Aligning with Core Values to Navigate PMDD
Feel Like Yourself Again With PMDD
PMDD can feel like an internal storm. It shifts your perception. Alters your self-identity. Makes you feel lost. How do you find your way back?
Core values.
They serve as an anchor. A guiding light in the fog of PMDD. Let's dive into why they matter.
Problem: Disconnection from Self
PMDD messes with your head. It can make you feel like a stranger in your own body. You lose touch with who you are. Guilt and shame become frequent visitors.
How do you break free?
Core Values as an Anchor
Your core values are vital. They remind you of your true self. They help navigate PMDD's emotional rollercoaster.
"Your core values are the compass that points you back to who you really are."
Breaking the Cycle
Understanding your values can break the cycle of guilt and shame. It provides a sense of control. Helps you to make better decisions. Even when PMDD tries to steer you off course.
"The goal is to have a guidepost to return to and to treat yourself with compassion when your symptoms pull you off course."
Values Work in Therapy
Values work fits into therapeutic approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. It offers a compass for living. Reflecting on your values improves emotional regulation. Especially under stress.
"The compass doesn't keep you from taking a wrong turn, but it can help you to find your way back."
Jes's Personal Journey
I battled PMDD for 17 years without a name for it. It felt like drowning. I even tattooed a 'drowning girl' to capture my struggle. Eventually, I found answers. Now, I help others find theirs.
Actionable Steps
- Identify Your Core Values: Regularly reevaluate them.
- Use Values as a Compass: Guide your actions and decisions, especially when symptoms aren't present.
- Self-Affirmation Practices: Reflect on your values to reduce shame.
- Seek Therapy: Consider Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to explore values.
- Prepare Before Symptoms Hit: Align with your values in advance.
"When you repeat those behaviors over and over, it becomes your quality of life, so it is a little self-fulfilling prophecy with PMDD."
Bottom Line
PMDD is tough. But your core values can help you navigate the storm. They remind you who you are. They help you feel like yourself again.
Catch the full episode of PMDD Pep Talk Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
