PMDD Diaries, Part 1 — The (Naive) Triumph Before the Crash

Welcome to Part 1 of a 3-part series recorded during a particularly rough PMDD week. I recorded this episode thinking I had cracked the code—two days in, feeling surprisingly okay, and fully convinced that this time... I was different. Spoiler alert: I wasn’t.

The days that followed got darker, harder, and far more intense than I expected—but I’m still glad I captured this early “I’m doing great!!” moment. It’s a reminder that progress is real even when it doesn’t last, and that documenting the whole arc matters.

In this episode, I reflect on:

• The illusion of having "figured it out"

• The awkwardness of creating while not fully myself

• Fidgeting, grammar errors, and my war with the word “like”

• The strange shame of having only two meetings in a day when you’re your own boss

• And what it means to show up just for yourself

I almost didn’t post this because it’s rambly and imperfect—but that’s exactly why I am posting it. I’m learning to release things that don’t feel fully “ready,” to not tie my worth to polish or productivity, and to let mistakes live out loud instead of haunt me in silence.

This is the beginning of a week that really rocked me—but it’s also part of a story arc I needed to tell. Thank you for listening. Part 2 and 3 are on their way.