Supporting Clients with PMDD

For many who menstruate, hormonal changes can bring about mood shifts, tiredness or irritability. But for those living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder(PMDD), these changes can feel far more intense - sometimes overwhelming daily life, work and relationships.

As someone who lives with PMDD, I know first-hand how challenging it can be. PMDD isn't just "bad PMS" - it's a severe, often debilitating condition that can take over half of the month with symptoms that feel intense and overwhelming. For me, and for so many others, PMDD can bring waves of low mood, heightened anxiety, irritability and exhaustion that impact every area of life. One moment you can feel like yourself and the next it feels as though the ground has shifted beneath you. Living with PMDD can be unpredictable, frustrating and at times incredibly lonely and isolating.

What is PMDD?

PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that occurs in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (after ovulation and before a period). It's thought to be linked to sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations, and symptoms can include:

• Severe mood swings

• Irritability or anger

• Intense sadness or hopelessness

• Anxiety and overwhelm

• Difficulty concentrating

• Fatigue, disrupted sleep, or physical discomfort

These symptoms usually ease once menstruation begins, but the cycle can feel relentless - leaving many people dreading half of every month.

How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Can Support You

SFH doesn't make PMDD "go away" - but it offers tools, strategies, and a new perspective that make a real difference.

• Reducing stress and overwhelm - it encourages deep relaxation, calming the nervous system and reducing the intensity of emotional responses.

• Supporting better sleep - Restorative sleep is often disrupted by PMDD. Hypnotherapy can help create the conditions for better rest, which is vital for balance and resilience.

• Shifting focus towards strengths - instead of being pulled into the cycle of negative thoughts, SFH helps reframe thinking, building hope and positivity.

• Creating emotional resilience - over time, sessions build up your ability to cope with the highs and lows of PMDD.

• Regaining a sense of control - perhaps most importantly hypnotherapy helps you feel less at the mercy of your symptoms and more empowered in how you respond to them.

Working together

Because I understand how heavy PMDD can feel, I bring not just professional expertise, but also genuine empathy to the work I do with clients. I know how important it is to have a safe, non-judgemental space where you can feel understood, and where small, achievable steps forward are celebrated.

While PMDD may always be part of life, solution-focused hypnotherapy can help you find more balance, calm, and strength within the cycle. It's about creating a future where PMDD doesn't define you - but where you feel supported and empowered to live more fully.

If you're living with PMDD and would like to explore how hypnotherapy can support you, I'd love to help.