I Was Misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. It Was PMDD and ADHD.

Priya Jey
Mar 2
4 min read

During COVID, something became impossible to ignore.

Every month, my mood would shift.

Not randomly.
Not unpredictably.
Not for weeks at a time.

It happened around my cycle.

I experienced:

Intense emotional reactivity
Brain fog that felt neurological
Deep fatigue
Irritability that did not feel like “me”

And then — when my period arrived — it would lift.

I functioned well outside of that window. I worked. I achieved. I built. I planned.

Inside that window, my nervous system felt hijacked.

At one point, I received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

It didn’t make sense.

The symptoms were cyclical. Predictable. Hormone-linked.

And my bloodwork was completely normal.

That was my first real education in PMDD.

What PMDD Actually Is (And Isn’t)

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is not caused by abnormal hormone levels.

Research shows most individuals with PMDD have hormone levels within normal ranges.

The difference lies in the brain’s sensitivity to hormonal shifts — particularly during:

• Ovulation

• The late luteal phase (before menstruation)

In sensitive nervous systems, rapid changes in estrogen and progesterone can affect:

Serotonin
Dopamine
GABA regulation
Stress response systems

This can result in:

Mood crashes
Irritability or rage
Anxiety
Brain fog
Hopelessness
Fatigue

The key factor is fluctuation — not excess.

When the First Diagnosis Didn’t Fit

Being told I had bipolar disorder felt destabilizing.

There is nothing wrong with that diagnosis. It is real and valid for many.

But my symptoms did not persist across months. They clustered around my menstrual cycle.

When my period arrived, I felt relief.

That pattern matters.

And it is one that is often overlooked in women — especially high-achieving women.

Then ADHD Entered the Picture

Graduate school changed everything.

As I studied neurobiology and assessment more deeply, I started recognizing another layer:

Executive functioning patterns that were lifelong.

Difficulty sustaining attention
Time blindness
Hyperfocus under pressure
Emotional sensitivity
Overworking to compensate

ADHD in women is frequently missed.

Especially in women who perform well academically.
Especially in women who are racialized.
Especially in women who internalize distress.

There is emerging evidence that ADHD symptoms can worsen in the luteal phase due to estrogen’s role in dopamine regulation.

Which explained why certain weeks felt disproportionately harder.

It wasn’t just mood.

It was cognitive.

The Research Gap No One Talks About

In graduate school, I also learned something that deeply frustrated me:

Historically, menstrual cycles were excluded from psychiatric research.

Why?

To “control variables.”

Which meant women’s cyclical biology was treated as noise.

Not data.

When you combine:

• Hormonal sensitivity

• ADHD

• Academic pressure

• Cultural expectations

• Systemic racism

• Being a racialized woman in high-performance spaces

These factors do not operate in isolation.

Your nervous system carries all of it.

And yet many women are told:

“It’s just PMS.”

“It’s just anxiety.”

“You’re too sensitive.”

Dismissal compounds harm.

What 5 Years of Managing PMDD Taught Me

I have now been consciously managing PMDD for five years.

Here is what actually helped:

1. Cycle Tracking Reduced Self-Blame

When I could see patterns, I stopped pathologizing myself.

Data builds compassion.

2. Brain Fog Is Not Laziness

Cognitive load needs adjusting during luteal weeks.

This is neurobiology, not character failure.

3. High Achievement and Pacing Can Coexist

I work with MVA assessments, I run a private clinic. and I completed graduate school.

And I learned how to structure my schedule around my cycle.

You do not have to shrink your goals.

You may need to adjust your strategy.

4. Supplements Can Support — But Structure Is Foundational

There is moderate evidence supporting calcium and vitamin B6 for PMS symptom reduction.

But supplements alone are not a full solution.

What made the biggest difference was:

• Phase-based planning

• Nervous system regulation

• Sleep protection

• Energy budgeting

• Relational repair tools

What I See in My Practice

At HolistiCare Trauma Clinic, I work with women who have been:

Misdiagnosed
Dismissed
Told they are “too much”
Overmedicated without pattern tracking
Confused about why they feel stable one week and overwhelmed the next

Many are high-achieving.

Many are first-generation professionals.

Many are racialized women navigating systemic pressure.

Many are carrying ADHD traits that were never identified.

And many are exhausted from fighting their own biology.

We believe your pain.

And we understand how much cyclical dysregulation can cost:

Relationships
Confidence
Career momentum
Emotional safety

Working With Your Cycle — Not Against It

When the cycle controls you, it feels chaotic.

When you understand it, it becomes strategic information.

Follicular phase: build, initiate, create
Ovulatory window: connect, collaborate
Luteal phase: reduce cognitive load, contain, protect

This is not about perfection.

It is about alignment.

What I Offer

If you choose to work with me, our approach integrates:

Scientific Understanding

PMDD psychoeducation
ADHD–hormone interaction education
Nervous system mapping
Cycle-based executive functioning support

Emotional Support

Reducing shame
Validating irritability and fatigue
Exploring systemic pressures without pathologizing you

Practical Strategy

Phase-based scheduling
Relational repair planning
Energy allocation tools
Grounding techniques that are realistic

This is not about eliminating your cycle.

It is about expanding your capacity within it.

You Can Be Ambitious and Regulated

You can:

Run businesses
Pursue advanced education
Lead teams
Maintain relationships

And still need accommodations for your biology.

That is not weakness. It is wisdom.

Ready to Work With Your Nervous System Instead of Fighting It?

If you have:

• Been misdiagnosed

• Felt dismissed

• Noticed cyclical mood shifts

• Suspected ADHD patterns

• Felt confused about why certain weeks feel unbearable

You do not have to figure this out alone.

If this resonates, you can book a consultation through HolistiCare Trauma Clinic.

Let’s map your patterns.

Let’s reduce the chaos.

Let’s build a system that supports your full potential — sustainably.

Because when your cycle no longer controls you, your capacity expands.

And that changes everything.