Andrea Loken
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thread 1/11
This is a great article. As someone diagnosed with PMDD in my 30s, I can say the struggle is real. We period people face unique mental health challenges related to our hormones which do not get discussed nearly enough. For anyone facing PMDD issues, please know you are not alone.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 2/11
I'd like to share some resources that have helped me tremendously (these are not a replacement for a conversation with your doctor, specialist or obgyn). I believe in sharing as much good info as we can, especially since PMDD is an even more taboo topic than our periods.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 3/11
By way of context, my PMDD was bad enough at one point that I called the week before my period “Crazy Week”. I often felt out of control during that time, with feelings of paranoia, obsessiveness, self-loathing, intense mood swings & anger.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 4/11
Therapy was a bad experience for me (another thread for another time) & I was determined to find my own path to coping. There was a clear pattern & I wanted to find better ways to deal with it, because medicine (which uses data largely based on research on men) wasn’t helping much.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 5/11
So I began looking for resources written *by* women experts *for* women, and in 2021, I hit the jackpot. The first resource is In The Flo by Dr. Alisa Vitti (herself a sufferer of PCOS). It discusses hormone health in depth, & includes specific advice on eating called cycle syncing.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 6/11
This means eating specific foods at specific times during your cycle (there’s even a food chart!). It has helped my PMDD, IBS & asthma through eating to reduce inflammation & support hormone health. It's a tremendous resource, with info not only PMDD but also amenorrhea, PCOS, endometriosis etc.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 7/11
Next up is fitness: I am a *big* fan of ROAR and Next Level by Dr. Stacy T. Sims, who included Dr. Vitti's research in her books. Whether you're a recreational or a competitive athlete, understanding how physical activity, eating & hormones are linked is key to improved health outcomes.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 8/11
ROAR is great for us younger period peeps, including info on exercise during pregnancy & postpartum. For those of us near or in menopause & post-menopause, Next Level is a great additional resource, with greater detail for our later hormonal life.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 9/11
Dr. Sims' books offer specific advice on how to take advantage of your body’s hormones to improve fitness & health outcomes. As a black belt in Taekwon-Do, this has changed how I train & I feel stronger & more balanced now than I ever remember feeling.
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 10/11
If you can, check Dr. Sims' TED Talk out, and find her on YouTube: she has a channel & is very active on the podcast circuit.

Her website:
https://www.drstacysims.com/
02:10 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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Andrea Loken
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thread 11/11
If you have specific experience or resources you'd like to share on PMDD, I'd love to see your replies. The more we talk about it, the more we can do about it. All the best to you!

A.
02:12 PM - Oct 16, 2023
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