Tom, creator of Lute.al
My name is Tom, and I am the creator of Lute.al.
Lute.al is an app to help support women and their partners through PMDD and other cycle-related difficulties. PMDD is a mood disorder that affects millions of women worldwide. It can feel like living two different lives in the same body, without much warning before the switch happens. For part of the month, things might feel steady, manageable and even hopeful. But then, as your cycle shifts, thoughts can turn heavy, emotions can feel louder, sharper and harder to regulate, and suddenly small things can feel overwhelming. You might find yourself reacting in ways that do not match who you know yourself to be, and that disconnect can be one of the most difficult parts.
What that experience can feel like
It’s not just feeling a bit low. It can feel like your mind is working against you. It can feel like your patience disappears overnight, that anxiety and rage ramp up for no clear reason, and that your work, friendships and relationships suddenly do not feel like they did before. And then, just as suddenly as it sets in, it lifts. You come back to yourself, and you are left trying to make sense of what happened, sometimes carrying guilt, confusion or frustration in the aftermath.
Why I had to build this
I never take for granted how lucky I am to have found my soulmate — the one person in the world I love and care about more than anybody else. She is the smartest, funniest and most beautiful partner and mother I know.
Every month, I watch my partner go through an incredibly difficult and exhausting luteal phase. I watch the woman who will always be my hero go through something I would never wish on anybody. There is no worse feeling than seeing the look on her face when I know the storm has set in. The way her smile fades, her laugh turns to silence, and the warmth between us can suddenly be replaced by hurt, anger and overwhelm.
There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than seeing my partner bright, happy and confident. I built this app to help her, and everyone else living with PMDD, navigate it a little more easily and spend more time shining.
What I want Lute.al to be
Lute.al is about understanding and independence. This app is your private companion as you move through PMDD, on your terms. Your thoughts and feelings are real and valid, even when you do not feel like yourself. You are not broken, and you are not failing.
Lute.al is designed to help you make sense of your experience, and to allow you to invite your partner to share theirs if and when it feels right for you. You stay in control of what you share and when you share it. Lute.al will never base its advice or guidance on your partner’s thoughts or feelings unless you choose to invite that in.
Your data will always be private and encrypted. Lute.al is free, and will always be free. We will never share or sell your data. Lute.al is your bubble of safety and support.