The Hormonal Hotline

"It's like the colour just drains out of your life for two weeks a month."

What happens when the coping strategies that got you through your whole life suddenly stop working the moment you become a mum? Ellisha sits down with psychologist, speaker and mother-of-three Dr Tuesday Watts for an honest, moving conversation covering unmasking after motherhood, the reality behind her polished social media presence, and getting diagnosed with PMDD while raising three small, neurodivergent-leaning children of her own.

What We Cover

Dr Tuesday takes us back to her years as an academic psychologist, and how becoming a mum unravelled the perfectionism she'd relied on her whole life - the "swan analogy" of looking calm on the surface while paddling like hell underneath.

She describes PMDD in vivid, unforgettable terms: the colour draining out of her life for two weeks a month, and the full-body despair of only getting a handful of good days to treasure before the fog rolls back in.

Dr Tuesday was diagnosed earlier this year after a wave of racing thoughts and anxiety she couldn't explain - and shares the GP appointment she'd geared up to fight for, only to be believed within minutes.

She unpacks the emerging links between PMDD, ADHD and early perimenopause, and why she's already thinking about how to support her two daughters through it.

We get into the practical tools that help her regulate in the luteal phase - from construction-site ear defenders to limiting scrolling - and why "lowering the bar" is her biggest act of self-compassion.

Ellisha and Dr Tuesday close out with listener dilemmas on trusting intuition over PMDD-fuelled thoughts, and how to parent through the guilt of snapping at your kids without losing yourself to shame.

Our Sponsor

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I’m so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Shop Evelyn Health

Connect with Dr Tuesday Watts
Instagram: @iamdrtuesday
TikTok: @iamdrtuesday

Timestamps
00:00 - Welcome to Dr Tuesday and the reality behind the social media highlight reel
02:59 - From academic psychologist to unmasking as a mother 
09:03 - What PMDD actually feels like, and getting diagnosed 
16:40 - Sensory overwhelm, ear defenders and surviving the luteal phase 
40:14 - Listener dilemmas: intuition vs PMDD in relationships and parenting 
58:53 - Quickfire questions and advice for anyone in the depths of it right now

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect

Hit follow so you never miss an episode of The Hormonal Hotline, and come say hi on Instagram @thehormonalhotline. Got a dilemma for the Hotline? Send it our way - anonymously, always.

Produced by @the32collective_

"Even after they found it, I was still gaslighting myself into thinking maybe I don't have it."

What does it take to get diagnosed with a disease you didn't even know existed — while playing international sport through it the whole time? Ellisha sits down with Wales international rugby player and endometriosis advocate Gwen Crabb for a raw, eye-opening conversation about growing up with dismissed, debilitating periods, playing an entire Rugby World Cup with undiagnosed stage four endometriosis, and the three-year fight for a diagnosis that changed everything.

What We Cover

Gwen got her first period the same year she started playing rugby, aged 14 — and was told by doctors for years that her symptoms would "settle down."

She spent four years on the contraceptive pill unknowingly managing her symptoms, then had the worst period of her life when she came off it at 22, which kickstarted years of confusing, dismissed symptoms.

After a three-year battle for an NHS referral, Gwen was diagnosed with stage four endometriosis in December 2024 — just months after playing an entire Rugby World Cup without knowing she had it.

She opens up about the brutal World Cup match against Canada that pushed her to breaking point, plus her recent excision surgery and recovery.

Gwen shares the lifestyle changes, coping strategies, and conversations with her coaches that have completely changed how she manages her condition day to day.

She and Ellisha answer two listener dilemmas on advocating for period pain at work and balancing elite training with a chronic illness.

Our Sponsor

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Connect with Gwen Crabb
Instagram: @gwencrabb

Timestamps
 00:00 - Welcome back and meeting Gwen
 03:22 - Getting her first period at 14, the same year she started rugby
 05:51 - Years of being dismissed by GPs
 19:09 - The three-year fight for an NHS referral, and diagnosis day
 33:04 - Playing through undiagnosed stage four endo at the Rugby World Cup
 41:19 - Recovery, coping strategies and lifestyle changes
 54:38 - Quickfire questions and listener dilemmas

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect

Hit follow so you never miss an episode of The Hormonal Hotline, and come say hi on Instagram @thehormonalhotline. Got a dilemma for the Hotline? Send it our way - anonymously, always.

