Premenstrual Disorders

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help. I tried not to eat so many. I said to myself, “One cookie, just

one.” But then I ate another and another and another. . . oh, why did

I do it? And, of course, Mom came in as I was eating the last one. She

got really mad, especially cause she has been trying so hard to get

me to eat more healthy.

And then the dance—yuck! I tried to be so careful about what I

said and did, but everything seemed to go wrong. The guys were late

so we had to rush eating dinner to get to the dance on time. All I told

Sarah was that they could have been a little more considerate. But of

course she thought I was blaming it all on Cory since he was the one

who drove, and then she got mad because I was criticizing him. But

I mean, we don’t get to go out like that every week! I guess I did say

it kind of loud, though. Oh, and when I asked Cory where he learned

to drive, like maybe at racing school, he didn’t take it too well. But I

thought he was flying, and so I told him either he better drive slower

or I’d report him. I mean Sarah should be happy I didn’t want her to

get hurt. What kind of friend would I be if I just ignored his speeding?

And then my back was so sore with my period I didn’t think I’d

be able to walk the next day. Maybe there’s something really wrong

with me. Sarah doesn’t seem to get like me when she has her period.

Well, I guess I’ll wait a little longer.

I go to the doctor next week and he’ll look at all this chart stuff

and maybe he’ll do something. At least I hope he can do something

before I lose my best friend. I don’t know what I’d do without Sarah.

Researchers are beginning to think that women like Emily may suf-

fer from fluctuating serotonin levels during their menstrual cycles.

These fluctuating levels may be what cause their symptoms, includ-

ing Emily’s anger, weight gain, cravings, and other experiences. Be-

cause not enough serotonin transmitters are getting to the receptors,

messages are not getting passed from cell to cell as needed. Women

who binge by eating too much chocolate or too many sugary des-

serts may be suffering from low serotonin levels. If they had more

serotonin, they’d be able to recognize and fight urges like these.