Ep. 19 - This Is Not the Real You: Adriana's Story of Healing PMDD, Relationships & Self-Trust

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What if the version of you struggling with PMDD isn’t the real you at all? In this powerful episode, Natalie sits down with Adriana — PMDD advocate, podcast host, and mother — to unpack the deeper layers beneath PMDD symptoms, relationship patterns, and self-sabotage.

Adriana shares her journey from numbing and survival to true healing, motherhood, and creating a life she once thought wasn’t possible. Together, they explore nervous system regulation, limiting beliefs, attachment styles, and the profound inner work that makes lasting change possible.Whether you’re newly diagnosed or deep in the work, this conversation is an invitation to pause, reflect, and remember who you really are beneath the pain.Episode Outline + Timestamps:00:16 – Introducing Adriana and the key message she wants every woman to know01:10 – “This is not the real you”: Understanding PMDD and the authentic self02:06 – The parallels between PMDD and perimenopause05:01 – Motherhood as the next layer of healing and self-discovery07:03 – Navigating relationships while healing from PMDD11:08 – How PMDD became the catalyst for Adriana’s transformation12:40 – Sobriety, self-trust, and building the right healing toolbox14:57 – The power of non-negotiables and raising the bar in love and life18:03 – Attachment styles, nervous system regulation, and communication tools24:02 – Recognizing triggers, the pain body, and breaking old patterns31:09 – The story we tell ourselves: Creating space for healing conversations36:04 – Adriana’s essential tools for navigating PMDD and everyday life39:03 – Crash course on nervous system states (ventral, sympathetic, dorsal)46:05 – Surfing the waves: Healing as a lifelong practice51:02 – You’re not alone: Why support and self-advocacy matter54:02 – The silver lining of PMDD and the gift on the other side of the workGuest Bio:Adriana is the host of The PMDD Podcast and a passionate advocate for PMDD awareness and healing. After years of battling symptoms, numbing the pain, and feeling disconnected from herself, Adriana chose a path of sobriety, nervous system regulation, and deep inner work. Today, she’s not only PMDD-symptom free but also thriving as a mother, partner, and voice of hope for women navigating similar struggles.

Her story is one of radical self-responsibility, courage, and the belief that true healing is possible.Key Takeaways: Your PMDD symptoms are not the real you — they’re alarm bells, not your identity Healing requires self-trust, willingness, and the courage to go inward Nervous system regulation is a game-changer for emotional stability Communication frameworks like “The story I’m telling myself…” can shift conflict into connection The right relationship will meet you at your level of growth — non-negotiables matter Healing is not a destination but a continual process of surfacing, shedding, and softeningCall to Action: Loved this episode? Don’t keep it to yourself. Share it with a friend who needs to hear that healing is possible.

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