Produced by @the32collective_

"My whole life revolves around my cycle now. It's wild."

What happens when the thing that's protecting you is also the thing hiding the truth from you? Ellisha sits down with content creator and PMDD advocate Jessie Hallett for an honest, funny, and at times raw conversation covering sobriety, a five-and-a-half stone transformation, and the PMDD symptoms that only surfaced once her hormonal coil was removed after thirteen years.

What We Cover

Jessie went sober on 17th November 2022 after years of alcohol dependency, and describes her sobriety as the achievement she's proudest of.

She'd been on hormonal contraception since age 16 and had gone over a decade without a period - meaning her PMDD symptoms only emerged once the coil was removed in April 2025.

Working holistically with a functional wellness practitioner, Jessie has managed her PMDD without pharmaceutical medication, focusing on gut health, genetic testing, sleep, strength training, and reducing her toxic load.

She opens up about recent surgery, body image after major weight loss, and how she's rebuilding her relationship with her body.

Jessie shares how she and her partner navigate PMDD together, including how something as simple as tracking her cycle together has changed how supported she feels.

Our Sponsor

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I’m so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Shop Evelyn Health

Connect with Jessie Hallett

Instagram: @jessiehallettt

Tik Tok: @jessiehallettt

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome back and catching up with Jessie

04:00 – How Jessie's PMDD journey began

08:00 – Thirteen years on the coil — and what it was hiding

16:00 – Living with PMDD in a relationship

21:00 – The brain-hormone connection people don't talk about enough

33:00 – What's actually helped: gut health, sleep, biohacking and balance

41:00 – Quickfire questions and listener dilemmas

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect

Hit follow so you never miss an episode of The Hormonal Hotline, and come say hi on Instagram @thehormonalhotline. Got a dilemma for the Hotline? Send it our way - anonymously, always.

Produced by @the32collective_

Content note: This episode contains an open discussion of suicidal ideation as a symptom of PMDD. If you're struggling,

- the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123

- visit evelynhealth.com for guidance and advice

- join the Evelyn Whatsapp Community for PMDD-specific community support: https://chat.whatsapp.com/L40QNzo4Ew94MaTlnraLBW 

Ever been told your bloods are “normal” while you feel like a completely different person every month? Ellisha sits down with functional wellness practitioner and PMDD advocate Zoe Jane Hindle for a raw, detailed conversation about what's really going on in the body when PMDD takes hold - and why “normal” results don't mean nothing is wrong.

Zoe has lived through severe PMDD herself, trained at the College of Functional Wellness, and now works with women one-to-one to get to the root of their symptoms. She and Ellisha get honest about rage, isolation, relationship breakdowns, the years it took to get a diagnosis, and the unexpected culprits - from collagen supplements to copper coils - that can quietly make symptoms worse. This one's a masterclass in body literacy, and a reminder that there is genuinely a way out the other side.

What we cover

What PMDD actually is, and why it shows up as feeling like two completely different people across the month

The rage, isolation and withdrawal that so many women with PMDD experience — and why checking in on them matters

How PMDD shows up in relationships, and why it doesn't mean the relationship itself is wrong

Zoe's own diagnosis journey, including the years spent not knowing what ovulation even was

Why a “normal” blood test doesn't rule out PMDD — it's a hormone sensitivity, not a hormone imbalance

The role of histamine, collagen, copper coils and gut health in flaring symptoms

Functional and DUTCH testing, and what they can reveal that a single blood test can't

Trauma, nervous system regulation and why “doing the work” matters alongside nutrition

Zoe's honest take on contraception, and listener dilemmas on choosing what's right for your body

Our sponsor: Evelyn Health

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Shop Evelyn Health

Connect with Zoe Jane Hindle

Instagram: @zoejanehindle

Website: zoejanehindle.com

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome back and catching up with Zoe

05:00 – What is PMDD, really?

