Desperate to find answers on hormonal mental breakdowns

**Charleena** · 07-27-2011 11:47 AM

Hi,

I joined this forum specifically for the reason of this post. As my title says, I am desperate to find some answers on hormone-related mental breakdowns I have.

Firstly, I'm seventeen years old and otherwise completely healthy in the terms of physique. As of lately, I've been dealing with a combination of depression and stress, which my mind just comprehends as sadness. I do my school through private tutors and do extremely well, but I literally have no friends and because of this I feel deathly lonely. I get so upset thinking that I only have one year left of childhood before I send myself off to college, and I feel like I've missed out on too much in my kid years.

Every night before I start my menstrual cycle, all of my emotions and feelings come crashing down on my like a landslide. Luckily I'm aware of these intense episodes, so I'm able to excuse myself to my room for the night so I don't bother anyone. But as soon as I'm alone, I literally have a mental breakdown. I think about how I have no friends, how my childhood is almost over, how my school work is so secluded... it all hits me in a magnified format. I start sobbing, can hardly breathe, break out in a cold sweat, and then start shaking. These 'episodes' happen for about an hour because after that my body is too exhausted to cry anymore. They cause me a lot of pain both mentally and physically.

Thing is, I don't know if I should consider my emotions during these breakdowns, or just disregard them. Someone once told me that any emotions around the menstrual cycle mean nothing and are always fake. But, regardless that I have these episodes every night before I start my period, I still think the same about my life throughout the entire month. I'm still depressed, lonely, and sad all of the time, even though I cover it up for my friends and family. It's just that my hormones seem to trigger my emotions, causing me to overflow in sadness.

Should I just ignore these painful emotion swings? Or should I try doing some things in my life to make myself happier, which might help my mental health and hormonal state overall by erasing the awful loneliness?

Sorry that was so long. And sorry if it didn't make sense or seemed really pathetic. I don't have any adults or friends to talk to about this kind of thing, so I will greatly appreciated any advice you can lend me. I need it right now.

Thanks in advanced,
xCharlie

**Beautiful Disaster** · 07-28-2011 06:39 AM

I think a good blood test to check hormone levels would be a good idea. Be prepared that your doctor will most likely try to put you on antidepressants, which based on what you've told us I wouldn't recommend simply because most of what you seem to feel throughout the month is quite "normal" for someone in your age range. The menstrual eve breakdown sounds like the hormonal surges alot of us feel right before we start, paired with anxiety/panic attack type of behavior. Do a bit of research on SAMe (you can get it at walmart) and perhaps it's something you could try taking the week of your period to minimize this. Also, since you know it's coming every month, you could try exercising your hiney off on that day. The physical exertion will release alot of tension and may minimize what you're going through.

**Charleena** · 07-28-2011 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Beautiful Disaster

I think a good blood test to check hormone levels would be a good idea. Be prepared that your doctor will most likely try to put you on antidepressants, which based on what you've told us I wouldn't recommend simply because most of what you seem to feel throughout the month is quite "normal" for someone in your age range. The menstrual eve breakdown sounds like the hormonal surges alot of us feel right before we start, paired with anxiety/panic attack type of behavior. Do a bit of research on SAMe (you can get it at walmart) and perhaps it's something you could try taking the week of your period to minimize this. Also, since you know it's coming every month, you could try exercising your hiney off on that day. The physical exertion will release alot of tension and may minimize what you're going through.

Thanks for your answer. I really would like to avoid going to the doctor... since this onset of emotional breakdowns came on so suddenly (about eight months ago), I'm hoping I can control it myself so it reduces in the same manner it occurred. Also, I work out extremely hard every day. Up until three weeks ago, I was training for USMC recruit training, expecting to be enlisted by this fall. That means I ran at least two miles every day, dozens of pushups, hundreds of sit ups... I'm pretty physically active. But, I broke several ribs in an accident early this month, so that kisses that dream goodbye.

Charliex

**CHANDLERS WISH** · 08-05-2011 09:00 PM

Are you on the pill Charlie?

Our bodies honestly change every few years and sometimes we do need a helping hand.. I'd say that all the training you have been doing, in one way strengthens things and helps relieve period pains but in another way, too much stress can cause your body to break down...Sorry for the broken ribs that's terrible, but you know dreams can be postponed maybe giving your body this needy rest may show the period pains and depression to be lesser.

Let us know how you are..