PMDD Pep Talk

In this episode of the PMDD Pep Talk with Jes, we challenge the language used around PMDD and its impact on your experience. Jes delves deep into how words can shape your mental and physical response to PMDD symptoms, and why reframing "hell week" could make a significant difference in your journey. If you’ve felt trapped by your cycle, this episode might just be the key to unlocking a new perspective and sense of agency.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• How language can influence your PMDD experience and perception.
• The difference between identity-first and person-first language, and why it matters.
• The powerful framework Her Mood Mentor uses to approach PMDD beyond symptom management.
• An introduction to metacognition and why thinking about your thinking is a crucial tool.
• The role of interoception and how it connects with PMDD and trauma.
• Simple, actionable language shifts to foster agency and promote healing.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"Are you describing your current experience, or are you making a permanent declaration about your identity and your future?"

"Your thoughts create your beliefs, and your beliefs create your behavior, and your behavior creates your life."

"Changing your language really does not mean minimizing what you're going through."

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 dives into the unexpected link between PMDD, ADHD, and iron levels, particularly focusing on ferritin, the storage form of iron. If you've tried every treatment under the sun for PMDD and still struggle to find relief, this conversation may hold the missing piece you've been searching for. We embark on an insightful journey that uncovers how iron, dopamine, and gut health intertwine to shape the symptoms you experience.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The significant role of ferritin in dopamine synthesis and its impact on ADHD and PMDD symptoms.
• How standard iron testing might not reveal the whole story and why a full iron panel is crucial.
• The relationship between gut health and hormone clearance, highlighting why gut issues can exacerbate PMDD symptoms.
• The complex interplay of minerals like iron, zinc, and calcium, and how they affect absorption and symptom management.
• Real-life insights from a client case study illustrating how tailored testing and treatment can transform lives.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"Your mood is really downstream of your biology. Your biology is downstream of your gut, and your gut is something that we can actually assess and address."

"If hepcidin goes up, it closes the door on iron absorption. You can't supplement your way past a closed door."

"Minerals do not operate in isolation. They exist in a web of relationships."

"Nora finally feels like her body is on her team, and that is the goal in the work that we do."

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, we dive deep into Yvette's journey with PMDD and how she transformed her life with the right support and approach. From battling severe symptoms for half of her life to discovering the tools to manage and even reduce them significantly, Yvette shares her raw and inspiring story. Whether you're struggling with PMDD yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers hope and practical insights for reclaiming joy and control.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Yvette's journey from misdiagnosis and confusion to clarity and healing.
• The impact of PMDD on Yvette's personal and professional life.
• How understanding your cycle and PMDD-specific symptoms is crucial for healing.
• The role of nutritional therapy and comprehensive coaching in symptom management.
• How addressing root causes instead of masking symptoms can lead to a more connected, joyful life.
• The importance of having a support system and community in the healing process.
• Why celebrating small wins and self-compassion are keys to long-term success.
• Tips for shifting from surviving PMDD to thriving despite it.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"I'm laughing again."

"I'm not ashamed anymore."

"I feel a lot more like me again rather than two versions."

"This isn't crippling me anymore."

"I respect myself now."

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

Results vary. This is one woman's experience and is not a guarantee of the results you may experience. Although there is currently no cure for PMDD, our work aims to support the reduction and improved management of symptoms over time. Our services are designed to work alongside care from appropriately licensed healthcare providers, not in place of it. Her Mood Mentor does not provide medical advice, medical treatment, or medication management.

In this episode of PMDD Pep Talk, Jes walks you through building your personalized PMDD emergency kit, offering a practical guide to help you feel more prepared when symptoms strike in public. With personal anecdotes, Jes shares the tools that keep her grounded, encouraging you to create your own toolkit that meets your unique needs.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The importance of having a PMDD emergency kit and how it can support you during unexpected flare-ups.
• Suggestions for essential items to include in your kit, such as hand lotion and facial mist spray.
• How applying sensory tools can help regulate your nervous system on the go.
• Tips on choosing items that help ground you, reducing stimulation in public spaces.
• The role of planning ahead by preparing your kit on a good day, ensuring you're ready for challenging moments.

