Hi all, any reflections on this will be gratefully received! I'm 41 and have an eleven year old child. I've had periods since I was 11, very regular, always heavy. I've experienced depression in my twenties and had times where I've been ridiculously anxious. I've always understood these experiences as the product of a very unhappy childhood and my job (Clinical Psychologist working in mental health) has helped with this understanding. However, over the years it's become clear to me that I might be especially affected by my periods and I wonder if others have experienced similar? Last week I felt utterly murderous, tearful, I wanted a divorce, had thoughts like "I could just die, it wouldn't matter ". I was raging inside. My period started and at the same time I can honestly say - without any exaggeration- that it was like a switch was flicked. I can't believe how significant the shift is. All other things being equal, nothing else happening in life can explain it. I look back and I can see this pattern. I don't want to make excuses for myself but I'm really starting to think that hormones are a huge part of my mood swings. I can keep it together (no one at work would know for example) but it's miserable for me, about two weeks of every four. Can anyone relate to this?