I'm angry at everyone, then suddenly I get happy, then I cry several times, I get a headache, and when I go to the bathroom I smell blood, but I've never menstruated.

From what you're describing, it sounds like your body is giving some very typical signs that your first period might be on its way! These mood swings, like going from anger to happiness to crying, are super common during puberty because your hormones are starting to prepare for a lot of new things. And headaches can also be part of it, like a PMS symptom right before your period.

The smell of blood

When you say you smell blood in the bathroom, it could be that your body is releasing a discharge. Many girls start to have a clear or whitish discharge a few months before their first period. This discharge is the body's way of 'cleaning' the vagina, and it's super normal and healthy. Sometimes, it can have a slightly different smell, and depending on the sewage system or even the toilet, we might associate it with the smell of blood.

It's rare to truly smell "blood" without bleeding. But if the discharge becomes very yellow, green, has a very strong and strange odor (like fish), or if it starts to itch, then it's worth talking to a trusted adult, like your mother, to see a doctor. But most of the time, it's just your body working!

What now?

The important thing is to know that all of this is part of your body growing and preparing. Don't be alarmed by the mood swings, try to take deep breaths and remember that it's temporary! For the headache, a glass of water, a quick rest, or even a pain reliever you already use (with your parents' permission, of course) can help.

If you want to get an idea of how close your first period is, there's a quiz here on the site that can help you understand better: how close is my first period?