It’s a packed Episode again this week. And our topic is Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).PMDD is a severe form of PMS and occurs during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.It is intense and for 2 weeks every month women have to endure this debilitating condition. Our guests this week are mother and daughter, Kate and Holly who talk about how their lives have been affected by this under recognised condition.We learn about the true meaning of Valentine’s day, and it’s definitely not all hearts and flowers, more like naked men running around in thongs made from sacrificed goats.Talking of hearts Jinty investigate the difference between male and female heart attack signals, and why we should be made aware of the different symptoms to men.In the Book Collective the beautiful prose of Bernadine Evaristo’s novel Girl, Woman, Other takes us on a journey of discovery for the characters, Amma, Yazz, Dominque and Carole.The Foodie continues with our Chinese theme, today we try tofu in a black bean sauce.And there’s a lack of understanding of left and right in this month’s WI for Lou! Our guests Kate and Holly, mother and daughter they have both been diagnosed with PMDD, it’s a chat full of honesty and factual information. Both have suffered with PMDD since they began their periods, Kate has undergone a full hysterectomy and more recently had her ovaries removed to try and lead a normal life. Holly talks about the mental struggles she endures for 2 weeks every month including suicidal thoughts and being unable to function normally. We learned so much from Kate and Holly, they are open, honest and have a fantastic take on life. They are campaigning for PMDD to be represented in the healthcare and benefits system. You can sign the petition on this link: https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-sajid-javid-mp-the-lack-of-awareness-and-understanding-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-is-staggering-a?redirect=falseYou can watch the full interview on our Womenkind Collective YouTube channel. The Book Collective begin the first 150 pages of Bernadine Evaristo’s Girl, Woman, Other this beautifully written book takes us on a journey from London to a lesbian commune called Spirit Moon in America. The story telling and descriptions of all the characters we have met so far are sublime. Amma is preparing for the opening night of her play at The National Theatre, her daughter Yazz is in the audience with her narcissist father. The story weaves through the lives of 12 characters who’s lives are all entwined. Next week we will read to page 307. In the Foodie we continue with our Chinese theme – this week, Jinty cooks up tofu in a black bean sauce and it’s a very yummy and nutritious meal. Our WI was given to us by one of the Collective, Elena, and it’s a dance! Candy by Cameo, Lou’s lack of direction is causing some issues, but we’ve got the rest of the month to perfect it! Please sign our #wheresmyclinic Campaign here https://chng.it/bSCP7pKqKROur Campaign website here https://menopauseclinicfordevon.co.uk/Womenkind Collective YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFgmHLcdx28eco-XlkWYwUA--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/womenkindcollectivepodcast/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.