After being diagnosed with PreMenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), Kingston-based Lydia Donaldson started her own platform, Not Ovaryacting, which supports people suffering with the condition, and this PMDD Awareness Month (April), Donaldson is sharing her story to help raise awareness. 

In an exclusive interview with Nub News, Donaldson said that one of the biggest side effects of PMDD is suicidal ideations and self harm. 

"She said: "For about four years, I was in a cycle of overdosing every single month and no one knew what it was. 

"So, I ended up sectioning myself and started my period on the unit and all my mental health symptoms went. With PMDD, you get depression, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self harm, anxiety, etc to the point that you're literally completely debilitated and then once you bleed, those symptoms resolve themselves.

"On the ward, my doctors saw that sudden switch and asked 'what's happened?' And the only thing that had changed was my period, so that's when my GP and my therapist said this is linked to my menstrual cycle and must be PMDD.

"So that is when I was diagnosed with PMDD."

Donaldson says she started her platform because if she had seen stuff about PMDD on social media, she would not have "suffered for so long".

She said: "It takes women on average 12 years to get diagnosed with PMDD, and I think more information is power because a lot of women are struggling but not realising it's their hormones."



She continued: "I wanted to help women, I was very alone and isolated for four years. I was also misdiagnosed, which is a very common theme with PMDD. So not only are you battling with yourself, but you are battling with a diagnosis that you know isn't correct."

Donaldson says she was originally diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. 

She said: "So, I felt like if I had seen just one video on social media explaining to me what PMDD was and what it looks like, I wouldn't have suffered for four years because I would have made the link a lot sooner."

Not Ovaryacting offers education awareness in real life. 

Donaldson said: "So, I try to show women that they can live a life with PMDD and that they can have a partner. 

"And I teach women what I learnt in therapy of how to manage PMDD. I'm also heavily involved in the PMDD community."

As part of her platform work, Donaldson has joined forces with a PMDD and PMS supplement brand called Evelyn Health.

She said: "So, I help Evelyn run its community and this is a community for everyone, including partners, parents, and women suffering with PMDD because it's very isolating."

Not Ovaryacting hosts regular meet-ups both online and in person, and Donaldson recently held her first in person meet-up in Central London to which she brought her boyfriend along.

She said: "Bringing my boyfriend made me realise that we need to make our meet-ups inclusive to everyone, so I'm aiming to organise meet-ups where women can bring their partners, parents, and any loved ones that are impacted by PMDD because the support seems to be quite focused on the women only."

The first in person event involved a walk around Hyde Park in London and Bonnie and Jared, who co-own Evelyn, were in attendance. 

Donaldson said that Jared joined the women's health circle because his wife has PMDD and " he doesn't want his daughter to go through what his wife went through."

She added: "So, the event was all about connecting women who are suffering, but for my boyfriend, it was really helpful for him to speak to Jared about how he could support me, because a lot of people don't think about that aspect."

Donaldson says she wants to connect with other women in Kingston who have PMDD, to "let them know that they aren't alone", and maybe help women get a diagnosis as "there isn't enough information out there".

She said: "I think it's really important to get awareness out there."

Donaldson says that there is no cure for PMDD and that the treatment options, which include contraception, HRT, chemical menopause, and hysterectomies, are "very drastic".

She said: "I went through an entire journey and nearly went through with the chemical menopause because it was my only option." 

However, Donaldson says, she has now started trying to "manage it more holistically" by going to therapy, taking Evelyn supplements, and having good nutrition.

She said: "I still have bad months, but it's not taking over my life like it did before."

This PMDD Awareness Month, Donaldson is helping raise awareness about PMDD by sharing her story. 

In doing so, she shared her story on The PMDD Project podcast, which you can watch in full here.