In 2013, Sandi MacDonald and Amanda LaFleur were strangers, living thousands of miles apart; Sandi was in Canada, and Amanda was in the US. But they shared something deeply personal and life-altering: both had spent years battling Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe, cyclical hormone-based mood disorder that, at its worst, could have taken their lives.

PMDD wasn’t just “bad PMS.” It was debilitating. Every month, their stability crumbled, their relationships strained, and their sense of self faded. It made ordinary life feel impossible and, for both of them, led to moments of suicidal despair. But despite its severity, PMDD was largely misunderstood, brushed off by doctors, dismissed by society, and buried under stigma.

Amanda and Sandi found themselves on the same painful journey: scouring the internet for answers, searching for a name for their suffering, for a community that understood. Instead, they found a void. There were no organizations, comprehensive resources, or dedicated support networks for people with PMDD.

But what they did find was each other.

Amanda and Sandi connected through an online peer support group. They quickly realized that their stories weren’t unique. People around the world were experiencing the same suffering in silence. With determination and a shared vision, they set out to create the organization they desperately needed. With their lived experience, a deep well of compassion, and an unshakeable drive, they were determined to make a difference so that others wouldn’t need to suffer in silence and educational resources could be created and shared.

They launched an online support network, offering resources, validation, and a space for those with PMDD to connect. Slowly, their grassroots effort gained momentum. More people joined, sharing their stories. Clinical professionals and researchers started taking notice, and what began as a patient-led initiative evolved into the International Association for Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD).

IAPMD quickly grew into a leading voice in PMDD awareness, education, and advocacy, providing a lifeline for people with PMDD. IAPMD has developed evidence-based resources with researchers and other clinicians to push for better treatments and engage with policymakers to demand recognition for PMDD as a serious health condition.

What started as two women in pain became a movement that changed lives. Today, IAPMD is the world’s leading PMDD support and advocacy organization. Sandi and

Amanda’s vision has given people with PMDD hope, validation, and the knowledge that they are not alone. Their story proves that transformation is possible even in the darkest moments.

That two people, driven by lived experience, can change the world.