16:00 – Zoe's own diagnosis story

38:00 – Why normal bloods don't mean nothing's wrong

50:00 – Zoe's number one advice for anyone newly diagnosed

1:05:00 – Quickfire questions and listener dilemmas

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect

Hit follow so you never miss an episode of The Hormonal Hotline, and come say hi on Instagram @thehormonalhotline. Got a dilemma for the Hotline? Send it our way - anonymously, always.

Produced by @the32collective_

Content note: This episode contains an open discussion of suicidal ideation as a symptom of PMDD. If you're struggling,
- the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123
- visit evelynhealth.com for guidance and advice
- join the Evelyn Whatsapp Community for PMDD-specific community support: https://chat.whatsapp.com/L40QNzo4Ew94MaTlnraLBW 

What does it really look like to live with PMDD, autism, and ADHD - all at once? Ellisha sits down with PMDD advocate and content creator Lily Rose Winter for one of the most honest conversations the Hormonal Hotline has had yet.

Lily shares her decade-long misdiagnosis journey, the science behind why neurodivergent women are more likely to experience severe PMDD, what suicidal ideation as a monthly symptom actually feels like, and why she chose to speak publicly about how a pregnancy changed the course of her condition. Raw, relatable, and genuinely important.

What we cover

• What PMDD is - and why "really bad PMS" doesn't cut it as a description
• The research linking PMDD with ADHD and autism, and why oestrogen and dopamine drops hit harder for neurodivergent women
• Lily's misdiagnosis journey: depression, bipolar, a personality disorder - and eventually autism and ADHD
• Suicidal ideation as a monthly PMDD symptom, and how education changes your relationship with those thoughts
• How PMDD affects relationships and careers - and what Lily actually recommends if you want to break up with your partner every single month
• Treatment, trial and error, and what's worked (SSRIs, lifestyle changes, going sober)
• How to advocate for yourself at a GP appointment when you're not being taken seriously
• How a pregnancy changed Lily's PMDD - and why she decided to stop staying quiet about it
• The Monthlies: the free online PMDD support group Lily co-hosts with the PMDD Project

Our sponsor: Evelyn Health

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Shop Evelyn Health

Connect with Lily Rose Winter 

Instagram: @lilyrosewinter

Timestamps 

00:01:42 — What is PMDD?

00:09:26 — The link between PMDD, ADHD, and autism

00:14:23 — PMDD and relationships: isolation, toxicity, and red flags

00:20:59 — Suicidal ideation as a monthly symptom

00:29:16 — Treatment options and what's actually helped

00:36:10 — Listener dilemmas

00:57:58 — How a pregnancy changed Lily's PMDD

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and hit follow — it means the world and helps more women find the Hormonal Hotline.

Edited and produced by @the32collective the32collective.co

She ran 250km through Tanzania with undiagnosed PMDD. Now she's helping other women stop fighting their bodies - and start working with them instead.

Frankie Smyth is an ultra runner, resilience and wellness coach, and PMDD advocate who has spent the last few years learning the hard way that understanding your hormones isn't a limitation - it's a superpower. In this episode, Ellisha sits down with Frankie to talk about what it actually looks like to push your body through some of the world's most extreme endurance events while navigating PMDD, fatigue, anxiety, and the very real mental battle of the luteal phase when life doesn't pause for it. This one is full of honesty, practical tools, and genuine hope for anyone in the PMDD community who has ever wondered if achieving big things is still possible for them. Spoiler: it absolutely is.

What we cover

Frankie's journey from couch to 5k to ultra marathons — and what that taught her about resilience and self-belief

How she was diagnosed with PMDD in early 2024, and why she felt lucky compared to the many women who wait years

What her symptoms actually look like: fatigue, anxiety, panic attacks, brain fog, and emotional lows that didn't feel like her

The moment she realised her struggles were cyclical — and how tracking gave her a sense of control back

How she completed 15 national parks in 15 consecutive days during her luteal phase (yes, really)

How to start training with your cycle, not against it — including the Stardust app, follicular vs luteal phase training, and why rest counts as progress

The prep strategy she uses in her good phase to set herself up for the harder days

How to communicate your PMDD to partners, family, and employers — and why that conversation is worth having

Her number one piece of advice for anyone who feels like their condition is standing between them and the life they want

