Emotional Wellness Mary Symmes is the founder of Self Investment Strategies and a life coach devoted to the empowerment of working women. Mary is also a clinical social worker in Alexandria, Va. Visit her Web site at SelfInvestmentStrategies.com Controlling Emotions Question: I seem to get depressed every month around my period. It starts with a bout of irritability and then moves into feeling sorry for myself and finding fault in almost everything in my life. I'd like to find a way to control my emotions. Susie Answer: Dear Susie, You have PMS! Join the crowd. Sounds like your symptoms are fairly severe, though, and you might want to talk to your gynecologist about them. Some women take a mild antidepressant during that week or two, sometimes being on the Pill helps, and there are other medical interventions like diuretics and certain vitamins. In the meantime, you can try some nonmedical things to manage your distress. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Also avoid salty things because some PMS can be related to fluid retention and bloating. Get enough sleep and keep exercising. Both sleep and exercise are mood stabilizers. Drinking lots of water is always good for you. Try not to schedule any stressful or demanding events during that time. Avoid relationship evaluations, big presentations at work, making important decisions, and so on. Since life does have an agenda of its own, when you do have to deal with stressful events, keep reminding yourself that you are under par. Give yourself extra time, get help if you need it and get feedback if you doubt your reactions and decisions. In your personal life, it is quite appropriate to tell a friend or partner that you are feeling extra irritable or negative and ask them for what you want: Leave me alone! Tell me I'm really ok. Rub my poor head, please. Massages help a lot. And keep reminding yourself that you will feel better soon. Anything that is currently a difficulty in your life just gets more so with PMS. If you can see a pattern, or a particular feeling or issue comes up over and over every month, you might want to get some counseling or coaching to make it less of a stressor in your life. Take heart! There is a lot that can be done for PMS these days. Explore every possibility you can find. Best wishes, Mary Other Recent Questions: I just started a business, and I can't stop worrying I'm worried that my husband may be having an affair. How can I find out? Ask Mary your questions The above is for general information only and is not intended to substitute for professional mental health treatment. Individuals should consult licensed professionals as needed.