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Internal note, delete before publishing. Draft created 8 October 2026 from the First Cycles content plan. Items marked ⚑ need Caitlyn's review. Helplines and books were verified on 8 October 2026; re-check on the day of print.

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This page goes with the First Cycles journal, a Moon Quest journal for the first few years after your first period. If you got here from the QR code at the back of the book, hello. If you found it some other way, the journal is at moonquest.shop.

If things feel too heavy

Most of the journal is about ordinary hard days. Sometimes it's more than that. Tell someone today if:

• you have thoughts about hurting yourself, or about not wanting to be here
• you haven't eaten or slept properly for days
• you feel unsafe at home or at school
• the week before your period gets so dark you can't get through it

Who to tell: a parent or carer, your school nurse, a teacher you trust, or your GP. You can also contact the people below. Telling someone is not overreacting. It is the right thing to do with something this heavy.

In the UK

• Childline: call 0800 1111 or go to childline.org.uk. Free, confidential, any time, for anyone under 19.
• Shout: text SHOUT to 85258. Free, confidential, 24/7. giveusashout.org
• NHS 111 if you're not sure what kind of help you need. In an emergency, call 999.

In the Netherlands

• De Kindertelefoon: bel gratis 0800-0432 of chat op kindertelefoon.nl. Elke dag van 11:00 tot 21:00.
• 113 Zelfmoordpreventie: bel gratis 113 of chat op 113.nl. Anoniem.
• In een noodgeval, bel 112.

Anywhere

• IAPMD (International Association for Premenstrual Disorders): iapmd.org. Information about PMDD and PME, and a directory of support in many countries.