Living Well with PMDD

Mother's Day Peace Challenge

If you struggle with Mother's Day, you're not alone. Today I'll share an idea I had about 10 years ago. It was nearing Mother's Day and I had a desire to show my kids that I appreciated them making me a mother. I chose to buy them each a book for Mother's Day. Listen in to hear my Mother's Day Peace Challenge inspired by that experience. Or watch here [https://youtu.be/DrGKNWZAa8Y]. Take Aways * Review of my episode: A Tribute to My Mom: Things I Wish My Mom Had Known 50 Years Ago [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/living-well-with-pmdd/id1711099991?i=1000654644977] from May 6, 2024. * Many women have a hard time with Mother's Day. * An AI summary of why some women's don't like Mother's Day:  Some women don't like it because it's heavily commercialized, because it puts pressure on being perfect, it creates extra labor rather than a restful break, it triggers sadness because of strained relationships, personal loss, infertility, or the pressure to perform happily while you are struggling with motherhood. * A few quotes from women in this article. [https://www.bahealing.com/blog-1/four-reasons-people-hate-mothers-day] * When I've struggled with Mother's Day, it was because I felt inadequate, false guilt (or mom guilt), or because I was missing my mom. * One year, I got my kids gifts to celebrate Mother's Day to say: thank you for making me a mom and I am glad to be your mom. * Mother's Day Peace Challenge: Answer this question: What do you want this weekend to look like? Then comes the challenge:  Listen to what your heart or mind answers and if it feels good, do it!  * YOU ARE AMAZING. AS YOU ARE. RIGHT NOW. HUGS! Want more support? ❤️Click here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/free/] to talk with me. I'm currently offering a free 20 minute consultation call to help you get clear on where you are and how to get to a better place.  Free resources: * Heidi's website [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/] * Heidi's YouTube [https://youtu.be/EUN7KX3bC_k] Music  * Music- Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com [https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com/]  * Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com/]

5 Things No One Tells You About PMDD

Get faster results on your pmdd journey by talking with me.  Click here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/free/] to schedule a quick 20 minute conversation. We'll discover your best next step in alleviating your pmdd. 5 Things No One Tells You About PMDD 1. No "one-size-fits-all" solution. Many ways to treat it. 2. YOU know best. 3. You'll still be human. (Even after you find a good treatment, you'll have ups and downs to deal with.) 4. Doctors are not well versed in pmdd. 5. Resilience and Support make the biggest difference. Take Aways * When looking for solutions to pmdd, be aware that a lot of people online are selling something. * What works for them might not work for you. * What didn't work for them might work for you! * To build trust that YOU KNOW BEST, consider what has given you a good result in the past.  * You are going to have emotional roller coasters in your life even when your pmdd is under control. * Learn and utilize tools of well-being * PMDD has been in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental Illnesses) since 2013. Many doctors still don't know much about it.  * Be prepared to say "yes" and "no" to treatments your doctor recommends. YOU ARE THE EXPERT ON YOU. * If you choose surgery, have a total hysterectomy WITH bilateral sapling oophorectomy. This includes removal of the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and/or fallopian tubes. You'll probably need some HRT afterwards. * Dr. Peter Schmidt with the National Institute of Health is looking into the causes of pmdd, the treatments for it, and genetic factors affecting it. * Don't feel guilty for not being able to tap into your usual resilience when your pmdd symptoms are active. This is normal for that time. * Build support systems! This includes you, your husband, your friends, and your family. Watch this episode here [https://youtu.be/c2JgGXEknXc]. Want more support? ❤️Click here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/free/] to talk with me. I'm currently offering a free 20 minute consultation call to help you get clear on where you are and how to get to a better place.  Free resources: * Heidi's website [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/] * Heidi's YouTube [https://youtu.be/EUN7KX3bC_k] Music  * Music- Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com [https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com/]  * Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com/]

Scheduling and Timing Decision Making to Have Better Experiences

LET'S CELEBRATE! THIS IS THE 100TH EPISODE! 🎉  I chose a topic that has helped me immensely in honor of this being the 100th episode. Enjoy the stories I share throughout. Maybe you can see yourself in some of them. Take this with a grain of salt. It's meant to be general information. Tailor this to your own wisdom and experience. Take Aways * Scheduling events and vacations based on your menstrual cycle can increase your odds of having good experiences.  * Schedule commitments that you're planning, hosting, or attending to take place during your follicular phase. * Knowing when to make what decisions can also help.  * There are decisions to make during your follicular phase and other decisions to make during your luteal phase.  * When you can't schedule something for optimal timing or make a decision in the phase you would prefer, take measures to be in a good place at that time. * Consider a two-phase menstrual cycle for easier planning. * I created a PMDD Stabilization Guide. Download it here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/pmdd-guide/]. * In general, think of your follicular phase as your yes phase when you are scheduling. Your luteal phase as your no phase when you're scheduling. * You want to make these decisions final during your follicular phase: moving to a new city, creating a new wardrobe, career changes, to quit a job, etc.  * Good decisions for luteal phase are: the HOW of a decision made during follicular and following through strongly on a decision made previously when clear-minded. * In luteal phase, we talk ourselves out of making some decisions...stylistic, subjective (based on opinion), and again, big decisions. * 16:07 Story about a trip right after my husband's first deployment. * When you can't schedule an event to happen at an ideal time for you, prepare emotionally and physically for that event as best you can.  * Improving your emotional resilience will help you! Learn to feel any emotion and be okay. * You're human. You will have ups and downs. Others get to have their feelings and opinions too. Let things go! Watch the episode here [https://youtu.be/XvRqeFT-dd0].  Want more support? ❤️Click here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/free/] to talk with me. I'm currently offering a free 20 minute consultation call to help you get clear on where you are and how to get to a better place.  Free resources: * Heidi's website [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/] * Heidi's YouTube [https://youtu.be/EUN7KX3bC_k] Music  * Music- Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com [https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com/]  * Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com/]

