In Love with PMDD

Dr. Rose Alkattan
  • 4.9 (30)
  • Relationships
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the In Love with PMDD Podcast, I am your Host Dr. Rose Alkattan, your PMDD Relationship Psychotraumatologist.  Each week, I will be teaching you my signature PMDD Trauma Transformational Tools where I help PMDD Partners to STOP Breaking up every month. We Got This!

  1. Jul 21

    How To Call Out Your PMDD Partner Without A Fight

    Send us Fan Mail The fastest way to kill intimacy is pretending you’re fine when you’re not. When we stay quiet to avoid conflict, we don’t stay “peaceful” we get resentful, guarded, and disconnected, then we explode over something that could have been handled with one honest conversation. We unpack what “calling your partner out” actually means: naming what you don’t like, explaining why it affects you, and doing it early enough that it doesn’t turn into a blowup. I share my JBL method, Just Be Loving, so you can communicate boundaries without name-calling or attacking your partner’s character. We also talk about the other side of the skill: learning to receive feedback without spiraling into defensiveness, shame, or intrusive thoughts, especially when PMDD or the luteal phase makes everything feel sharper. You’ll hear a simple but game-changing distinction: consider, not concede. You can take your partner’s feelings into consideration and still be your full self. We use a coaching mindset to explain why blind spots build up into “surprise” breakups, and how small tweaks in communication can change the whole relationship. We also connect calling your partner out to love languages so your effort actually lands, whether your partner needs quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, or something else. If you want more emotional safety, better communication, and real closeness, listen through and try one conversation this week. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you’re practicing next.

  2. Jul 14

    A PMDD Morning Routine That Works

    Send us Fan Mail Your PMDD brain can wake up already searching for danger and by breakfast it has built a full case against your relationship. We walk through the psychology behind a PMDD partner’s morning routine designed to interrupt that pattern early, especially in the luteal phase when sensitivity, cortisol reactivity, anxiety, and irritability can spike. We start with a mindset shift that changes everything: the goal is not productivity. We’re not chasing a “5 a.m. hustle” identity. We’re building intention and lowering cognitive overload so our nervous system has fewer triggers and fewer decisions to fight through. We explain why snoozing can backfire through fragmented sleep cycles, and how setting out workout clothes the night before removes avoidance and makes the next right step automatic. From there, we get practical and specific: a simple outdoor walk (yes, even just “one foot in front of the other”) for circadian rhythm support, serotonin, and fewer looping intrusive thoughts. We talk about habit stacking with headphones, why social media and bad news can feed PMDD’s negative bias, and how the reticular activating system starts “proving” your partner is the enemy if you let it. You’ll also hear why hydration matters after night sweats, how 30 minutes of movement reduces PMDD rage and cravings, and how a calm shower with spa music becomes a downshift that signals safety. We close with tools that create psychological distance and emotional safety: prayer and a short Bible reading, journaling to separate feelings from facts, and then connecting with your partner after you’re regulated, not before. If this helps, subscribe, share it with someone navigating PMDD, and leave a review so more couples can find these tools.

  3. Jul 3

    How to Break FREE From Feeling Trapped in Your PMDD Relationship

    Send us Fan Mail As a special thank-you to my podcast listeners, I'm also opening a limited number of PMDD Freedom Sessions throughout July. Use code FREEDOM to receive $50 off a private PMDD Session. This offer is available for a limited number of spots, so once they're filled, the promotion will end. Click to Book a Private PMDD Session Follow me on Instagram Follow me on TikTok Freedom is the word we keep coming back to, because PMDD can make love feel like a monthly trap. When the luteal phase hits, it’s easy to believe you’re “too much,” to hide what you need, or to assume you and your partner are simply not compatible. We slow that down and name what’s really happening: a predictable cycle, a stressed nervous system, and a relationship dynamic that needs tools, not shame. We dig into what it means to choose a PMDD-compatible partner, especially the kind of compatibility that holds up on the hard days, not just during follicular and ovulation when everything feels easy. We talk about people pleasing, self-abandonment, and how resentment builds when you keep giving while your own needs go unnamed. Then we get practical with the three needs that show up in every intimate relationship: affection, attention, and validation. If you don’t ask, your partner can’t reliably respond, and “out of nowhere” conflict is rarely out of nowhere. You’ll also hear a simple phrase that can de-escalate a spiral fast: “My PMDD brain is tricking me again.” It’s a bridge between self-awareness and communication, so your partner understands what’s happening without you having to find perfect words mid-wave. We keep it real about responsibility too: PMDD isn’t your fault, but it is your responsibility to manage, and being yourself never means being harmful. If you want support that’s customized to your relationship, check out the Freedom Sale: go to inlovewithpmdd.com, use code freedom, and get $50 off private sessions. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more PMDD couples can find these tools.

