top of page
Search

When my body said stop – burnout with PMDD

Personal Experience & Holistic Support | Johanna Schneider – Holistic Health Coach


Sometimes it takes a complete pause to feel what truly matters – and the courage to put yourself at the center again.

(Note: This article does not replace medical or psychotherapeutic advice or diagnosis. I share personal experiences and work within a coaching framework, not in a therapeutic or medical capacity. If you are feeling acutely distressed or unwell, please consult a healthcare professional.)


Why Burnout with PMDD is So Often Overlooked


For a long time, I believed I just had to be “stronger.” More discipline, more perseverance, more performance – then I would manage.


But with a chronic condition like PMDD, this very mindset can be dangerous.

Many women live for years in “push-through mode” because:

  • Symptoms are not taken seriously

  • Performance is highly valued

  • Exhaustion is seen as weakness

  • The nervous system and hormone balance are additionally strained


I, too, slid into burnout this way – without realizing how far I had drifted from my body.


Constant Stress as the “Normal State”


Before I knew I had PMDD, I often felt like I was fighting my own body. I was:

  • Irritable

  • Exhausted

  • Mentally overactive

  • Sleepless

  • Tense

  • Easily overwhelmed


And yet, I kept going.

I worked, continued learning, exercised, engaged in personal projects – and tried every day to prove:

If I perform, I am good enough.

And like many women with PMDD, I thought:

I need to get a grip on myself.

At the time, I didn’t know that stress would massively worsen my PMDD symptoms – and that I would end up in a vicious cycle: the worse I felt, the more I pushed myself. And the more I pushed myself, the worse I felt.


When the Body Can’t Go On Anymore


Then came the day when nothing worked anymore.

I could no longer:

  • get up

  • think

  • speak

  • feel

I was empty. Burned out. Used up.

My body made it very clear:

Not like this anymore.

And I realized:

  • Burnout is not a weakness.

  • Pushing through is not a sign of strength.

  • PMDD makes stress regulation even more difficult.

  • This is not a matter of willpower.


My system had been at its limit for months, and I hadn’t listened – or didn’t want to listen – to the signals.





How I Used to Treat Myself


In retrospect, I can say:

  • I worked against my own body.

  • I didn’t take my condition seriously enough.

  • I pushed myself beyond my limits just to “keep up.”

  • I downplayed my symptoms – because others did too.

  • I shamefully hid my own exhaustion.


I thought I had to function like people without PMDD – and that burned me out.


What’s Different Today


I’ve learned to see my body as a partner – not an enemy.

Today, I ask myself every day:

  • What am I feeling?

  • What do I need?

  • What would be good for me?


And I’ve realized:

Self-care is not optional – it is essential when living with PMDD.

What Has Changed:


  • My worth is no longer tied to my performance.

  • I no longer work against my cycle, but with it.

  • I allow myself to take breaks without feeling guilty.

  • Tasks can wait – and no one dies because of it.

  • My nervous system and my body are a priority.


And when I completely lose control emotionally or see everything in black and white, my ‘emergency button’ helps me:

I watch a space documentary and remind myself: I am a tiny ant on a planet – I can simply be, without having to perform.

It immediately brings me back down to earth.


If you recognize yourself in this


Maybe you’re at the point where your body is also saying stop.

Maybe you:

  • are tired of just functioning

  • are fighting your symptoms

  • feel misunderstood

  • feel like you “should be doing more”


Then I want to tell you:


You don’t have to carry this alone.

And no matter how you feel right now: You are not weak. You are exhausted – and that is something entirely different.


⭐ How I Can Support You


I do not make diagnoses and do not replace medical treatment.

What I offer is holistic guidance based on my own experience and professional knowledge – for women with PMDD, burnout symptoms, or chronic exhaustion who want to learn to live more lightly and lovingly with themselves.


Together, we can:

🌿 Design nutrition to support your body and nervous system

💊 Discuss options for optimal nutrient intake (no prescriptions – you decide, I guide)

🧠 Regulate the nervous system, e.g., with laughter yoga, breath work & elements from TriloChi

🔄 Structure your daily life in a cycle-friendly way instead of constantly working against your body

🫶 Reconnect with your body awareness

⚖️ Reduce stress instead of fighting it

📅 Develop routines that are truly manageable – even on tough days


I don’t see you as a symptom, but as a whole person – holistic, individual, and in your life reality.

If you want, we can explore together what you need right now and which step would be best for you.


If this speaks to you:

Would you like to learn more about holistic support for PMDS, stress, and exhaustion? I offer a free, no-obligation introductory session.

I’m looking forward to connecting with you. 🩵



Comments

bottom of page