Reality television personality Jules Robinson has courageously detailed her ongoing battle with a severe hormonal condition that she says previously drove her to "very dark places" each month. The 43-year-old Married At First Sight veteran offered a profoundly personal account on social media, shedding light on her lengthy struggle with extreme hormone fluctuations connected to her menstrual cycle.
A Pain Masked by Humour
Jules admitted that for years she concealed her profound discomfort behind jokes, including one made on her wedding day to co-star and husband Cam Merchant. "Just after we got married, at our reception, I joked to Cam, 'You'll have to put me under the stairs once a month'," she recounted to her followers. "I was trying to make light of something I didn't fully have words for yet. I always struggled with my hormones around my period."
Cycles of Disorientation and Isolation
In a lengthy and emotional post, the mother-of-two described how certain weeks of her cycle left her feeling utterly destabilised. "Some months I feel like myself... and other months it feels heavy, overwhelming and completely destabilising. For so long I didn't have the words for it, only feelings," she wrote. This disorientation led to periods of intense isolation, with Jules confessing the condition was at times so crushing she felt entirely alone.
The Search for Answers and a Diagnosis
Jules revealed she first sought medical help when her eldest son Oliver was just six months old, only to be told her symptoms were simply "postpartum." She instinctively knew this diagnosis did not fully capture her experience. "I'd just been through one of the biggest hormonal shifts of my life, and I didn't understand what was happening," she explained. "So I did what so many women do: I joked. I masked it. I powered through... because life doesn't stop, even when your hormones feel like they're hijacking your mind and sense of self."
It was not until 2023 that she publicly shared her diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS that can trigger extreme mood swings, depression, and irritability, often significantly disrupting daily life and personal relationships.
Finding Community and Solidarity
The turning point came when she began hearing from other women who shared similar experiences. "I've hit very dark lows. Moments I didn't recognise myself," Jules wrote. "And every time I've shared even a tiny part of this journey, the messages that come flooding in remind me how many women are quietly carrying the same weight." She expressed being overwhelmed by the response to her revelation, with countless messages from women sharing their own stories and pain. "I realised I wasn't alone – and neither were you," she affirmed.
Regaining Stability and Moving Forward
Jules, who shares sons Ollie, five, and Carter, 18 months, with husband Cam, reported that she has since established a management routine that has helped her regain a sense of stability. "No, the hormonal challenges haven't magically disappeared," she acknowledged. "But I no longer feel as destructive, as sad, as low – and for anyone who knows this feeling, that alone is huge."
The star met and fell in love with Cam Merchant on the hit reality show, with the couple marrying in November 2019 after starring on the sixth season of Married At First Sight, which aired earlier that year. Her candid disclosure continues to resonate, highlighting the often silent struggle many face with menstrual health and the power of shared experience in fostering understanding and recovery.
