PMDD Is More Than Hormones: Why Trauma, Sensory Sensitivity, and Interoception Matter
When we talk about PMDD, the conversation almost always centers around hormones. And yes, PMDD is hormone-related. But to say that PMDD is only about hormones is like trying to understand a wildfire by looking at a single spark. It leaves too much out.
The truth is, PMDD is a neuroendocrine disorder, which means it exists at the intersection of your hormones and your nervous system. It’s not just about what’s happening in your labs. It’s also about your brain, your body, and your lived experience.
A recent mini-review in Frontiers in Global Women’s Health, highlighted by IAPMD, offers an important reminder: if we’re only looking at hormones, we’re missing part of the story.
PMDD is complex; because you are complex.
The review points to three critical (and often overlooked) factors that can shape the PMDD experience:
1. Trauma history can increase luteal phase sensitivity.
If you’ve been through trauma, whether it’s a single event or a lifetime of chronic stress, your nervous system learns to be on alert.
This heightened sensitivity can make the normal hormonal fluctuations of the luteal phase (the1–2 weeks before your period) feel like too much.
So when your body starts shifting gears hormonally, your nervous system may react as if you're under threat, amplifying anxiety, rage, dissociation, and shutdown. It’s not “all in your head.” It’s all in your system.
2. Sensory processing challenges can intensify symptoms.
Many people with PMDD also experience sensory sensitivities; bright lights, loud noises, crowded places, itchy fabrics, or strong smells can feel unbearable in the luteal phase.
It’s not a coincidence. Hormonal changes can turn up the volume on sensory processing. And if you’re neurodivergent (like ADHD, ASD, or highly sensitive), this can hit even harder.
The result? You may find yourself overstimulated, overwhelmed, and emotionally flooded, often without understanding why.
3. Interoception impacts how you experience distress.
Interoception is your ability to sense what’s happening inside your body; things like hunger, heartbeat, muscle tension, or gut feelings.
In PMDD, interoception can become disrupted or overactive. That means you might feel physical sensations more intensely or have trouble interpreting them. A small sensation (like a tight chest or racing heart) might trigger panic, anger, or despair.
This makes it harder to feel grounded in your body, especially during a time in your cycle when things already feel out of control.
Why this matters so much:
Because if we only treat PMDD like a hormone problem, we risk offering one-size-fits-all solutions that fall short.
You might get told to go on birth control, take an antidepressant, or get a hysterectomy, without anyone asking about your trauma history, your nervous system, or how your body processes the world around you.
This isn’t just a hormone disorder. It’s a full-body, whole-person experience.
And when we understand it that way, we can offer support that’s actually compassionate, personalized, and effective.
A trauma and sensory informed approach to PMDD care:
Here at The Path Wellness Center, we approach PMDD through a trauma-informed and nervous-system-aware lens. That means:
We explore how your past experiences may shape your cycle symptoms
We work on nervous system regulation to help calm your reactivity during the luteal phase
We help you understand your sensory profile and how to care for yourself within it
We practice cycle tracking + body literacy to spot patterns and build self-trust
We include parts work and somatic tools to help you reconnect with your body safely
Because you deserve more than symptom suppression, you deserve to feel seen.
Final thoughts:
If PMDD has ever made you feel broken, dramatic, or too sensitive — we want you to know this:
You’re not too much.
You’re not imagining it.
And you’re not alone.
You’re living in a body that holds a story, and that story deserves care, not dismissal.
As IAPMD beautifully reminds us, compassionate care starts when we stop reducing PMDD to just hormones and start looking at the whole person.
Something’s coming… stay connected
We’re currently building a new support group called Aligned: a space for those navigating PMDD, perimenopause, and hormone-related overwhelm. It will combine education, connection, nervous system tools, and real talk; no fixing, no judgment.
If you're interested in joining or learning more, send us an email at info@thepathwellnesscenter.com. We’d love to keep you in the loop.
Love + Gratitude,
Kimberly
