Ever feel like a completely different person in the days leading up to your period? We're talking more than a little irritability, cravings, or wanting everyone to leave you alone. For some women, those days can bring intense anxiety, depression, anger, and emotional overwhelm that disrupt relationships, work, and everyday life. It's called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), and despite how deeply it can affect a woman's life, it's still widely misunderstood. Too often, symptoms are dismissed as typical PMS, moodiness, or simply being hormonal. So what does PMDD actually feel like? Why do some women experience it so intensely? And how do you know when what you're experiencing is more than PMS? In this episode, I'm bringing together two women, Ciera Danyel and Ariana Perez, to share their experiences living with PMDD, alongside two medical experts: Dr. Evelyn Ashiofu, psychiatrist and Assistant Clinical Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and Dr. Jessica Geida, board-certified OB-GYN. Together, we're unpacking the symptoms, misconceptions, mental health implications, challenges of getting diagnosed, and what women wish more people understood about living with PMDD. Because women's experiences deserve to be heard, understood, and taken seriously. This episode was produced as part of a special project through the Harvard Medical School Media and Medicine Certificate Program. *The information shared in this podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Her Side by Flourish Heights was made for women, by women. To be empowered in health starts with a true connection with your body. Join Valerie Agyeman, a women’s health dietitian and journalist as she explores overlooked women’s health conversations, blending expert insight with real stories around periods, hormones, nutrition, and body awareness. Meet the guests: Dr. Evelyn Ashiofu, MD, MPH is a double board-certified adult and child & adolescent psychiatrist, attending psychiatrist at Bellevue Hospital, and Assistant Clinical Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her clinical interests include women's and reproductive mental health. Follow her on Instagram: @whatsgood_dr.ev. Ariana Pérez is an actor, dancer, singer, and writer based in New York City and London. A graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, she is currently developing The Week Before, a short film exploring PMDD and intergenerational sisterhood. Dr. Jessica Geida is a board-certified OB-GYN, mother of two, and creator of @DrJessicaGeida. She uses social mediato make women's health and medicine more accessible, relatable, and evidence-based. Ciera Danyel is a vocalist, songwriter, performer, and licensed massage therapist from St. Louis, Missouri. Her creative and wellness work centers on connection, healing, and bringing people together. Stay Connected: Is there a topic you'd like covered on the podcast? Submit it to hello@flourishheights.com Subscribe to our quarterly newsletters: Flourish Heights Newsletter Visit our website + nutrition blog: www.flourishheights.com Follow us on social media: Instagram: @flourishheights / Women's Health Hub: @hersidebyfh / @valerieagyeman Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishheights Want to support this podcast? Leave a rating, write a review and share! Thank you!