PMDD Awareness with Marybeth Bohn: Part 3

Continuing our talk with Mary Beth Bohn. :) YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_SlnEvCiRE&t=2s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_SlnEvCiRE&t=2s] Take Aways * Therapies that may help: ACT, EMDR, or hypnotherapy. * Various dietary supplements have helped. * Lifestyle changes can improve (meaning decrease) pmdd symptoms. * REMEMBER: TRIAL AND ERROR IS IMPORTANT. WHAT HAS WORKED FOR SOMEONE ELSE MAY OR MAY NOT HELP YOU. * Some memories may show up only during the luteal phase. More research is needed, but pmdd can affect memory. * Reproductive hormones are STEROIDS. Steroids affect the brain a lot.  * Women with pmdd should consider limiting or avoiding steroids due to the likelihood of sensitivity. * Both Christina and Heidi have had experiences of their memory being affected during luteal phase. * The menstrual cycle ought to be the 5th vital sign for women of that age. * Christina's Questions: When was your last period? When are you expecting your next period? What is "PMS" like for you?  * If you are concerned that a friend or loved one may have pmdd or pme, ask them Christina's three questions listed above. This may help decrease the time it takes to figure out what is going on for them. * Possible indicators that you have pmdd or pme: having an big argument with a spouse monthly, wanting to quit your job (or actually quitting) monthly,  or being impatient with your children more so during PMS timing.  * You may not recognize these as related to your period. Start tracking. If something like the things listed above happen periodically and you start your period the next day, you likely have some premenstrual exacerbation or premenstrual dysphoric disorder.  * PMS does not last 7 days. If your PMS is lasting more than a few days, you likely experience premenstrual exacerbation of a different disorder/health issue OR have pmdd. * Histamines can influence the severity of premenstrual symptoms. * There are many ways to help yourself discussed throughout this episode and specifically around 36:00. * There are ways to help your loved one if you suspect they have pmdd or pme. Listen around 37:00. * "Awareness can reduce the average length of time to get a diagnosis from 12 years to a matter of a few months." -IAPMD.org * Consider attending the Christina Bohn Memorial 5K in Columbia, MO this October. Details here: https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Columbia/ChristinaBohnMemorial5KforPMDDAwareness [https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/Columbia/ChristinaBohnMemorial5KforPMDDAwareness] Want more support? ❤️Click here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/free/] to talk with me. I'm currently offering a free 20 minute consultation call to help you get clear on where you are and how to get to a better place.  Free resources: * Heidi's website [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/] * Heidi's YouTube [https://youtu.be/EUN7KX3bC_k] Music  * Music- Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com [https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com/]  * Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com/]

PMDD Awareness with Marybeth Bohn: Part 2

More with Mary Beth Bohn, co-founder of the Christina Bohn Foundation [https://www.christinabohnfoundation.org]. Video slides are utilized so this one would be especially helpful to watch! Here's where it is on YouTube: https://youtu.be/taO0-OYAQf4 [https://youtu.be/taO0-OYAQf4] Take Aways * 00 - About the Annual Christina Bohn Memorial 5K, establishing the first state recognized PMDD Awareness day (in Missouri), and about Mary Beth and her husband stepping into PMDD Awareness after Christina's death. * Here is the 7 minute video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26nDPgpjuRk]... about high level overview about pmdd and Christina. * 07:35 - Education about the menstrual cycle and pmdd including powerpoint slides by Mary Beth  * Follicular phase: first half of the menstrual cycle. Starting on day 1. * Luteal phase: second half of the menstrual cycle * All women generally feel better in the follicular phase. This is a good time to make decisions. * The luteal phase includes ovulation. * In luteal phase your uterus is preparing for menstruation or preparing for pregnancy. * We likely feel more tired, more sensitive, and more irritable in luteal phase than the follicular phase. * PMDD happens in the luteal phase. * Genetics influence the likelihood of experiencing pmdd. * TONS of wonderful information shared in here!!! * 47:38 Heidi shares a current practice that is helping her be more steady with pmdd Want more support? ❤️Click here [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/free/] to talk with me. I'm currently offering a free 20 minute consultation call to help you get clear on where you are and how to get to a better place.  Free resources: * Heidi's website [https://heidibradfordcoaching.com/] * Heidi's YouTube [https://youtu.be/EUN7KX3bC_k] Music  * Music- Island Breeze by Surf House Productions | https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com [https://surf-house-productions.bandcamp.com/]  * Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com [https://www.free-stock-music.com/]