PMS Aggravates, it Doesn’t Cause
Butterlamb, PMS can sure make what is already a hard time an even more difficult time - and somtimes it can make it impossible to deal with the next five minutes. The birth control probably did help your PMS symptoms and would've continued to do so, but it can’t help what had nothing to do with the PMS. The weight gain thing is such a bother, I swear. It seems to be worse for those who are stressed out the rest of the time, but I don't have a study to point to that says, "Birth control will make you gain weight and may even make you verbally assault people with, ‘Are you calling me fat?!’” Someone should do a study about that, though.
I am a huge fan of birth control - for the purpose of birth control. If, however, it also causes trouble (weight gain, etc), then it's best to use something else. I personally found Natural Family Planning (NFP) to be very useful, and treated my PMS with marked success with a crapload of vitamin B complex and evening primrose. One or the other will help, but both made a big difference. They did not, however, alleviate my crying attacks, tension you couldn't cut with a band saw or my anger.
For all that I took anger management classes once a year, attended a support group every week, saw a therapist at least twice a month and took enough Ativan to bring down a small horse (not all at once :wink: ).
I was quite poor and was a single mother of two small children, so getting all that in while also working was enough to make me need all that. Yes, I'm telling you I was in therapy so much I complained about being in so much therapy to my group and my therapist. Fortunately for me, the support group was free and the therapy was on a sliding scale. I was so poor at one point that I aspired to poverty level income so that I could actually be charged at all. Medicaid paid for the Ativan.
I was reluctant to go on state aid of any kind because I was proud, but then I became depressed, overwhelmed and in danger of shoving a fistful of coupons down a cashier's throat when she rolled her eyes at me and said, "Gawd, you people and your coupons!" But I didn't shove them down her throat because, you know, they put you in jail for that sort of thing, and the only thing worse than emotional confinement is physical confinement, so I went on welfare. And I was happy when a friend pointed out that my welfare was being provided by the taxes being paid by that snotty cashier.
As you already know, college brings with it a great deal of pressure with all the assignments, reading and just the work of it. Trying to keep a happy face on with all that plus school plus a roommate (who doesn't sound like your best buddy) would drive anyone a bit batty. Remember that: it would drive anyone a bit batty. So while you're wondering if PTSD and PMS have anything to do with all this (yes, they do), remember to also be a little bit more forgiving of yourself. Again, anyone would be batty and would want to show a happy face as much as possible, but hey, that's not always possible. What is possible is taking better care of yourself in advance.
You already know the week before your cycle creates problems for you. You're a different person, yes? Prepare for that person. What can you do now to make it easier for the person you're going to be when your next cycle rolls around? What will she need? What will she want to do/not do? What kind of food will she like? Who is her favorite person? Make a play date for her, as it were.
Does your campus have a counseling service? Look into it now - before the person you are when you PMS comes 'round. Schedule the appointment for her. Will she try to talk herself out of it when it's time for the appointment? Will she say, "No one cares" or "I don't deserve this"? If so, write her a letter now telling her why you need this, that she does deserve it, that someone does care (you!) and that you're here for her. She might just tear the letter up, set it on fire and curse your name – but she’ll also be more likely to make that appointment when she’s done.
Be sure to come back here and let everyone know how you're doing. And also, install a lock on your bedroom door. Seriously. No woman should have to put up with having her stuff lifted - especially shoes. That's like some guy "borrowing" another guy's tools without asking. Very uncool.