Sponsor

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Connect with Frankie Smyth

Instagram: @runningwithfrankie_

Timestamps

00:02:15 — Running 15 years, leading a run club, and travelling the world with it

00:04:00 — From couch to 5k to marathons — the setbacks that shaped her

00:06:54 — Running 250km through Tanzania: the multi-day ultra that changed everything

00:08:03 — Doing all of that with undiagnosed PMDD

00:10:06 — Cycle syncing as a superpower: follicular phase confidence and luteal phase reality

00:11:22 — What to do when a race falls in your luteal phase

00:16:15 — What triggered Frankie's PMDD — and the road to diagnosis

00:30:10 — Practical tools for training with your cycle: tracking, Stardust, and phase-by-phase guidance

00:36:13 — Why rest is not failure — and having a baseline for your worst days

00:44:15 — Luteal phase cravings, meal prep, and why there's no such thing as naughty food

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and hit follow — it means the world and helps more women find the Hormonal Hotline.

Edited and produced by @the32collective / the32collective.co

Resources mentioned in this episode

Stardust cycle tracking app (female-led, privacy-focused, highly recommended by both Ellisha and Frankie)

What happens when a man decides to build one of the most science-backed women's health brands in the UK? Ellisha sits down with Jared Williams, co-founder of Evelyn Health, for a conversation that's equal parts raw, revealing, and genuinely moving.

Jared opens up about the personal experiences that pushed him into this space - from watching a young girlfriend fight for a PMDD diagnosis through four years of private clinics, to a moment at a nursery gate that changed everything. He talks about building a brand rooted in clinical science and community, the uncomfortable question of whether a man has any business leading a women's health company, and why he believes the answer is a lot more nuanced than it first appears.

This one will make you think, and probably feel a lot.

What we cover

The personal story behind Evelyn Health - and why Jared couldn't walk away from this idea

What it was really like to watch someone you love navigate an undiagnosed PMDD journey in their early twenties

A medical appointment that haunts him to this day - and why it fuels everything he builds

Navigating the loaded question: can a man authentically lead a women's health brand?

The UK's women's health strategy four years on - are things actually changing, or going backwards?

Why 740,000 women were on a gynaecology waiting list in December 2025 - and what needs to shift

The case for holistic, nutrition-first treatment before defaulting to medication

What Jared wants his son Ronnie to understand about supporting the women in his life

The vision for premenstrual health - and why menopause offers a blueprint

Sponsor

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Connect with Jared Williams

Website: https://www.evelynhealth.com/

Instagram: @evelynhealth

Timestamps

00:01:03 — Introduction to Jared Williams and Evelyn Health

00:01:43 — Jared's background: law, startups, and what led him here

00:05:00 — Why PMS and PMDD? The personal roots of Evelyn

00:07:12 — A girlfriend's four-year PMDD diagnosis journey and what it cost her

00:09:18 — The appointment that made everything feel urgent

00:12:34 — Navigating life as a male founder in women's health

00:15:16 — On allyship, inclusion, and who belongs in the room

00:19:47 — Who is Evelyn? The name, the meaning, the mission

00:21:17 — What it feels like when the product actually changes someone's life

00:24:09 — Long-term vision: what success really looks like for Jared

00:28:20 — The state of women's health in the UK: optimism, worry, and 740,000 waiting

00:33:08 — What annoys Jared about the women's health space (it's controversial)

00:38:25 — Raising Ronnie: how to talk to your son about women's health

00:40:26 — Could Evelyn ever be available on the NHS?

00:43:26 — Why we need to go holistic first — and what GPs get wrong

00:47:16 — One piece of advice for his younger self

A note on our content

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Subscribe and connect

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a rating and hit follow - it means the world and helps more women find the Hormonal Hotline.

Edited and produced by @the32collective_

"Vulnerability is strength, not a weakness," Michelle reminds us as she advocates for justice and better representation in women's health.

Join host Ellisha Blake on The Hormonal Hotline for an empowering conversation with Olympian and life coach Michelle Griffith Robinson. In this raw and honest episode, Michelle opens up about her journey from breaking records in Wembley to navigating the complexities of women's health and high performance. 

