Period or depressive episode?!

Ahh so I recently got my period and have also noticed my mood dropping. I am not sure if it is hormonal or if I am actually headed for a serious mood plunge. I am really hoping the former bc that means it should go away right? If it is period related does anyone have suggestions for making things feel like sucky and being less irritable?

Psych Central - Search results for Period and depression

Does this typically occur, for you? Could be a variety of factors. Are there other environmental factors. Co-occurring with your period? Is sleep a factor? Fatigue? Self-image whilst retaining water?

I used to be very irritable/moody the week before but it never dropped "low" per say. That is the reason I question whether it is hormone related...because it feels less like the period symptoms I have experienced and more like the depression symptoms and sadness. Fatigue is probably negligible as that is kind of always there (my meds are supposed to fix that...). You make a good point though..Self image could actually be a part of this I didn't correlate the two. I have had ED for years so self image is always poor but has been getting worse...esp. with the start of summer.