Why do you feel like a completely different person the week before your period?

This week on A Millennial Mind, I am joined by Dr Faye Bate, a medical doctor who explains exactly what's happening in your brain when your hormones shift — and why some women feel it so much more than others.

In this episode, we break down the real science behind PMS and PMDD, why your blood tests can come back normal when you feel awful, how stress makes everything worse, and why antidepressants aren't always the answer. Faye also opens up about her own experience of freezing her eggs, the emotional toll of fertility pressure, and the viral misinformation that's doing real damage to women.

If you've ever been told "it's just part of being a woman" — this episode will change how you see your mood and help you (and your partner) better prepare for those tricky and emotional few days, so many of us suffer with each month.

🎙 What we cover:
- The neuroscience of why your mood changes before your period
- PMS vs PMDD: how to tell the difference
- Serotonin, GABA and dopamine: what's actually happening in your brain during the menstrual cycle
- Why women with ADHD are more likely to have PMDD
- Antidepressants for PMS: when they help and when they don't
- CBT vs medication: what is the best way to manage your symptoms?
- Egg freezing: Dr Faye's personal experience and what she wasn't expecting
- The biological clock debate: what social media gets dangerously wrong
- Postpartum depression and the link to PMS
- Why lifestyle factors matter more than supplements

⏱ Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
1:17 – Why "it's just part of being a woman" is harmful
3:59 – The biology of mood swings explained
6:55 – Faye's egg freezing story and the Morley's meltdown
12:48 – PMS vs PMDD — the difference and the suicide risk
15:19 – Serotonin, GABA and dopamine across your cycle
21:05 – Why some women get worse PMS than others
22:33 – What is stress actually doing to your body?
28:05 – How hormonal fluctuations affect women differently
30:44 – The brain scans that prove your emotions aren't irrational
32:01 – Antidepressants for PMS — when they actually work
38:34 – Supplements — what works and what doesn't
41:07 – CBT vs antidepressants for PMS
44:06 – Egg freezing — the emotional and physical reality
48:34 – Why getting your period while trying to conceive is devastating
52:16 – The biological clock lie going viral on social media
58:34 – Postpartum depression and how to prepare
1:03:56 – The one myth about women's moods Faye wants to destroy

Follow Dr Faye: @drfayebate
Follow Shivani: @shivani.pau
Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts: A Millennial Mind

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#PMS #PMDD #hormones #moodswings #womenshealth #menstrualcycle #eggfreezing #fertility #antidepressants #neuroscience #ADHD #postpartumdepression #millennialmind #podcast

🔔 Subscribe for more discussions on mental health, personal growth, and healing! / @shivanipaupodcast

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