Building Your PMDD Care Team — Finding the Right Support for Real Healing

PMDD isn’t just a hormonal issue — it’s a whole-person experience. Finding the right care team can turn confusion into clarity and hopelessness into hope.

For years, I went from one professional to another, trying to explain what I was feeling. I was told to exercise more, sleep more, or relax. It wasn’t until I built a care team that understood the complexity of PMDD that I finally began to heal. Building this team was a turning point, empowering me and giving me a sense of control over my healing journey.

Healing wasn’t about one magic fix — it was about the right combination of people working together and helping me feel seen.

👩‍⚕️ The Doctor Who Listened

My first breakthrough came when my family doctor truly listened to me. Instead of dismissing my symptoms as “PMS,” she validated my experiences and helped me access the testing and referrals I needed. Sometimes, the most potent medicine is being believed. This validation made me feel understood and respected in my journey.

🩸 The OBGYN Who Understood Hormones

Finding an OBGYN who recognized PMDD as a real condition was life-changing. Together, we explored both hormonal and non-hormonal options, from SSRIs to lifestyle supports. Having a professional who understood the link between biology and mood permitted me to stop blaming myself.

🥑 The Dietitian Who Focused on Inflammation

My dietitian played a crucial role in my healing journey. She helped me identify inflammatory foods that exacerbated my symptoms and taught me how a balanced diet supports hormonal regulation. It wasn’t about dieting — it was about nourishment. Her guidance on stabilizing blood sugar and reducing inflammatory foods was a key part of my self-care routine.

🌿 The Naturopath Who Found the Missing Links

My naturopath played a crucial role in my healing journey. She filled in the gaps — suggesting supplements like magnesium, B6, and omega-3s that supported my energy and mood. She taught me that holistic care means working with your body, not against it. Her approach, which focused on supporting my body's natural processes, was a valuable addition to my care team.

💬 The Therapist Who Helped Me Heal Beneath the Surface

And then, therapy. Processing childhood patterns, perfectionism, and emotional suppression gave me language for my inner world. I realized that PMDD didn’t make me broken — it made me human.

Healing isn’t linear, but it is a collaborative process. Each person played a part in helping me reconnect with my body, trust my instincts, and regain balance. Reconnecting with my body meant learning to listen to its signals, understanding its needs, and respecting its boundaries. This process was a significant part of my healing journey.

You deserve a care team that listens, believes, and walks with you — not one that tells you to “calm down.”

Written by Cindy Machado, Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) at Ingersoll Wellness Hub. Cindy offers a compassionate space for women healing from trauma and hormonal mood disorders, and for those navigating neurodivergence. Her trauma-informed, neuroaffirming, and holistic approach, which empowers women to reconnect with themselves and their resilience, blends evidence-based practice with lived experience.