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

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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.

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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.