Angry or Depressed Before Your Period? Here’s What It Could Mean
If you find yourself snapping at loved ones, crying over things that wouldn’t normally bother you, or sinking into a low mood in the lead-up to your period, you’re not alone. Many women experience emotional changes in the second half of their cycle. But when those feelings become intense, overwhelming, or start to affect your work, relationships, and daily life, it could be more than PMS.
This is where Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) enters the picture—a condition that is often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed as “just bad PMS.”
What’s the Difference Between PMS and PMDD?
PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
Common, mild to moderate symptoms before a period.
Can include bloating, breast tenderness, irritability, or mood changes.
Usually manageable and doesn’t significantly disrupt daily life.
PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)
A severe, hormone-related mood disorder.
Emotional symptoms like rage, hopelessness, or panic are much stronger.
Can feel like your personality changes for one to two weeks every month.
Interferes with work, relationships, and quality of life.
Put simply: PMS is uncomfortable. PMDD is life-altering.
Why Does PMDD Happen?
Researchers believe PMDD isn’t caused by “too many hormones” but by the way your body and brain react to normal hormonal changes. Think of it as a heightened sensitivity to the natural shifts in estrogen and progesterone.
Factors that may contribute include:
Genetics – some women are more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations.
History of trauma – stressful or traumatic experiences can prime the nervous system to overreact.
Neurotransmitter imbalances – especially serotonin, which affects mood.
Inflammation and stress – which can amplify both physical and emotional symptoms.
Why So Many Women Don’t Know They Have PMDD
One of the hardest things about PMDD is that it often hides in plain sight. Women are told:
“You’re just moody.”
“It’s normal to feel off before your period.”
“Everyone gets PMS.”
But if your symptoms are so severe that you dread half of every month, it’s not “just PMS.”
Many of my clients come to me after years—sometimes decades—of feeling like they were failing at life, when in reality they were living with undiagnosed PMDD.
Real-Life Scenario
Imagine this:
You’re managing a busy job and a household. Things feel okay for a couple of weeks. But like clockwork, the second half of your cycle arrives, and suddenly:
You can’t tolerate your partner’s voice without snapping.
You cry at work and feel embarrassed.
Small stresses—like a late email reply—trigger rage or despair.
You feel disconnected from who you are, almost like two different versions of yourself.
This isn’t just a “bad day.” It’s a pattern, tied closely to your menstrual cycle.
How Natural Approaches Can Help
While conventional treatments such as antidepressants or hormonal contraception are often prescribed, many women find they want alternatives—or at least complementary options. Natural approaches focus on supporting the body, balancing the nervous system, and addressing root causes.
Some of the areas I work with include:
Nutrition for Hormonal Health
Eating anti-inflammatory, whole-foods diets.
Supporting serotonin and hormone metabolism through specific plant-based foods.
Key nutrients like magnesium, B vitamins, and omega-3s (Ahiflower, flax, chia).
Herbal Medicine
Vitex agnus-castus for progesterone support.
Saffron for mood regulation.
Kava for easing anxiety and calming the nervous system.
Stress and Nervous System Healing
Trauma-informed therapies like Family Constellations and Rapid Core Healing.
Mindfulness, breathwork, and gentle movement such as yoga or walking in nature.
The Link Between Trauma and PMDD
PMDD isn’t “all in your head,” but emotional history does play a role. Research and clinical experience show that women with PMDD often have a history of childhood trauma or stressful life events. The nervous system becomes more sensitive to hormonal changes, amplifying emotional responses.
This is why addressing unresolved trauma is such a powerful part of healing. Through approaches like Rapid Core Healing, many women experience not only lighter PMDD symptoms but also a deeper sense of emotional stability throughout the month.
When to Seek Support
If you find yourself:
Feeling like a different person before your period.
Struggling with anger, depression, or anxiety that only happens in the luteal phase.
Dreading your cycle every month…
…then it may be time to seek help. Tracking your symptoms for two to three months can be a powerful first step in understanding whether it’s PMS or PMDD.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling angry, hopeless, or depressed before your period, please know: this is not a character flaw. It’s not you being “too sensitive.” It may be PMDD, and there is support available.
With the right combination of nutrition, herbal medicine, emotional healing, and nervous system care, it is possible to reduce the intensity of symptoms and feel more like yourself again—not just for two weeks of the month, but all the way through.
As I often remind my clients: you are not broken, you are carrying a story that can be healed.
About Camilla
By Camilla Brinkworth, BHSc Naturopathy, Grad Cert Human Nutrition – Naturopath, Nutritionist & Trauma-Informed Practitioner. Camilla specialises in helping women recover from PMDD naturally through integrative naturopathy, trauma healing (Rapid Core Healing & Family Constellations), and mind-body medicine. As somebody who has lived with and fully overcome PMDD herself, she has designed a wide range of resources to support other women at The PMDD Naturopath.