How to Deal with the Social Consequences of Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Lauren August 19th, 2007
I don’t need a calendar to know that I’ll be having my period in two weeks or less. As with all women who bleed from their uterus, I experience the usual pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms: breakouts, bloatedness, low energy, cravings for chocolate, and bouts of irrational crankiness that range from mild irritation to frightening breakdowns. While there is no set-in-stone cause of PMS, doctors hypothesize that the surge of hormones during the menstrual cycle may be the primary factor at work. Some of the really unlucky ones experience a more severe form of PMS called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, where a lack of serotonin in the brain intensifies the symptoms of “normal” PMS.
What I really can’t stand about other women and myself is how PMS is often used as an excuse to act out. I’ll admit that I’ve played the PMS card at moments where I snap because I simply can’t control my moods, and then I feel rather ashamed of myself afterwards. Here’s how you can keep yourself from going crazy and driving your friends away during the two weeks before your period.
