In the past, Vicky Pattison has made no secret of her health struggles. The Geordie Shore star has a condition called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a very severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The debilitating condition causes a whole range of emotional and physical symptoms every month during the week or two before your period.

Vicky recently took to Instagram to share her latest battle with the condition. She tearfully explained she recently experienced a ‘terrifying’ episode which left her ‘not knowing what she was capable of.’ She accompanied the posts with a caption outlining the unpredictable nature of the condition, which she called a ‘mixed bad.’

‘Some months aren’t so bad and I feel hopeful,’ she wrote. ‘Other months it just completely takes me out and I feel hopeless.’

She continued: ‘Last month I knew I was in for a rough ride – I hadn’t done the things that usually help. I hadn’t been consistent with my supplements, my diet was atrocious, and my schedule was unrelenting. But despite that, nothing could have prepared me,’ adding ‘It was terrifying. I rang my sister and told her I didn’t know what I was going to do. That I genuinely didn’t know what I was capable of.’

It’s thought that around 10 per cent of women in the UK have PMDD, but experts say that figure is a vast underestimation because it’s misdiagnosed as ADHD or depression. A 2021 study found that women with PMDD are four times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than others and nearly seven times more likely to attempt suicide.

Vicky has been raising awareness around the condition ever since she was diagnosed in 2023, and says she will continue doing so to help other women struggling in silence. In 2023, she shared her experience with the Women and Equalities Committee in Parliament, alongside TV presenter Naga Munchetty, as part of the Government’s inquiry into women’s reproductive health.

‘Due to medical misogyny, lack of awareness and misdiagnosis, I believe there are thousands – if not millions – of women suffering alone,’ she said. ‘This isn’t normal. You have a condition. A hormonal disorder. These thoughts are not a reflection of your actual value.’

Vicky detailed the cycle of ‘crippling anxiety, relentless self-criticism and sleepless nights’, explaining that ‘Every month I lose myself.’ She added: ‘One week I’m this bright, shiny, brilliant woman who’s strong, smart and ready for anything. Then the PMDD fog sets in and convinces me I’m worthless — that everyone hates me and the world would be better without me in it.’

This comes after Vicky faced cruel trolling for speaking out about her condition, with some commenters dismissing her health struggles as ‘fake’ and ‘inventing a condition to stay relevant’. In a lengthy Instagram post responding to these comments, Vicky wrote that she will ‘scream’ if she reads one more comment suggesting she had invented the condition. ‘I’m not new to this industry & I’ve had my fair share of criticism over the years. I’d like to think I’ve developed a thick skin when it comes to trolling. However what annoys me most about these pathetic comments is the message it sends. That women who talk openly & honestly about their pain are fantasists, dramatic or just after attention,’ she penned.

She added: ‘Grow up. It’s 2024 & women have too much going on in their lives- impressive jobs, busy social calendars, children, partners, pets, passions & everything in between to have time to PRETEND to be struggling. Furthermore, from experience I know the level of pain & desperation most women have to be experiencing to speak up. Because we’ve been conditioned for years to believe we just need to ‘suck it up’ and ‘get on with it.’

Vicky’s honest post was flooded with support in the comments from celebrity friends and fans. Ashley Roberts from the Pussycat Dolls wrote ‘Sending so much love you gorgeous human. Heartbreaking reading that.’

Vicky is married to Ercan Ramadan, who she met through mutual friends. They got married in London and Italy in a huge ceremony which was attended by celebs, including Ferne McCann and Mario Falcone. She’s spoken candidly in the past about her desire to start a family with Ercan, and in November 2025 decided to freeze her eggs, a move she believes eases the ‘pressure’ with plans to try for a baby in a year.

In an emotional interview with Heat Magazine, Vicky said ‘That’s the logical next step for Erc and myself and something that we’ve wanted for a while […] Sorry, I always get upset when I talk about kids.’ She continued: ‘The thought of having daughters years ago probably would have scared us a little bit, but having faced criticism, and been my own harshest critic, I’m in a fairly decent place to try and impart some pearls of wisdom.’

She went on to express hope that she and Erc would be ‘blessed in that space and that children are in our future.’