From "I Don't Recognise Myself" to "I Feel in Control During Luteal"
01 · MEET RENEE
A Mum Who Didn't Recognise Who She Became Each Month
Renee is a 31-year-old stay-at-home mum from Canada. What started as occasional mood dips gradually became overwhelming anger, depressive symptoms, & self-hatred that took over her luteal phase every single month. As a mum trying to show up for her children, losing control of herself felt devastating.
Her worst weeks, she barely left the house. She withdrew from her family when they needed her most. The guilt of that withdrawal fed more self-hatred. A cycle on top of a cycle.
"I feel like I can be in control during my luteal phase. Something I knew wasn't possible before."
- RENEE · EXIT
02 · LIFE BEFORE HMM
Dreading Hell Week. Every Month.
Renee came in with a symptom burden score of 444. What she was dealing with:
- Intense anger
- Depressive symptoms
- Mood swings
- Self-hatred & constant negative self-talk
- Relationship & communication struggles
- Emotional overwhelm
- Sleep disturbances
- Intense irritability
She described feeling like a completely different person during luteal. One she didn't recognise & didn't want to be.
She was planning her life around hell week. Dreading it. Barely leaving the house during her worst days. After outbursts came intense guilt, which triggered more self-hatred. She was looping.
The month before starting the program, she expressed to her partner that she didn't want to be here anymore. That moment shook her to her core.
03 · WHAT SHE'D ALREADY TRIED
She Was Trying. Nothing Was Working.
Renee had attempted multiple approaches on her own.
- Various dietary approaches
- Self-help books
- Meditation & mindfulness
- Over-the-counter supplements without guidance
- Trying to push through on willpower alone
Nothing addressed root causes. She was guessing at what might help with no clear direction. Improvements were minimal & short-lived. The emotional toll kept increasing despite her efforts. No one was connecting her nutrition, sleep, & hormonal patterns.
04 · THE TURNING POINT
The Month Before the Program
The breaking point came the month before she started: Renee told her partner she didn't want to be here anymore. That moment terrified her. Not just for herself, but for her children.
She realised she couldn't keep cycling through despair every month. She needed real support, real answers, & real change.
"I don't recognise that version of myself anymore. And for that I am forever grateful."
- RENEE
05 · THE ROOT-CAUSE APPROACH
Built Around What Her Body Was Actually Doing
Renee's plan focused on root causes & practical tools.
- HTMA testing to identify mineral imbalances
- Functional assessment of nutrient status
- Personalised nutrition plan
- Sleep optimisation
- Targeted supplementation
- Cycle awareness & symptom tracking
- Emotional regulation & nervous system support
- Tools for managing anger & mood shifts
- Education on the hormonal-nutritional connection
06 · EARLY WINS
She Started Feeling Hope
Improved sleep quality. Slightly more emotional stability in a typically difficult week. Better understanding of her patterns & triggers. The first moments of feeling 'in control' during luteal phase.
For Renee, 'in control' during luteal wasn't something she'd ever imagined was possible.
"I NOW have a beautiful toolbox full of resources to handle my mood and anger."
- RENEE
07 · THE RESULTS
The Numbers
"It has been LIFE CHANGING!"
- RENEE
- SYMPTOM BURDEN
- 444 → 221
- 50% drop (−223 points)
- ANGER
- Before: High & uncontrollable
- After: Far less severe, manageable
- DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS
- Before: Intense
- After: Significantly reduced
- MOOD SWINGS
- Before: Intense & unpredictable
- After: More stable & controlled
- SELF-HATRED
- Before: Constant
- After: Kinder self-talk
- COMMUNICATION
- Before: Strained
- After: Much improved
- SLEEP
- Before: Poor quality
- After: Better
- LEAVING HOUSE/WEEK
- Before: Rarely
- After: Far more often
08 · HOW HER LIFE CHANGED
She's Present. She's Connected. She's Herself.
Renee is in control during her luteal phase. She knows that now not as a goal but as a fact she lives.
She's more positive & kinder, to herself & to the people she loves. She can accept hard situations & move forward. She stays connected to her family instead of withdrawing when things get difficult.
Her kids have a mum who can show up for them the way she always wanted to. Her relationship with her partner is calmer & more communicative.
She doesn't recognise the version of herself that didn't want to be here anymore. That's the point.
"I can speak to those I love the way they deserve. And that is HUGE for me!"
- RENEE
09 · RENEE'S MESSAGE
For Every Mum Who's Terrified of Who She Becomes Each Month
Renee was running on shame & self-hatred. She thought that version of herself was who she was. It wasn't. It was a body sending loud signals through her cycle. When she gave it what it needed, the person underneath came back.
"I don't recognise that version of me anymore. I will continue to take the steps and use my tools to heal for me and my family."
- RENEE
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Ready to Start Your Own Story?
Her Mood Mentor offers personalised, root-cause support for women with PMDD. Functional lab testing, targeted nutrition & cycle-informed coaching. Real answers instead of more guessing.
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Results vary. This case study reflects one individual's experience & is not a guarantee of outcomes. Her Mood Mentor does not provide medical advice. Always consult with your healthcare provider about treatment decisions.