How Julia Healed Her Debilitating PMS by Reconnecting With Her Body and Story

What if your most painful symptoms weren’t just physical problems, but emotional messages asking to be heard?

This week, I want to share the powerful journey of Julia—a woman whose chronic menstrual pain transformed once she began listening to the deeper signals her body had been sending all along.

When PMS Disrupts More Than Just Your Cycle

Julia was 40 when we began working together. Smart, vibrant, and deeply introspective, she was navigating life after a divorce and searching for something deeper—a relationship that connected soul, body, and spirit. But long before this chapter, her life had already been shaped by years of cultural pressure, chronic stress, and profound disconnection from her body.

She had grown up between cultures: born in Japan to a Japanese mother and American father, moving to the U.S. during adolescence, then returning to Japan in her early twenties. Her life had been beautifully complex—but also emotionally exhausting.

Living Between Two Worlds

In Japan, Julia was seen as an outsider. Though she spoke the language fluently, her features often led others to assume she wasn’t Japanese. She constantly felt scrutinized—never quite fitting in, never truly at ease.

The societal pressure she experienced was intense. She was expected to be perfect, poised, and productive, all while upholding the image of the “ideal” Japanese woman. The long commutes, high expectations, and cultural rigidity slowly wore her down.

Physically, her body began to speak.

When PMS Turns into a Monster

While she had experienced mild bloating and cramps during her time in the U.S., something changed once she moved back to Japan.

Her PMS symptoms escalated dramatically. Each month brought debilitating pain. She would vomit at work. She fainted regularly. Her menstrual cramps were so intense they reminded her of labor pains. Emotionally, she felt trapped, overwhelmed, and invisible.

This lasted for nine years.

The Turning Point: Listening to the Body

Eventually, something inside Julia shifted. She reached her breaking point and began to make changes.

She started exploring holistic remedies for PMS—adjusting her diet, incorporating vitamins and supplements, booking regular massages, and embracing healing modalities that supported the mind-body connection.

Then, unexpectedly, she returned to the United States. And within months, her PMS vanished.

Healing Beyond the Surface

Living in a culture where she felt more at ease and accepted, Julia noticed something incredible: her menstrual pain disappeared.

Though part of her regretted not trying birth control during those painful years, she recognized that her body had been reacting to more than just hormones. It had been carrying the weight of emotional trauma, societal expectation, and chronic self-neglect.

Now back in the U.S., her body was calm. Her cycle was regular. Her spirit, more at peace.

What Her Body Was Trying to Say

Julia realized that during her worst PMS days, she often injured herself—minor accidents that mirrored how off-balance her life had become. Her body was waving red flags long before she paid attention.

She also began to explore the emotional and energetic root of her symptoms. With time, rest, and self-compassion, she found what so many women are still searching for: a healing beyond symptom management.

And interestingly, she discovered something else—her menstrual cramps were greatly reduced when she experienced deeply connected, satisfying sex. As she put it, “True love is healing.” And I couldn’t agree more.

Reclaiming the Role of Inner Healer

Julia’s story is not uncommon. I’ve seen it many times in my practice: when women begin to explore the emotional layers behind their physical symptoms, true healing begins.

You don’t have to choose between medicine and intuition. You can honor your body, listen to it, and invite support—whether through books, therapy, or sisterhood.

But the responsibility to heal begins within. We must practice becoming our own best healer.

Start Listening to What Your PMS Is Trying to Tell You

If you’ve been dismissing your pain, managing it with medication, or ignoring your body’s messages, I invite you to pause. Ask what’s underneath. Ask what’s been buried.

Because behind every symptom is a story worth hearing.

In My Beauty & My Beast, I share the deeper layers behind stories like Julia’s—how emotional trauma, cultural conditioning, and subconscious beliefs often hide beneath the surface of our most persistent symptoms.

Want to connect with others who are tuning in to their body’s wisdom?

Join me for a live virtual gathering where we’ll explore the emotional root causes of PMS, share our stories, and support each other in becoming our own best healers. Let’s listen, learn, and heal, together.