Danielle’s Reviews > The Period Brain: The New Science of Why We PMS and How to Fix It—A Manifesto for Women > Status Update

"Progesterone decreases the reward value of substances like nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs; making the luteal phase a great time to walk away from substances that no longer serve you."

"Symptoms of depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, PTSD, eating disorders, panic disorder, and schizophrenia; often worsen in the last two weeks of the cycle, compared to the first"

"Research finds that food cravings, binge eating, disordered eating, and emotional eating all reach their peak in the luteal phase"

"Research finds that by the time girls reach their 17th birthday, 78% report being unhappy with their bodies. Somewhere between 69-84% of women continue to feel this way as adults. So if A. you're a woman and B. you have a body, there's a good chance you've already spent a good time wishing yours looked different than it does."

"Research finds that perfectionism makes cycle related mood changes worse than they would be in the absence of this drive. And when you add in stress and pressure from work and from family life, it's no wonder we all feel so awful"

"There is sex differentiation all over the body; our immune system is different, the processes our bodies use to regulate pain perceptions differ, our cardiovascular systems differ, our brains differ, our sex hormones differ, the way our bodies metabolize food, drugs, hormones, and everything else our bodies break down for use differs."

"Women who suffer from PMS are more likely to have low self esteem and relationship difficulties. Researchers estimate that the impact of PMS on women's quality of life and economic functioning is comparable to major depressive disorder"