Life with PMS and PMDD: the emotional, social, and work realities
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Summary: Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) don’t just affect your hormones – they shape your relationships, mental health, and working life. In this article, we explore the lived reality of these conditions and offer support, communication tips, and strategies for navigating them at home, at work, and in your head.
What we're really talking about
It’s not just cramps and cravings.
It’s not ‘just hormones’.
It’s forgetting what you said mid-sentence in a meeting.
It’s cancelling on friends for the third time this month.
It’s crying because your jeans feel wrong and then hating yourself for crying.
This is life with PMS and PMDD. And you’re not imagining it.
The emotional toll: PMDD and relationships
What the research and real personal experiences say
PMDD is classified as a cyclical, hormone-triggered mood disorder. It affects serotonin pathways and stress reactivity. But the hardest part to explain is the impact on your relationships. A statement we hear a lot is:
“It’s not just that I feel awful; it’s that I feel like a different person.”
→ Read more: Navigating friendships with PMDD
Evelyn’s ambassador, Ellisha, explains it perfectly:
“I ghost people every month for seven to ten days. When I come out of it, I have to rebuild connections I didn’t mean to break.”
She’s not alone. PMDD affects communication, intimacy, and connection in every form.
✅ Read our full relationship guide
The hidden impact: PMS and PMDD at work
Why work feels harder than it should
Focus, memory, emotional regulation, and sleep are all compromised by PMS and PMDD, yet most of us are expected to ‘just get on with it’.
“I overperform when I’m well to “earn” my bad days.”
→ Read more: PMDD and your mental health at work
What you can ask for
Under UK law, PMDD may qualify for reasonable adjustments at work. This can include:
- remote days during your luteal phase (the two weeks before your period)
- quiet workspaces
- flexible meetings
- pre-agreed low-energy weeks
✅ Use the Evelyn workplace guide to start that conversation
The role of partners: how to support (and be supported)
PMS and PMDD don’t just affect the person experiencing them – they affect everyone around them.
But support doesn’t mean ‘fixing’. It means:
- being consistent when your partner can’t be
- listening without rushing to solutions
- allowing space for intense feelings
“My partner uses a cycle tracker too. It’s one of the most loving things he’s ever done.”
→ Read more: Supporting a partner with PMS or PMDD
Mental health, mood swings, and misunderstanding
PMS and PMDD are still widely misunderstood, even among healthcare professionals.
- PMS affects around 75% of women of reproductive age.
- PMDD is classified as a psychiatric disorder and affects 1 in 20 people.
Symptoms of PMDD can include:
- anxiety and irritability
- rage or suicidal thoughts
- dissociation, paranoia, and intrusive thoughts
You’re not being dramatic. You’re not being oversensitive. You are living with a serious condition.
→ Read more: Can supplements really help PMDD?
What actually helps?
Here's what people in the Evelyn community say makes the biggest difference:
| What helps | Why it works |
| Cycle tracking | Predicts patterns and reduces fear of the unknown |
| Pre-agreed quiet time | Reduces pressure to perform socially or emotionally |
| Evidence-based supplements | Targets neurotransmitter imbalance and inflammation |
| Communication strategies | Protects relationships and self-worth |
| Peer support | Normalises the experience and ends isolation |
Explore Evelyn’s science-backed, non-hormonal supplement, Super Regular®
You're still you
Even on the worst day, you’re still the person you love being when you feel good.
Your cycle doesn’t define you. However, you deserve to understand it, respect it and receive support through it.
Evelyn is here to provide clinical rigour and radical empathy.
Related articles:
- How to talk to employers about PMDD
- Evelyn's guide to PMS, PMDD and relationships
- Natural remedies for PMS that actually work
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always speak to a qualified healthcare professional about any health concerns.