Am I depressed or is it just menopause?

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Please help, I’m losing the plot. For the last month or so I have been feeling so low. I have a constant feeling of dread in my stomach and feel so anxious. I keep crying over everything, particularly about my teen DD growing up so quickly and I keep wishing she was little again. Stupid I know but I have been dwelling on it so much and looking at old photos etc. She is going through a bad skin phase and has also just split with her boyfriend and I swear I’m more upset than she is about both these things! Not that she would know as I obviously don’t show her!

I don’t seem to be able to look forward to anything. I should be so grateful for everything I have but I’m sat here in tears. I started St Johns Wort last week but I’m not sure if I need something stronger. I hate the thought of taking anti d’s but feel I can’t cope with feeling like this much longer. I want some joy back in my life!

Can anyone relate? Do you think this warrants a trip to the Dr or is it just normal hormonal stuff?

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and advice. The joys of getting old 😅 I hope everyone finds something that works for them. For now I’ve upped the exercise, cut back on wine, taking St Johns Wort and vitamin D so I’ll see how it goes.
Dhaliaa - yes will be tuning in to watch next Monday.

My winter regime to try and curb this is 5HTP along with a vitamin D spray and I really do think it helps a lot and it also helps me sleep better.

I’m 47 and have been asking my self whether I have depression or if it’s menopause. I don’t feel low. I just feel a huge sense of apathy. When I wake up my first thought is how much I can’t wait to go back to bed. I’m so antisocial. I just want the safety and security of my house after another crazy day at work. I no longer wear make up or care about my clothes (although I’m still clean!) I have no sex drive. I ache all over. I’ve developed rosacea. I’m a bundle of laughs!! No idea what’s going on but don’t want my life to be like this anymore

IamMummyhearmeROAR I'm the same. I also feel bored a lot of the time.

I actually crave boredom. I’m run ragged with full time work, housework, busy kids, needy mum. I dream of a day sitting doing nothing. Tbh a lot of the time I think a week off work just pottering with no one around would improve my outlook immensely.

I mean more that I'm bored with life. It's all so monotonous and joyless. All the things you have to do to sort others out. Kids, work, housework etc. I love my kids but I'm bored of the drudgery.

Yeah I get you. I feel as if I’m on that hamster wheel. No idea how to slow it down

Yeah, hamster wheel and joylessness. Spots and all over aching. Hair thinning. Only thing I haven't lost yet is my sex drive and I'm desperate not to - it's one of the few good things in my life at the moment!

I take Vitamin D3 500 mcg once every week and set my phone reminder so that I don't forget. I was diagnosed with Vitamin D deficiency a couple of years ago and took it every day for two weeks; now just weekly.

Exercise is really key, I think, no matter what else we are doing to deal with this. Hard though, when you are aching all over. I've managed to build up my walking to 10, 000 steps a day and I think it makes a real difference.

Also, to clarify what I wrote above about ADs - I think this is such an individual decision and we all need different things. For me, HRT seemed a better fit but it will be different for someone else.

Anyway, to everyone dealing with the crap of getting older...

I was just advised to get some over the counter Vit D supplements. I can't remember what dose the Dr prescribed but it was a higher level for 3 months and then back to a more normal daily dose. So initially I was taking more than it said on the side of the jar.

I found that I was depressed, my blood pressure for some reason was sky high, I was incredibly tired and had low energy and I also had this weird feeling that something bad was going to happen. Vit D seemed to get rid of all of that (for me).

And my periods were all over the shop (early 40s). That has regulated itself as well now.

Glad I found this thread. I can relate to everything on here. The anxiety and just constant feeling that something bad is going to happen. I've actually been off work since Monday as I feel that low. But being off work is giving me even more anxiety. can't seem to be able to look forward to anything either.
My mum went through the menopause early and at 39 I think I'm the same. My periods are all over the place and I can go months without one and then have really bad ones. I've been to the doctors and they e told me I'm too young...they did take blood and said my hormone levels were fine but I've never felt like this before. I just want to go to bed indefinitely.

Think I might try the vitamin d actually.

ok off to get some vit D

5-HPT has helped with the awful stomach churning dread I was feeling few months ago, worked in a few days too. I am 49 so menopause can't be far off.

I can relate to so much on this thread. Feel a bit meh about everything, low at times. Want to stay in on my own a lot. Can't be arsed to wear make up or make an effort really. Periods erratic and heavy. Since I put a lot of it down to the perimenopause it has really helped, as I can see that at some point I may 'come out the other side.' Am taking vit d too.

I tried 5htp for a while but didn’t find it helped so I’m trying the St Johns Wort instead.
Wally - my blood pressure is high too! I hope vitamin D can help.
Vonvon - I find that having too much time on my hands makes my anxiety and low mood worse on the other hand it’s harder to get motivated, pull yourself up and get on with life!