Key Quotes from This Episode:

"When PMDD symptoms hit you in public, maybe you're in a meeting or the grocery store, you need something to reach for that isn't going to make things worse."

"You really can't problem solve your way through an activated nervous system, so we build the kit when we feel well."

"Start with even 3 things in a little bag and build from there—but please do this on a good day, not mid-luteal."

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 dives into the important topic of explaining PMDD to those who may not get it. If you've ever struggled to put into words what you're experiencing or felt dismissed by those around you, this episode is for you. Learn practical ways to communicate your PMDD experience and ensure your suffering is seen and understood.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The neurobiological roots of PMDD and why it's often misunderstood
• Ten creative and impactful ways to explain PMDD to others
• How PMDD differs from PMS and why this distinction matters
• The cyclical nature of PMDD and its impact on your life and relationships
• Practical tips on how to use language that fits different audiences when discussing PMDD

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."

"PMDD is not a hormone problem... it's a brain sensitivity condition."

"Living with PMDD is like battling a monster that no one else can see."

"PMDD is like getting gaslit by your own brain."

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

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Emma, one of our PMDD rehab students who transformed her life by addressing and overcoming debilitating PMDD symptoms. In this episode, Emma shares her journey from frustration and hopelessness to regaining control and joy in her life. Whether you're freshly diagnosed or have been navigating PMDD for years, Emma's story offers hope and practical insights into finding your unique path to healing.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:
• Emma's initial struggle with PMDD symptoms and how she found her diagnosis.
• The specific symptoms Emma faced and their impact on her daily life and relationships.
• How a holistic and nutritional approach helped Emma reduce her symptoms dramatically.
• The fears and doubts Emma experienced before investing in her health journey.
• The positive changes Emma saw in her life after working through PMDD rehab with Jes.

Key Quotes from This Episode:
"It's so worth feeling a little bit worse for a little bit because you feel so much better on the other side."
"Your life is not going to feel like this forever. It's not. You are not stuck like this forever."
"I can live more now without the constant fear of a symptom popping up."

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

Results vary. This is one woman's experience and is not a guarantee of the results you may experience. Although there is currently no cure for PMDD, our work aims to support the reduction and improved management of symptoms over time. Our services are designed to work alongside care from appropriately licensed healthcare providers, not in place of it. Her Mood Mentor does not provide medical advice, medical treatment, or medication management.

Get ready to embark on your next trip armed with powerful strategies to support your PMDD symptoms. In this episode, Jes shares comprehensive tips on how to manage your body and mind before, during, and after travel so you can feel more in control and less overwhelmed. Whether you find travel exhilarating or exhausting, these insights are your guide to a smoother journey.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:
• Why knowing your cycle phase is crucial when planning travel.
• How to establish non-negotiable anchors for greater stability.
• The importance of maintaining regular meals and hydration.
• Specific strategies for reducing histamine responses while traveling.
• Tips for protecting your sleep environment and managing re-entry post-travel.

Key Quotes from This Episode:
"Knowing where you are in your cycle is really important because the same trip can feel very different depending on where you are in your cycle."
"Travel is always going to be a stressor for your body regardless where you are in your cycle phase, but it doesn't have to take you out."
"You don't need a perfect trip; you need better tools, better awareness, and more preparation."

Resources Mentioned:
See links below for all HMM resources.

