Is this depression or something else?

[Gruffaloagain]

To feel so bored by everything?

I’ve just turned 45, have a young Dd, Dh and dog, live in a beautiful place, have had a generally good life, but recently nothing appeals at all.
I feel like I’m just going through the motions…no films, tv appeal, no books, meet ups with friends feel like another thing on the to do list, even though I like them. It feels the same old, same old with nothing different or new ever happening.
Trying so hard to stay positive and count my blessings etc but just feel so utterly flat and disinterested in anything at all

It could be depression but it could also be that everything is very nice and comfortable but you feel stagnant. Is there anything new you can explore in the next year as a hobby?

@JamSandle i definitely need to shake things up but almost can’t be bothered to, hate feeling like this. I’m generally a person who can get joy out of/excited about the little things

*I

How long have you felt this way for? Do you think there could be a link between this and SAD or perimenopause? Have you ever felt this way before in the past?

I was going to suggest it could be perimenopause...? I've just had HRT prescribed, I'm almost 46. I has strong "sad" emotions welling up, out of the blue and for no real reason (my life is very happy overall), exhaustion, irritability, as well as several physical symptoms.

Could be worth looking into? I'm already physically feeling different a couple of weeks into taking the HRT. Hormones can be responsible for so much emotional change or negative feelings at our age, I think.

Menopause!!!

I felt exactly the same. I suggest downloading the Balance app for your phone and tracking your symptoms, if you also have other symptoms suggestive of menopause get down to the GP and discuss your options.

@gerbo How do they find out if it’s peri?

I have been more like this since Covid op. Plus people are si much more flaky these days so you can't always get as excited about plans.

I hear you xx

Could be depression or peri-menopause as others have mentioned.

Do you work? Do you want to work?

@BoBoxingdaytoday it was much easier than I expected. I chatted with a female GP (not my usual doctor) for maybe 20 mins and she prescribed the medicine. She said given my age, it was highly likely to be perimenopause, so no need for blood tests.
Symptoms- emotional- 'sad' days where I could cry at any time, despite being happy and there being no reason, irritability. Almost 'looking from the outside in' on my unhappy feelings, knowing rationally that it was physical, not depression.
Physical symptoms- brain fog, very tender breasts, vaginally dryness, lower libido....etc etc.

My GP sympathetic and talked it all through with me.

If you're over 45, then diagnosis should be based on your symptoms only.

www.themenopausecharity.org/2021/10/21/symptoms-list/

Some women sail through with no symptoms. Others have just the physical symptoms, no psychological issues. Others have a combination of both. For a lot of us it takes a while to join the dots and realise that the two episodes of "depression" and repeated UTIs are actually menopause.