If I were to describe my hormones, I’d simply say they are exactly like the TV character Chandler Bing. Extremely confusing, chaotic, and sometimes, wildly inappropriate. Having PCOS sometimes feels like being in a never-ending reality show where your body keeps throwing plot twists. I first got diagnosed with PCOS at the age of fourteen. It wasn’t even a dramatic moment like I would have expected. My doctor asked me to run some tests and come back to her, and when I did, all she said was “You have PCOS”, like she’s announcing the weather. For a moment there, I felt like I had been hit by a deer, just like Rory’s car, and I was equally confused and furious.
The “What is happening?” Phase
I didn’t fully understand what it meant back then. All I knew was that something was “off.” Everyone had an opinion. Some family members said, “Oh, it’s just stress,” others blamed junk food, and one aunt confidently told me to “just drink hot water every morning.” Google, as always, was no help either. Every article sounded like a tragic movie trailer: Mood swings! Hair fall! Weight gain! Acne! Infertility! Thank you, Internet, very cool.
In reality, this is more common than you’d think. Studies estimate that the prevalence of PCOS among Indian women is around 11.3% according to one meta-analysis. And another survey found that 65% of women in India were unaware of PCOS symptoms even though the disorder is far more widespread.
Living With the Uninvited Roommate
Over the years, PCOS became this uninvited roommate who refused to move out. One month it would mess with my skin, the next my mood, and sometimes both at once. My skincare shelf started looking like Sephora threw up on it, and yet the acne still won most battles. My relationship with food became complicated, like a situationship I couldn’t define. Every time I tried to eat “healthy,” someone had a new miracle fix like gluten-free, dairy-free, carb-free, or joy-free. Don’t even get me started on the gym. My attendance there was exactly like my periods…unpredictable and moody. Some weeks I’d be all “new era, gym girl aesthetic,” and other weeks I’d rather binge-watch Friends (fitting, considering I blame Chandler for this chaos in the first place).
The Emotional Side of It All
Behind all the jokes and memes, there were days it didn’t feel funny. Days when I didn’t feel like myself. When I looked in the mirror and saw changes I couldn’t control, or when people casually commented on my weight, my skin, or how I “looked tired,” That was when I realised that PCOS isn’t just physical; it plays with your confidence, your emotions, and your patience. It’s exhausting to constantly feel like your body is running on a script you didn’t approve of.
It gets real when you realise many others are in this too: about 1 in 5 young Indian women are living with PCOS or close to it. And the stats on the side-effects are no joke as well. Up to 33% of women with PCOS in India also have metabolic syndrome, which brings its own complications.
What Actually Helped Me
With time though, I learned that managing PCOS isn’t about fixing everything — it’s about making peace with it. Finding a doctor who actually listens (a rare miracle), understanding that every body reacts differently, and realising that rest and consistency matter more than any “PCOS smoothie recipe” on Instagram. I learned to stop treating my body like an enemy and start working with it. Turns out, the real cure wasn’t cutting out dairy (even though I’m lactose intolerant) it was cutting out guilt.
And somewhere in between the meal plans, medicine reminders, and late-night Googling, I also found humour in it. Because honestly, if my hormones are going to be this dramatic, I might as well enjoy the show.
The TV Show Analogy You Didn’t Ask For
So yeah, living with PCOS feels a lot like being a character in Gilmore Girls — chaotic, caffeinated, unpredictable, and full of episodes where you just want to nap. But there’s also warmth, growth, and a whole lot of learning.
If there’s one thing PCOS has taught me, it’s patience — with my body, my routines, and myself. It’s messy, frustrating, and sometimes unfair, but it’s also a reminder that your body is doing its best, even when it feels like it’s not. And maybe that’s the real main character energy: learning to love the chaos while keeping your sense of humour intact.
Just Another Episode, Not the End
Att the end of the day, living with PCOS doesn’t mean your story is ruined — it just means your season has unexpected guest appearances, plot twists, and character development you didn’t ask for. Just like Gilmore Girls right? Your major-arc still matters. Your voice still matters. Your sadness, your laughter, your “wtf” moments all matter.
And while your body might feel like it’s grabbing the script, remember: you’re the director too. So cue the coffee, cue the comfort show, cue the ice cream, cue the playlist and let the series roll. You’re not just surviving this season; you’re starring in it.
