エピソード

  • She Fought for 6 Years to Be Believed. This Is Her PMDD Story.

    She Fought for 6 Years to Be Believed. This Is Her PMDD Story.
    2026/04/22
    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 coverCelia 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 takeawaysPMDD 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 LinksCelia's Organisation – Understanding My Body Through MindThe PMDD Project (UK's first PMDD-dedicated charity) – thepmddproject.orgThe Advocacy People (free advocacy support) – theadvocacypeople.org.ukMind – Getting a PMDD Diagnosis – mind.org.ukEvelyn Health – evelynhealth.com (use code HOTLINE20 for 20% off)About Celia ManuelCelia 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.orgOur partner — Evelyn HealthEvelyn 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.comA note from usThis 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 ...
    続きを読む 一部表示
    56 分
  • The Science of Feeling Like a Different Person

    The Science of Feeling Like a Different Person
    2026/04/08


    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/



    Follow Elena


    Find Elena's research, educational content, and coaching on Instagram and TikTok - search @elenaventurelli for the latest updates on her hormone monitoring device and PMDD insights.



    Follow the show


    Subscribe to The Hormonal Hotline on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube so you never miss an episode. If this episode helped you feel less alone, please leave us a review - it means the world and helps more women find the show.



    Got a dilemma or want to share your story? Slide into our DMs or submit anonymously - all the details are in our bio.



    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.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    56 分
  • Living with endometriosis, finding art and community

    Living with endometriosis, finding art and community
    2026/03/25
    In this episode, Ellisha sits down with Thanai Caesar - CEO and founder of This Won't End Me, a UK and Canadian non-profit supporting people with endometriosis and menstrual health. Thanai shares her nine-year journey to being diagnosed with stage four deep infiltrating endometriosis, and opens up about the racial disparities in women's healthcare, how art became her lifeline, and why she turned her pain into purpose.Whether you're in the thick of trying to get a diagnosis, feeling completely alone with your symptoms, or just desperate to know someone else gets it - this one's for you.What we coverWhat endometriosis actually is - from the basics to the types most people have never heard of, including thoracic and deep infiltrating endo.The reality of living with endo before diagnosis - Thanai's nine years of being dismissed, the impact on her mental health, and the toll of chronic, invisible pain.Racial disparities in women's healthcare - why Black women face a harder road to diagnosis and what needs to change.Heat therapy, TENS machines and self-advocacy - practical tools for managing endo pain and getting the medical support you deserve.The role of the pill in masking symptoms - and what could happen when you come off it.This Won't End Me - how Thanai built a community-led non-profit from a drawing of a uterus she made in therapy during COVID.Using art as a healing tool - why creativity and community go hand in hand when you're navigating a chronic condition.Three listener dilemmas - including how to push through pain without people around you understanding, when to seek help if you've been dismissed before, and how to share your story online without feeling too exposed.About Thanai CaesarThanai Caesar is the CEO and founder of This Won't End Me (TWEM) - a UK and Canadian non-profit raising awareness of endometriosis, menstrual health and reproductive health. Through storytelling, workshops, exhibitions and community events, TWEM creates space for women to feel less alone in their diagnosis.Follow Thanai: @thiswontendmeFind out more about This Won't End MeRead Imogen Hooker's blog: My Health is My JobThis week's dilemmasDilemma 1"If sharing your story could help others feel less alone but also makes you feel vulnerable, how do you decide what parts of your experience to make public? I really want to start a page but I'm scared I'll give away too much of myself."Dilemma 2"If your pain is super severe but invisible to others, how do you decide when it's serious enough to seek help - especially if past experiences have made you feel dismissed?"Dilemma 3"Do you push through the pain or cancel plans, knowing people might not understand?"Resources mentionedUnder the Belt (documentary) — directed by Shannon CohnThis Won't End Me — community events, blog and storytelling platformEndometriosis UK — information and supportImogen Hooker — My Health is My JobOur sponsor: Evelyn HealthEvelyn 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.comShop Evelyn HealthA note from usThis 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.Follow the Hormonal HotlineSubscribe, leave a review and share with a friend who needs to hear this.YouTubeApple PodcastsSpotify
    続きを読む 一部表示
    50 分
  • The Period Conversation Your Mum Never Had With You

