The Cycle

"""Shalene Gupta deftly blends her own personal experiences with a meticulously researched history of how the medical establishment has understood (or failed to understand) PMDD through the years. An unflinching exploration of the stigma surrounding periods and mental health, and how we need far more support, research, and treatment options for conditions like PMDD that affect both."" -- Karen Tang, MD, MPH, author of It's Not Hysteria ""As someone who also suffers from PMDD, I found that Gupta offers crucial information on this too often misunderstood and misdiagnosed medical condition. The Cycle reaffirms how critical it is to believe women and center the stories of women of color. Her book gives us permission to talk about having PMDD and the pain in our lives."" -- Anushay Hossain, author of The Pain Gap ""A brilliant, deeply researched book about living with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) -- something that too often is experienced as a shaming, quiet, and personal mystery in a society that is uncomfortable discussing periods or validating their significant medical and mental health impact. Gupta combines memoir and research flawlessly so that readers understand the profound personal impact of PMDD as well as the financial, interpersonal, and societal consequences. This is a critical addition to books about medical issues that are too often under-researched, undiagnosed, and stigmatizing to those who are suffering."" --Michelle Bowdler, author of Is Rape a Crime?"