Stress-Tested by Grief: How this magic headband reduced my PMDD symptoms and saved my 20s

This blog post contains a story from Nettle™ user Olivia. It’s a deeply personal account of her experience living with severe PMDD, and of moving through one of life’s most destabilizing experiences, the loss of a parent.

What makes Olivia’s story remarkable isn’t just that Nettle™ helped during a “good” month. It’s that Nettle™ held up during the hardest months of her life.

Content note: This story includes honest reflections on PMDD, suicidal ideation, and loss.

“Nine months ago, I was crying every day and unable to work. Today, I live almost symptom-free. I am so relieved. So are my family and my friends. It took a therapist, a 'magic' headband, and a lot of courage to get here.

My search for solutions began with going to therapy. At this point, I didn’t know I had PMDD, I just thought my mental health had worsened. My therapist was the first person to notice my symptoms were cyclical and suggested that the contraception I was taking could be worsening my mental health. Her suspicions were right - my mental health had been declining since getting the Mirena coil, otherwise known as an Intrauterine System (IUS), a few months before. I decided to take it out.

The IUS works by releasing levonorgestrel directly into the uterus, a hormone similar to the body's natural progesterone. The gynaecological nurse advised me it could take up to six months to leave my system, which, honestly, felt like an eternity. At this time, my PMDD symptoms were the worst they had ever been: I was suffering with dysphoria, anxiety, I'd lost sense of who I was, and the idea of wanting it all to 'stop' became more frequent. I understand that doctors call this passive suicidal ideation, not actively planning a suicide, but sensing that suicide would be a way to stop the pain.

Research shows that suicidal ideation is tragically common; up to 82% of women living with PMDD have experienced suicidal ideation on one or more occasions during their premenstrual phase. I am sharing my experience because I do not want women to be ashamed, suffer in silence more than we already do, or think they are 'too far gone' for there to be a solution for you.

I shared my thoughts with close friends and family, who, naturally, became more worried and some encouraged me to consider taking antidepressants, to 'relieve the pain'. Others encouraged me to hang on 'just one more month', to see if the hormones would clear.

I was initially resistant to antidepressants but was coming round to the idea, recognising the severity of my symptoms.

Luckily, my symptoms did go away (temporarily) after 3 months of having the coil out of my body. I thought it must have been the coil, and I was cured. A few months later, the debilitating symptoms came back. I was gutted. Back to square one, it felt like.

I was about to go on antidepressants in an attempt to reduce the symptoms. It was just at this moment that I discovered the Nettle through an Instagram advertisement - a headband that uses tDCS (transcranial direct current stimulation), a specific type of neurostimulation, to help the brain regulate pain and mood.

I was intrigued, but I also had doubts: 1) Is it safe? 2) Is it expensive? 3) Can I get my money back if it doesn't work?

I dived deeper and felt reassured - they showcased their rigorous clinical research, and the monthly subscription price was no more than my gym membership.

One final thing for me was that Samphire Neuroscience cared about making the Nettle accessible to all. The team reassured me they were doing trials with the NHS - working towards a future where all women with PMDD have another option, as well as antidepressants.

In the last 9 months, since I have been using Nettle, life has thrown everything at me other than my PMDD, most significantly, losing my dad to cancer. I was expecting my PMDD symptoms to come flooding back, as I know that PMDD symptoms can be worsened by stress triggers, and grief can be one of the most stressful things that your body can experience. ‘I am doomed,’ I thought. But my symptoms stayed low. Nettle didn't just work during a normal month; it worked during the hardest months of my life. It passed the ultimate test for me.

I don’t see any downsides for anyone with PMDD giving Nettle a try in an attempt to reduce the severity of their symptoms. For me, using Nettle alongside a regular exercise routine, paying attention to my nutrition in relation to my menstrual cycle, for example, eating broths when I menstruate to re-hydrate the body and eggs and sweet potato for breakfast to stabilise blood sugar levels, and attending bi-weekly therapy, has significantly reduced my PMDD symptoms.

These ‘softer’ symptom management practices didn’t manage to reduce my PMDD symptoms significantly for a long enough period of time without Nettle. However, with Nettle, I am living almost symptom-free.

To develop my therapeutic toolkit, I went to a therapist. If that isn’t possible, then I recommend using a self-therapy app, joining an online WhatsApp community of women with PMDD that offers support. 

In the UK, there is Belle Health, a self-therapy app that offers a hands-on therapeutic experience alongside symptom tracking.

In Spain, I have started an online WhatsApp support group here and a therapy platform, Velora Salud, specialised in psychological problems related to the menstrual cycle, so Hispanic women can find community and/or professional support in their native tongue.

Even now, it feels surreal that a medical wearable that stimulates my brain could help a condition that is so debilitating. I can’t thank enough Emilė Radytė, CEO at Samphire Neuroscience, the founders, and the rest of the team, for saving me from the rest of my 20s in poor health. As a Nettle user and fellow PMDD warrior, I am more than happy to share my perspective if you are reading this and have any further questions about PMDD and the Nettle. You can reach out to me on Instagram here or on info@velorasalud.org.”

We’re deeply moved by Olivia's honesty and grateful that she shared her experience so generously.

If Olivia’s story brought anything up for you, support is available:

• NHS support lines: Immediate help for suicidal thoughts for UK residents.
• The PMDD Project: Education, advocacy, and community support, across the world.
• IAPMD: International support and resources for PMDD.