Premenstrual Disorders

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.

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Premenstrual Disorders •