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“It’s the Worst Crisis Moment of Your Life On Repeat”: A Conversation on PMDD with Researchers Julie Riddell and Dr. Lynsay Matthews
- Helene de Taeye
- May 16
- 5 min read
Content warning: suicide
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), is still far too often misunderstood and overlooked. But researchers Julie Riddell and Dr. Lynsay Matthews are working to change that. In this in-depth conversation, they talk about their work building the UK’s first research agenda for PMDD and the hidden ways the disorder impacts parenting, relationships, and daily life.
Meet the Experts
Julie Riddell is a research assistant based at the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit at the University of Glasgow. Her work centers on the impact of hormones, especially how they affect mental health. She’s collaborated closely with Dr. Lynsay Matthews on building a comprehensive PMDD research agenda in the UK.
Dr. Lynsay Matthews is a women’s health researcher at the University of the West of Scotland, specializing in the link between menstrual cycles and mental health. Like Julie, she’s deeply focused on PMDD and advocates for more awareness, better support, and meaningful policy change.
Creating the UK PMDD Research Agenda
Lynsay explains how the UK research agenda came together: “We got funding from Research England to find out what people in the UK felt were the most urgent PMDD research priorities. Most of the research until then had come from the US and the Far East, so we didn’t have much happening here.”
They consulted widely, hosting workshops, surveys, and focus groups, and came away with five main research priorities:
Diagnosis and Management: “People often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, with no management plans in place,” Lynsay says.
Psychological Support: “What everyday coping skills do people need, beyond medication?”
Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention: A major and urgent area. One in three people with PMDD attempt suicide and more than one in two self-harm.
Life Impact: From education and employment to relationships, PMDD affects every aspect of life.
Hormonal Trigger Events: These vary. Some people experience crises during adolescence, others in perimenopause. We need to understand this better.
They’ve also started researching how PMDD intersects with the welfare system and with disordered eating.
How PMDD Affects Parenting
Lynsay is halfway through a study on parenting with PMDD, and the early findings are sobering.
“It can lead to inconsistent parenting...people describe being two different people through the month.
There’s guilt and shame around how they interact with their children. Some shared experiences of navigating suicidal ideation while being a parent, not getting support, and then attempting suicide. It’s an exhausting cycle of dismissal and survival.”
The two researchers don't just want to publish their findings, they also aim to influence policy. “We’re meeting with the Scottish Government to discuss our research. We want to build tailored support, whether that’s through schools, midwives, health visitors, or even the criminal justice system.”
Addressing Suicidality and Building Safety Plans
Julie stresses that one small change in how we ask questions can make a big difference: “Instead of asking ‘how long have you felt this way,’ we should ask, ‘how often do you feel this way?’ That shift helps people recognize patterns.”
She shared her own lived experience of PMDD and how she uses a traffic light system to manage it:
Green days: “Good days where I’m doing well, but I need to remember not to say yes to everything!”
Amber days: “Things are a bit wobbly...what support can I put in place now?”
Red days: “Crisis mode. I know I won’t be able to make decisions, so I plan meals in advance and communicate clearly with my partner and manager.”
Julie even has two versions of her chart: one for home, one for work.
You can download 2 PMDD Strategy Charts at the bottom of this article, under Resources.
Tracking and Tech
Tracking symptoms is crucial, especially for diagnosis. “You need a minimum of two months of symptom tracking to get a diagnosis,” says Lynsay. Apps can help identify patterns, though she adds,
“just be mindful about data privacy and how these apps use your information.”
Explaining PMDD to Others
Both Lynsay and Julie know how hard it is to explain PMDD. Symptoms can change month to month.
Julie recommends using a version of the 1-2-3 system as a communication tool: “Tell people what you need from them at each phase. And be open about the fact that what helps one month might not help the next.”
Lynsay echoes that: “Sometimes it’s easier to focus on the ‘ask’ instead of trying to explain the feeling to someone. For me, it was like reliving the worst day of your life, over and over. But instead of explaining that, I found it more helpful to say, ‘when I’m unwell, I need this, this, and this.’”
Medication, Therapy, and the Complex Treatment Landscape
Helene shared her own journey: stopping all medications to understand her body’s natural rhythm and considering what her next step should be.
Lynsay explains: “Some SSRIs are the most effective treatment, and interestingly, research shows they work even when only taken in the second half of the cycle.”
Hormonal treatments like birth control or IUDs are another option, but results vary wildly. “What helps one person might make someone else suicidal,” Lynsay says. “You need a clinician willing to explore options with you. And then there’s chemical or surgical menopause, another option with serious side effects.”
She adds, “I hope in 20 or 30 years, we’ll look back and be shocked that these were our only treatment options.”
A Better Future for PMDD
When asked what an ideal world would look like, Lynsay envisions quick diagnoses, early interventions, and PMDD being treated like any other chronic condition.
Julie adds, “We need more open conversations about menstruation—not just among those who menstruate. If everyone learned about it in school, we’d all be better equipped.”
She dreams of healthcare systems that are less siloed and more holistic: “Too often someone is labeled with depression or anxiety and the rest is ignored. What about the influence of the menstrual cycle? We need a view that sees the whole person, and a system focused on prevention, not crisis.”
Promising Developments
Lynsay points to growing research into the link between PMDD and neurodivergence, especially ADHD, as a hopeful development: “Even if it’s not giving us treatments yet, the recognition and connection is huge.”
Julie’s excited about the growing role of hormones in broader health research: “Hormones impact everything. We need to think about them even in studies about sleep or exercise. It’s finally starting to happen.”
Where Helene Is Now
At the time of the interview, Helene had just stopped hormonal birth control and was in the “amber” phase of her cycle. “It’s unclear what’s going on. I’m not sure if this is PMS, PMDD, or my body resetting. But I’m glad I have a GP who’s willing to listen and keep exploring options.”
She reflected on how isolating it was growing up with symptoms no one could name. “I was just seen as a moody teenager. It’s such a relief to know I’m not alone.”
Lynsay suggested a “family plan” to help partners and loved ones offer better support. “With work, kids, a home, it’s a lot to manage. Having everyone on board can make a difference.”
Julie agrees and says the plan was helpful for her too: “It helped me reflect on what I need, especially on good days when I might overcommit.”
Get Involved
Lynsay and Julie invite anyone interested to join their Patient Insight Group. Whenever a new study launches, participants are the first to hear about it. “We’re about to start one on hormonal trigger events like adolescence or postpartum. People can sign up through the PMDD research page.”
As the conversation ends, there’s a real sense of community, shared experience, and cautious optimism. PMDD is still misunderstood, but thanks to women like Lynsay and Julie, more people are learning that they’re not alone, and better support is possible.
Resources
PMDD Strategy Chart (Traffic Light System):
PMDD Strategy Chart (Work-Focused):
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