I was with my friend and all of a sudden my heart started racing and I felt like I needed to cry and I just wanted to go home. I don’t have my period yet so it’s not like a mood swing so I don’t know what happened. What does this mean?

Okay, so what you experienced sounds like a sudden rush of really strong feelings, and it could be related to your body changing and getting ready for puberty, even if you haven't started your period yet. Our hormones are literally going WILD as we grow up, and they can make us feel all sorts of things, sometimes out of nowhere.

It's super normal for emotions to feel more intense or come on really fast during this time. One minute you're fine, the next it feels like too much, and then poof, it's gone again. Your body is just getting used to all these new hormone levels, and sometimes it can feel like a lot. It doesn't have to be a "mood swing" from your period to be about your hormones, because those hormones are already starting to do their thing.

If you ever feel this way again, try to find a quiet space, take a few deep breaths, or tell someone you trust that you're feeling overwhelmed. Sometimes just saying it out loud helps. If these feelings happen a lot or are really strong, talking to a grown-up you trust, like a parent or a school counselor, can help you figure out what's going on.