagram, which felt like a lifeline from the universe. Engaging with a support system shaped by shared experience, not only did Jen discover effective strategies tailored to her needs, but she found a community that truly understood her journey.

Today, Jen's life is transformed. She experiences more energy, less anxiety, and reduced irritability. Her days are no longer governed by uncontrollable symptoms, but rather are filled with time, space, and vitality to live fully.

**In Their Own Words:**

👉 "I've noticed a huge difference in my energy levels."

👉 "Only a moment of crying instead of days."

👉 "I have more energy to work out."

👉 "No depression or emotional sensitivity."

👉 "I don't have breast tenderness for 2 weeks of every month anymore."

Jen's story embodies a beacon of hope for other women battling the isolating impact of PMDD. You’re not alone—the path to healing is possible and accessible.

**What This Means For You:**

If you're feeling overwhelmed by PMDD, Jen's story is a testament to the power of understanding, community, and personalized care. Change is possible; it starts by recognizing your experience is real and seeking the support that truly resonates with you.

❤️ If this story resonated with you, please subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

HMM Resources + Services

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Listen to the PMDD Pep Talk Podcast

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/podcasts/pmdd-pep-talk-2

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor https://www.instagram.com/hermoodmentor/

Youtube: @hermoodmentor https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCScMMMsmLZDfzjZEQ-1l9lA

Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/

_________________________________

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

✦︎ Work with us. Schedule your Intro Session with our onboarding team and let's run your symptom assessment!

https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/offers/Amd9gW98