    The Period Conversation Your Mum Never Had With You
    2026/03/10
    Kelly Newton spent 25 years normalising painful, heavy periods before being diagnosed with endometriosis at 39. Coni Longden-Jefferson is deep in the postpartum hormonal fog, trying to manage her PMS while running a business with a baby in tow. Together, they built Nixi Body - and together, they join Ellisha for the very first episode of The Hormonal Hotline.We get into period taboos, self-advocacy at the GP, pelvic floor health, sustainable period care, and the link between hormones and mental health. Plus: the Hormone Hotline opens for its first anonymous listener dilemmas.Key InsightsPain is never normal, even if your mum said so. Missing school, missing work, flooding through a pad - these are signs, not facts of life. If your period is disrupting your daily functioning, it's worth investigating.A symptoms diary is your most powerful tool. Track your cycle, pain, mood, and symptoms before any GP appointment. Go in prepared. Take someone with you. Ask for a second opinion if you feel you’ve been dismissed.Your hormones are not the enemy. Learn your cycle and you start working with it, not against it. Knowing you're in your luteal phase doesn't make you weak, it makes you informed.Period care is healthcare. The vagina is one of the most absorbent organs in the body. What you use during your period matters - for the environment and for your health.Hormones and mental health are deeply intertwined. For many women, exploring the impact of their cycle can be the missing piece in their treatment plan. By integrating hormonal health into the conversation, we can better support those navigating PMDD, perimenopause, and postpartumTimestamps00:56 - Introductions. Ellisha meets Coni & Kelly, co-founders of Nixi Body.03:40 - How Nixi Body started: Kelly's painful periods, bladder leaks, and a prototype pair of knickers designed at her kitchen table.05:42 - Coni joins the story: women's health clients, a free social media class, and a very good business partnership.09:29 - The system let Kelly down, not her body. Coni reflects on helping Kelly reframe her experience.10:12 - Normalising pain. Why even elite athletes don't know their periods aren't normal.13:33 - The biggest menstrual taboos. Language, shame, and why calling things by their name actually matters.17:30 — Self-advocacy tools: symptoms diaries, taking someone to appointments, and being audacious.23:29 — Ellisha on her PMDD diagnosis. How isolating it felt even with support around her.23:48 — Coni on postpartum hormonal health and the ripple effect that nobody warns you about past three months.27:13 — PMS management with a baby. What worked before doesn't always work now.33:07 — Period care and sustainability. 11,000 disposable products in a lifetime. The health and environmental case for switching.52:17 — Coni explains the menstrual cycle using pop girls: oestrogen = Taylor Swift & Sabrina Carpenter; progesterone = Billie Eilish & Olivia Rodrigo.This Episode Is Brought To You By Evelyn HealthEvelyn 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.comGet 15% off Nixi Body with code HOTLINE15! at nixibody.comConnect & SubscribeIf this resonated, share it with someone who needs it. One conversation really can change a woman's health trajectory - it's the whole reason we're here.Got a dilemma for the Hormone Hotline? Submit it anonymously and send us your dilemma’s via our IG DM’s! Have a listen, leave a review, and come find us.Follow Nixi Body at @nixibody and reach out to Coni and Kelly in the DMs.A Note On Our ContentThis 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.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 時間 3 分
  • The Hormonal Hotline: Understanding PMDD, Women's Health & Hormone-Related Health Issues

    The Hormonal Hotline: Understanding PMDD, Women's Health & Hormone-Related Health Issues
    2026/02/24


    Do you ever feel like your health struggles are “all in your head”?

    You’re not dramatic. You’re not lazy. And you’re not imagining it.


    Welcome to The Hormonal Hotline - the straight-talking, supportive girls’ group chat for young women navigating PMDD, women’s health, hormonal imbalances, and misunderstood women’s health issues.


    Hosted by Ellisha - your resident big sister, fellow struggler, and open book — this podcast creates space for honest conversations about:

    • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

    • Women’s health

    • Hormonal mood swings and anxiety

    • Burnout and executive dysfunction

    • Being dismissed by doctors

    • The impact of symptoms on relationships and careers


    If you’ve ever left a GP appointment feeling unheard…
    If you’re chronically online researching symptoms at 2am…
    If you’re overwhelmed by information but still feel unsupported…


    This podcast is for you.

    We know what it’s like to look “fine” on the outside but feel completely dysregulated internally. We know how isolating hormonal and neurodivergent health struggles can be - especially when they’re minimised, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood.

    It’s time to change the narrative.

    What to Expect Each Week


    Raw & Relatable Conversations


    No inaccessible celebrities. No medical jargon overload.

    Just real stories from everyday women navigating PMDD, women’s health, hormonal health challenges, and mental health struggles - shared openly and honestly.

    Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can hear is, “Me too.”


    The Hormone Hotline


    Each week, we unpack anonymous listener dilemmas - from PMDD relationship conflict to ADHD burnout at work - and offer grounded, big-sister advice that feels practical, not preachy.

    Support without shame. Guidance without overwhelm.


    Self-Advocacy & Education


    You’ll learn how to:

    • Advocate for yourself at medical appointments

    • Better understand your hormonal patterns

    • Communicate your needs confidently

    • Move from information overload to informed action

    Because understanding your body and brain is the first step toward feeling empowered.


    Women’s health deserves better conversations.


    PMDD is often misdiagnosed.
    Women’s Health in women is frequently overlooked.
    Hormonal symptoms are normalised until they become debilitating.


    You deserve clarity.
    You deserve community.
    You deserve to feel heard.


    If you’re ready to stop chronic comparison and start healing — this is your space.


    Hit follow and join the chat.

    You aren’t falling behind.
    And you are absolutely not alone. 💛

    Click here to view the episode transcript.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    1 分