  4. Jun 26

    PMDD Monthly Breakup Cycle

    Send us Fan Mail Click to Book a Private PMDD Session Follow me on Instagram Follow me on TikTok “I think we should break up.” If that sentence shows up like clockwork during luteal phase, you are not alone, and you are not crazy, but you may be stuck in a pattern that quietly trains your relationship to feel unsafe. We unpack why the PMDD monthly breakup becomes the default move under stress, what it’s really trying to solve, and why some couples eventually stop saying it while others spiral into a final breakup.  We talk about the moment hope starts to die: when fights intensify, when your brain starts labeling the relationship “toxic,” and when both partners begin bracing for next month. We explain why compatibility gets distorted in PMDD, how the PMDD brain scans for danger and negativity, and why both partners can get hit with intrusive thoughts that sound convincing but are not the full truth. You’ll hear how stress responses show up as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, and how silence or “taking space” can backfire when the mind fills the gap with worst-case stories.  Most importantly, we get practical about repair. We share why endlessly replaying the details of fights can keep you stuck, what “risk over regret” looks like in real conversations, and how to rebuild trust with an apology that lands. If “sorry, but…” is part of your repair script, we explain why it often fails and what to say instead, plus why follow-through and specific tools restore hope faster than big promises.  If you want support, follow Dr. Rose Vibes and visit inlove with pmd.com. Subscribe, share this with a partner who needs it, and leave a review so more PMDD couples can find real help.

  5. Jun 10

    Walking on Eggshells in Your PMDD Relationship

    Send us Fan Mail Click to Book a Private PMDD Session Follow me on Instagram Follow me on TikTok If you’ve ever looked back at a luteal phase fight and thought, “That wasn’t me,” this conversation is for you and for the partner who’s been bracing for the next blowup. We’re getting honest about something that’s easy to minimize in a PMDD relationship: the way monthly conflict can slowly turn into a pattern of emotional abuse, verbal abuse, control, and intimidation. When the lines get crossed little by little, both people can start treating chaos as normal and confusing loyalty with self-abandonment. We break down what abuse can look like beyond physical violence, including walking on eggshells, silent treatment, character attacks, threats of leaving, location checking, financial pressure, and intimacy being withheld as punishment. We also dig into the PMDD mechanics underneath it: rejection sensitivity, fear of abandonment, intrusive thoughts that feel true, and how stress and cortisol spikes can magnify symptoms. A big theme is PMDD-specific tools, because generic coping tips often fail when the cycle shifts and the relationship gets pulled into the same monthly loop. We also draw a clear line between intention and impact. “I didn’t mean it” doesn’t erase the wound, and apologies don’t automatically restore trust, safety, or closeness, especially when your partner’s nervous system is still on high alert. The goal we’re after is real repair, steady boundaries, and a step-by-step way to pause before reacting so love doesn’t keep getting buried under survival mode. If any of this feels familiar, listen through, share it with your partner, and then subscribe so you don’t miss what comes next. If this helps, leave a review and tell us: what pattern are you ready to break first?

  6. Jun 3

    Your Partner’s Emotions Are Not Your Job!