She shares powerful insights on managing period symptoms as an athlete, overcoming abusive relationships, and why she believes your "second act" after 50 can be your best one yet. 

Key Takeaways

The importance of advocating for yourself in medical spaces, especially regarding black women's health and the menopause.

How to utilise an "Olympic mindset" to build resilience and bounce back from life’s challenges.

The life-changing power of making the brave choice to walk away from situations that no longer serve you.

Why education and open conversations are essential to removing the shame often associated with menstrual cycles and aging.

Episode Highlights

Breaking British records and the reality of high-performance training during a menstrual cycle.

Navigating perimenopause and the impact of hormone replacement therapy on energy and relationships.

The turning point at age 30 that led Michelle to take back control of her life and eventually meet her husband.

Practical advice for parents on raising active, confident children with strong boundaries.

Sponsor

This podcast was made possible by Evelyn Health, supporting our mission to bring raw, honest, and open conversations about hormonal health to the forefront.

Timestamps

00:00:58 Introduction to Olympian Michelle Griffith Robinson 

00:07:31 Breaking records and walking into the Atlanta Olympics 

00:09:40 The lack of period education in professional sports 

00:15:00 Advocating for black women's health and medical equity 

00:21:40 Navigating perimenopause, HRT, and midlife confidence 

00:29:02 Overcoming abusive relationships and reclaiming power 

00:33:50 The dress that changed everything on Michelle’s 30th birthday 

00:38:22 Secrets to a 24-year marriage and the value of therapy 

00:43:38 Living life with no second chances after personal loss 

00:47:32 Lessons on motherhood and being authentically you

Connect With Michelle Griffith Robinson

Website: https://www.michellegriffithrobinson.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-griffith-robinson-oly-86361a15/ 

Instagram: @michellegriffithrobinson 

Facebook: Michelle Griffith Robinson 

YouTube: Michelle Griffith Robinson OLY

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I’m so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

Connect And Subscribe

Thank you for joining us on The Hormonal Hotline podcast. If you enjoyed this conversation, please subscribe and leave a rating!

Production Credit: Edited and produced by @the32collective_ / https://www.the32collective.co/

What does it actually feel like when your own body turns against you — and no one believes it? This week, Ellisha sits down with Celia Manuel, women's health advocate, community organiser, and founder of Understanding My Body Through Mind, for one of the most honest, raw conversations yet on PMDD.

Celia opens up about her 6+ year journey to diagnosis, navigating a traumatic birth, postpartum depression she kept entirely hidden, suicidal ideation, the breakdown of her marriage, and the moment a YouTube video of a stranger crying changed everything. She also shares what actually helped — from overhauling her diet and tailoring her workouts to her cycle, to building a nonprofit that takes women to their GP appointments when no one else will.

This one is for anyone who has ever been told their pain isn't real, waited years to be taken seriously, or wondered if they'll ever feel like themselves again.

What we cover

Celia explains what PMDD actually is — and what it isn't. It's not a hormonal imbalance. 

She walks through her diagnosis journey in full: the traumatic birth of her son Jaden, undiagnosed postpartum depression she silently managed alone for months, and the years of cycling through rage, suicidal thoughts, and brief windows of feeling fine - which made it almost impossible to convince anyone something was seriously wrong.

Celia describes being offered chemical menopause and ovary removal before anyone suggested changing her diet — and how she rejected it all, went home, researched, and managed to reduce her symptoms by around 70% through nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle changes alone.

The two also get into the economic reality of PMDD: what it means for women's careers, relationships, and sense of self when half of every month is effectively written off - and why the healthcare system, built around a healthy young Caucasian male, is simply not designed to catch this.

Celia rounds things off talking about the PMDD app she's developing, the community events she runs in Newham, and why she now goes into GP appointments with other women who don't have the confidence to fight for themselves.

Key takeaways

PMDD is a brain sensitivity condition, not a hormonal imbalance. Your hormones can be completely normal — it's how your brain reacts to their natural rise and fall that's the problem.

Getting a PMDD diagnosis can take years, partly because symptoms like rage, suicidal ideation, and extreme low mood only show up for one or two weeks a month. Outside of that window, you look completely fine - which makes you easy to dismiss.