HMM Resources + Services
https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources

_________________________________

Watch the episode on Youtube:
https://youtu.be/Cj6QY_XIpQw 

_________________________________

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 support, resources, or want to work with us? 👇🏻

https://hermoodmentor.com

Why Travel Triggers PMDD So Hard

If you have ever felt like travel completely throws off your PMDD symptoms, this episode will help you understand why. Jes breaks down how travel creates a stack of physiologic and nervous system stressors — from sleep disruption and dehydration to histamine load, blood sugar instability, digestive changes, overstimulation, and routine loss — and why it can be so hard to get back on track once you get home.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why travel is not one trigger, but a stacked trigger environment for women with PMDD

• How sleep disruption, circadian rhythm changes, dehydration, and blood sugar instability can make symptoms worse

• Why histamine and mast cell sensitivity may be an added layer for some women during air travel

• How constipation, gut disruption, and alcohol can quietly amplify PMDD symptoms while traveling

• Why supplement and medication timing changes matter more than many women realize

• How losing routines, regulation tools, and familiar structure can increase nervous system load

• Why luteal-phase travel may need more protection and planning than follicular-phase travel

• Why the “re-entry crash” after travel can hit even harder than the trip itself

• What to focus on before, during, and after travel to better support your body and reduce symptom flares

Resources Mentioned:

• Sleep and circadian rhythm support

• Nervous system regulation tools

• Hydration and blood sugar support strategies

• PMDD symptom tracking

• Travel recovery planning

• Histamine-awareness strategies for women who know this is part of their symptom picture

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Citations

1. Komada Y, Ikeda Y, Shibata S. Social jetlag and menstrual symptoms among female university students. Chronobiology International. 2019. PMID: 30395733

2. Menstrual disturbances and its association with sleep disturbances: a systematic review. PMCID: PMC10474748

3. Up in the Air: Evidence of Dehydration Risk and Long-Haul Flight on Athletic Performance. PMCID: PMC7551461

4. Gehlert S, Song IH, Chang C-H, Hartlage SA. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Epidemiology and treatment. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2009;11(6):449-457. PMCID: PMC4890701

HMM Resources + Services
https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources 

_________________________________

Watch the episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/v0iMSdlRANA 

_________________________________

You can find Jes:
Instagram: @hermoodmentor
Youtube: @hermoodmentor
Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/ 

_________________________________

Looking for support, resources, or want to work with us? 👇🏻

https://hermoodmentor.com

When Mariah joined us on the podcast, she shared her 6-year journey with PMDD — symptoms she spent years calling “really bad PMS” that were impacting her marriage, her motherhood, and her sense of self.

The Struggle:

Mariah’s challenges included:

The Turning Point:

A nurse friend asked Mariah if she might have PMDD. Everything clicked. She didn’t want birth control or antidepressants — she wanted to work with her body. Her mom found Her Mood Mentor on Instagram, and Mariah took the leap into our PMDD Rehab and one-to-one coaching program.

The Transformation:

Within 4 months, Mariah’s symptomatic days dropped from up to 14 per cycle down to 3–4 — with significantly less severity. She stopped spiraling, stopped isolating, and started showing up as the present, safe mom she always wanted to be.

In Their Own Words:

Here’s what Mariah shared on the podcast:

→ “I appreciate my body so much. Go body.”

→ “My husband and I are on the same team. It’s us against luteal.”

→ “I didn’t spiral.”

→ “I feel strong and like I can handle hard things.”

The Bigger Picture:

Mariah’s story shows that PMDD doesn’t have to stay in the dark. Through personalized lab work, targeted supplementation, nervous system support, and relational tools, she transformed not just her symptoms — but her marriage, her motherhood, and her relationship with herself.

What This Means For You:

Mariah’s transformation proves that PMDD doesn’t have to rob you of the things you love most. With the right support, you can:

♥ 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.

