Living with PMDD: real stories from the Evelyn community
Share
Summary: PMDD doesn’t just affect your hormones – it affects your identity, relationships, and work. In this post, we share real voices from the Evelyn community: women navigating PMDD with courage, humour, honesty, and practical tools. If you’ve ever felt alone in dealing with this condition, read on.
Why stories matter
Medical facts help, but what changes lives is recognising yourself in someone else’s experience.
That’s why we created this post – and our relationship guide and workplace guide – not just to inform, but also to connect.
PMDD can feel isolating, irrational, or shameful, but it’s something thousands of women live with every single month.
Meet Ellisha: "I ghost people for ten days every month"
Ellisha Blake, Evelyn ambassador, shares: “When I come out of the luteal phase, I realise how long I’ve been silent. I’ve had to learn to communicate more when I’m not in it – to warn people in advance.”
Ellisha’s been open about the toll PMDD takes on her friendships and mental health. She shares scripts, cycle tracking tips, and how her partner uses the Stardust app to track alongside her.
🎧 Listen to a snippet of Ellisha’s interview with Evelyn.
Meet Kristina: "PMDD almost ruined my relationship - on national TV"
Kristina Goodsell gained attention on Married at First Sight UK, where PMDD played a hidden but powerful role in her on-screen experience.
She says: “I want someone who sees all of me and stays. PMDD doesn’t define me, but it’s part of my package.”
She’s now using her platform to speak about the ‘guilt cycle’ – from feeling like a burden during her PMDD phase, to apologising afterwards.
🧡 Read more from Kristina in our Relationship Guide
Meet Sam: "I protect my joy with movement and micro-actions"
Sam O’Keefe, Evelyn community representative, lives in Wales with her partner and swears by beach walks, gym sessions and journaling through her PMDD phases.
“When I’m in it, I feel like I can’t do anything right. So even something small – like taking a walk or writing down three things I’m grateful for – pulls me back.”
She shares how communication with her partner has improved (“I tell him when I’m in the red zone”) and how she creates a PMDD menu of things that soothe her – no decisions needed.
What real people say about PMDD at work
From Evelyn’s 2024 Workplace Survey:
“I leave meetings and forget what was said.”
“I over-perform during my good weeks to “earn” my bad ones.”
“I’ve quit jobs because I thought I was ‘too sensitive’.”
This is not weakness. It’s an under-recognised disability.
That’s why we created the Evelyn workplace guide with:
- template emails to HR
- reasonable adjustment checklists
- conversation starters that protect your privacy
You're not alone - and you're not broken
One of the most repeated phrases in our direct messages (DMs) is:
“I thought it was just me.”
It’s not!
At Evelyn, we’re not here to fix you – we’re here to walk with you. We offer community, clarity, and clinically backed support.
✨ Explore Evelyn’s non-hormonal PMDD support system
📘 Download the relationship and workplace guides.
Share your story
Want to be featured in a future post? DM us or tag @WeAreEvelyn on social media. Or just share this with someone who needs to feel less alone.
You don’t have to be symptom-free to be proud of how far you’ve come.
Related articles:
- Navigating friendship with PMDD
- PMDD and your mental health at work
- How to talk to employers about PMDD
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.