Tracking your cycle is one of the most powerful self-advocacy tools you have. Bringing a documented pattern to a GP appointment changes the conversation.

Diet and lifestyle changes can make a significant difference. Anti-inflammatory foods, cutting alcohol (especially during the luteal phase), and adapting your exercise to where you are in your cycle are worth trying before accepting more extreme medical interventions.

You don't have to go to appointments alone. There are charities, advocates, and GP guides available - and if you're in London, Celia will literally come with you.

Don't let your pain be in vain. Both Ellisha and Celia have turned their hardest years into something that helps other women. It does get better — and you are not alone in this.

Important Links

Celia's Organisation – Understanding My Body Through Mind

The PMDD Project (UK's first PMDD-dedicated charity) – thepmddproject.org

The Advocacy People (free advocacy support) – theadvocacypeople.org.uk

Mind – Getting a PMDD Diagnosis – mind.org.uk

Evelyn Health – evelynhealth.com (use code HOTLINE20 for 20% off)

About Celia Manuel

Celia Manuel is a women's health advocate and founder of Understanding My Body Through Mind, a nonprofit supporting women — particularly those from underserved communities — in navigating PMDD and hormonal health. She organises community events, provides education on the menstrual cycle and self-advocacy, and is currently developing a dedicated PMDD app. She is also a mother to her son Jaden, based in Newham, London.

Find Celia at understandingmybodythroughmind.org

Our partner — Evelyn Health

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

A note from us

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

TW: trauma, abuse, self-blame

If you've ever felt like a completely different person in the two weeks before your period — spiralling, overwhelmed, unable to get out of bed — this one is for you. Ellisha sits down with Elena Venturelli, a PhD researcher, women's health educator, and PMDD sufferer herself, to break down what PMDD actually is, why it's so chronically misunderstood, and what the future of PMDD research looks like.

They also go somewhere raw and real: the link between PMDD and trauma, abusive relationships, and the years of self-blame that so many of us carry without ever knowing why.

What we cover

• 
  What PMDD actually is, and why it's not just 'bad PMS'
• The symptoms that hit differently: visceral depression, rage, emotional reactivity, and that instant relief the moment your period arrives
• Why a blood test won't diagnose PMDD and what's actually going on in the brain
• The hormonal belt Elena is developing to monitor women's hormones 24/7 (yes, really)
• Elena's own PMDD story, from symptoms at 14, diagnosis at 17, the youngest ever HRT, and a four-year abusive relationship that took everything
• Why people with PMDD are more vulnerable to gaslighting and abusive relationships
• The trauma-PMDD link
• The heritability rate and why that doesn't have to be a sentence
• The hormones-gut-brain triad: Elena's framework for managing PMDD holistically
• Why women's health research is built on a foundation of studying men and what needs to change
• Quick fire: the one symptom you didn't realise was hormonal, what Elena would add to the NHS, and what she wishes someone had validated sooner

About Elena Venturelli

Elena is a PhD researcher working to develop better tools for studying women's hormones - because the current ones were designed around male bodies. She's also a women's health educator, PMDD sufferer, and coach for women with hormonal sensitivities. Follow her work and find her content across social media.

Our sponsor

Evelyn Health is dedicated to helping those struggling with PMS and PMDD through expert-led, science-backed supplements and functional foods. Having used them for over a year to manage my own hormonal health, I'm so proud to have them as a partner.

Get 20% off your first order with code HOTLINE20 at evelynhealth.com

evelynhealth.com

Resources & further reading

IAPMD (International Association for Premenstrual Disorders) — iapmd.org

The PMDD Project — thepmddproject.com

Vicious Cycle: Making PMDD Visible — a documentary on PMDD awareness

NICE guidelines on PMDD — nice.org.uk

Sources

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11496889/

https://womensmentalhealth.org/specialty-clinics/pms-and-pmdd/the-etiology-of-pmdd/

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Disclaimer

This podcast explores research and lived experience around women's health and chronic conditions. Our discussions aim to reflect current evidence while acknowledging that understanding in this field continues to evolve. The content is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners experiencing significant or distressing symptoms should seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.