HMM Resources + Services

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

_________________________________

Watch the episode on Youtube

https://youtu.be/Vmn9iXDt6Dw 

_________________________________

You can find Jes:

Instagram: @hermoodmentor

Youtube: @hermoodmentor

Website: hermoodmentor.com

_________________________________

Looking for support, resources, or want to work with us? 👇🏻

https://hermoodmentor.com

Results vary. This is one woman's experience and is not a guarantee of the results you may experience. Although there is currently no cure for PMDD, our work aims to support the reduction and improved management of symptoms over time. Our services are designed to work alongside care from appropriately licensed healthcare providers, not in place of it. Her Mood Mentor does not provide medical advice, medical treatment, or medication management.

The Real Reason Our Clients See Meaningful PMDD Progress

Why do some women finally start seeing meaningful PMDD progress after years of feeling stuck, dismissed, and exhausted? In this episode, Jes breaks down what actually makes Her Mood Mentor’s approach different — and why real progress often comes from personalized, root-cause, capacity-aware support rather than generic symptom advice. If you have ever felt like you are trying so hard and still not getting anywhere, this episode will help you understand why.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why PMDD is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and far more serious than “just bad PMS”

• How delayed diagnosis, dismissal, and repeated failed attempts can wear down hope and make women lose steam

• Why Her Mood Mentor clients get results through personalized, capacity-aware care that meets them where they are

• How nutritional therapy, specialized lab testing, coaching, and nervous system work create a more complete path forward

• The mindset and metacognition shift behind the H.E.A.L. method: Challenge → Awareness → Understanding → Agency → Aligned Action

• The success metrics Her Mood Mentor tracks using prospective symptom tracking, including changes in symptom days, symptom burden, and quality of life

Resources Mentioned:

• Her Mood Mentor H.E.A.L. method

• Weekly community group coaching calls

• Nutritional therapy support

• Specialized lab testing many clients have never been offered and that many conventional providers do not routinely use

• Prospective symptom tracking

• Internal client outcome data

• Upcoming separate episodes on testing and on the Challenge → Awareness → Understanding → Agency → Aligned Action framework with client quotes

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Citations

1. Chan K, Rubtsova AA, Clark CJ. Exploring diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder in the U.S. healthcare system: a qualitative investigation. BMC Women’s Health. 2023;23:272. doi:10.1186/s12905-023-02334-y

2. Osborn E, Wittkowski A, Brooks J, Briggs PE, O’Brien PMS. Women’s experiences of receiving a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a qualitative investigation. BMC Women’s Health. 2020;20:242. doi:10.1186/s12905-020-01100-8

3. Gehlert S, Song IH, Chang C-H, Hartlage SA. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder: Epidemiology and treatment. Current Psychiatry Reports. 2009;11(6):449-457. PMCID: PMC4890701

4. Mendiratta V, Lentz GM. Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. American Family Physician. 2016;94(3):236-240

5. Eisenlohr-Moul T, Divine M, Schmalenberger K, et al. Prevalence of lifetime self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in a global sample of 599 patients reporting prospectively confirmed diagnosis with premenstrual dysphoric disorder. BMC Psychiatry. 2022;22:199. doi:10.1186/s12888-022-03851-0

6. Pilver CE, Libby DJ, Hoff RA. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder as a correlate of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts among a nationally representative sample. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2013;48:437-446. doi:10.1007/s00127-012-0548-z

7. Prasad D, Wollenhaupt-Aguiar B, Kidd KN, de Azevedo Cardoso T, Frey BN. Suicidal Risk in Women with Premenstrual Syndrome and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Women’s Health. 2021;30(12):1693-1707. doi:10.1089/jwh.2021.0185

8. Osborn E, Brooks J, O’Brien PMS, Wittkowski A. Women with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder experiences of suicidal ideation and attempts. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2024. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1442767

HMM Resources + Services
https://courses.hermoodmentor.com/pmdd-resources 

_________________________________

Watch the episode on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/nHWUdyKjEI0 

_________________________________

You can find Jes:
Instagram: @hermoodmentor
Youtube: @hermoodmentor
Website: https://hermoodmentor.com/ 

_________________________________

Looking for support, resources, or want to work with us? 👇🏻

https://hermoodmentor.com