Tearful and overwhelmed

[Binfire]

Hi All

Over the past year, more and more often I have felt overwhelmed, struggled with low mood and been in floods of tears over work stresses and other home things. My emotional response often feels disproportionate to the situation.

I’ve finally asked for counseling (via Talking Therapies) and am on a waiting list but am also wondering if it could be peri/menopause. I have no other symptoms though. I’m 46 yrs old and started periods early at around 10yrs.

I’ve been through some tough things in my life but nothing I’ve never felt the need for counseling. Just things that most people deal with like death of a parent, juggling the mental load of family life, empty nest etc

The tears will start at any moment and Ive found myself crying at work more and more. I love my job but it is demanding and sometimes stressful.

Basically I know it’s hard for you to guess, but do you think I need counselling, HRT or both? Or is there anything else you’d recommend?

I really can’t carry on crying at work, it’s too embarrassing and unprofessional. Work are very kind about it but it really needs to stop! Help!

I would definitely have a chat with your GP about menopause. One of my most noticeable symptoms was mood change - from sunny optimism to constant meh.

My main symptom of perimenopause was anxiety and mood changes. HRT helped

Well Ive just referred myself for the same OP yesterday and am on the waiting list and at the same time want to investigate HRT.

I believe the earlier you are on it, the more protective factors it provides for heart health, dementia etc etc

I have exactly the same symptoms as you, completely lost it.

I had huge anxiety and it ramped up right before my period. I was super snappy and irritable too.

Much sunnier now I'm on an oestrogen patch.

Same here and I do think it is in quite a large part hormonal based on what I have read. But counselling may also be good as the three things you mention struggling with are quite monumental (I have also lost a parent, family life is often overwhelming and empty nest I am dreading - though people might look at me and think I deal with it well I don’t!)

Apart from horror period my other peri symptoms were just a feeling of grey flat doom. Also uncomfortable dry lady regions.
Hrt sorted that out. And osteogen cream for the lady areas. Now feel much more me.

Same. It hit me at 47 with mood changes / previously unheard of panic attacks out of the blue. HRT was a game changer and at 54 I still feel like ‘the real me’.

Brilliant thanks so much for your help, it looks like it could be part of the problem.
I’ll get booked in for a conversation with the GP about it all.