    Send us Fan Mail PMDD Pyramid Private Sessions Me Before PMDD: Relationship Reset Toolkit-Couples Click to Book a Private PMDD Session Follow me on Instagram Follow me on TikTok Your partner is irritated. Your stomach drops. And suddenly PMDD turns a simple mood shift into a full-blown story about rejection, failure, and “I need to fix this right now.” I’m recording this one on a walk because sometimes the fastest way to get out of the spiral is to get out of the room, get into your body, and give your brain a break. We dig into a core truth that changes everything in PMDD relationships: your partner’s emotions are not your responsibility. When we overfunction to manage someone else’s mood, we create pressure, resentment, and that familiar cycle of luteal phase conflict. I share a personal example of how “date night effort” can backfire when it’s done to force a mood change, plus why adults often struggle with emotional regulation and self-soothing. You’ll learn practical tools for both partners: how to pause instead of reacting in the acute triggered phase, how to stop personalization and emotional reasoning, and how to separate facts from the PMDD story your mind wants to write. We also cover simple scripts for clarity and reassurance, and a powerful question that breaks the loop: “Is this about me, or is this about them?” If you want fewer PMDD fights and fewer monthly breakups, press play, share this with your partner, and then subscribe and leave a review so more couples can find this support. What’s one mood shift you’re ready to stop carrying?

  7. May 21

    PMDD Steals Your Joy!

    Send us Fan Mail PMDD Pyramid Private Sessions Me Before PMDD: Relationship Reset Toolkit-Couples Click to Book a Private PMDD Session Follow me on Instagram Follow me on TikTok PMDD doesn’t only bring mood swings and arguments. It can quietly drain the very thing your partner first fell in love with: your joy. Dr. Rose, PMDD relationship psychotraumatologist, names the pattern so many of us get stuck in, cutting off what makes us feel alive to keep the peace, then wondering why PMDD symptoms feel even worse. When joy goes missing, suffering takes over, and the relationship can start revolving around triggers, tracking, and fear of the next luteal phase instead of connection. We get honest about responsibility in a PMDD relationship. Your partner’s support matters, but they cannot be the foundation of your PMDD management. Expecting them to “bring back” your happiness burns them out and leaves you feeling helpless. Dr. Rose breaks down why self-regulation is essential, why it’s never okay to lash out just because you’re struggling, and how both partners can stop living under the shadow of “the worst version” of themselves. Then we move into practical tools you can use right away: the Joy Anchor Method. You’ll learn how to identify your pre-PMDD joy, choose three non-negotiable joy anchors you do across your cycle, and build routines that refill you even when you feel exhausted. Dr. Rose shares a personal story about raves, identity, and what real partner support looks like when someone refuses to dim your light. If you want more joy, better PMDD coping skills, and a healthier relationship dynamic, press play, try the method for a month, and track the shift. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review with the joy anchor you’re choosing first.

  8. Apr 29

    The 4 Seasons of your PMDD Relationship-The Spring Phase

    Send us Fan Mail PMDD Pyramid Private Sessions Me Before PMDD: Relationship Reset Toolkit-Couples Click to Book a Private PMDD Session Follow me on Instagram Follow me on TikTok The strangest part of PMDD isn’t always the luteal phase crash. It’s what happens right after, when you wake up feeling clear, calm, and loving again and your relationship is still sitting in the wreckage of the week before. That “spring” phase can feel like relief and whiplash at the same time: the brain fog lifts, affection returns, and you want closeness now, yet your partner may still be guarded, disconnected, or hurt. We walk through what spring really is in a PMDD relationship, why it can take a day or two after your period starts to fully come back to yourself, and why partners often struggle most during this window. We also name the patterns that quietly keep couples stuck in the monthly breakup cycle: over-apologizing to force fast repair, avoiding the conversation and acting like nothing happened, and performing “I’m fine” instead of staying honest and regulated. Then we get practical. We share the repair framework we use with clients: ownership without self-shame, awareness without blame, clarity about what you needed, and a solution with real proof. If you want better PMDD communication, healthier conflict repair, and a plan that protects both partners, this is the roadmap. Subscribe for the next season, share this with someone navigating PMDD, and leave a review with the one spring repair line you’re going to try first.

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4.9
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About

Welcome to the In Love with PMDD Podcast, I am your Host Dr. Rose Alkattan, your PMDD Relationship Psychotraumatologist.  Each week, I will be teaching you my signature PMDD Trauma Transformational Tools where I help PMDD Partners to STOP Breaking up every month. We Got This!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Rose Alkattan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    294
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 In Love with PMDD
  • Show Website
    In Love with PMDD