Perimenopause - would HRT help with this feeling of ‘meh’?

[NotTheMrMenAgain]

I’m 47 and suspect I’m perimenopausal - still have regular periods and no particular physical symptoms, but I just feel very ‘meh’ about most of life. It’s like I just don’t care about most things/people any more and really can’t be bothered.

I don’t think I’m depressed - life is good, have a fabulous DC, lovely boyfriend, job that isn’t overly stressful. I already take an antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication each day, was prescribed about a year ago after a stressful time caring for my DM during her cancer surgeries.

But to be honest, I don’t really give a shit about many things. I’m not interested in work and do what I need to do with no enthusiasm. I take my DM to hospital appointments and shopping and help her do things around her house, but it’s like I’m pouring from an empty jug and almost have to pretend to care as much as I should. Perhaps it’s compassion fatigue, after a couple of rough years.

I do look forward to nice things we have planned and I enjoy them but perhaps not as much as I once would have. All I really want to do is sit quietly, with the dog on my lap!

Is this part of the perimenopause, this feeling of having had enough of things? I’m not sad, just really, really can’t be bothered! Would HRT help with this feeling or am I just becoming a miserable sod in middle age?

Hey I don't have the answers but just wanted to chime in and say I feel the same

I don’t have any answers either, but I’m 47 and feeling just the same.. so maybe it is our age 😬

If you're on anti depressants could they be causing the meh feeling? In that extreme emotions are all dulled.
HRT might help though. Get to a specialist gp or advisor for a chat.

I think this is a classic peri symptom. Apparently you experience a drop in the nurturing hormone(s) which can make you feel a bit meh about things you'd ordinarily care about.

I think of it as existential angst.

Not sure if it's a coincidence that my mum also had cancer which made me think a lot about mortality, so a lot of day-to-day things can look insignificant in comparison.

I'm on hrt and while it's helped with a lot of my symptoms, it hasn't helped me grapple with the larger questions around existence and the meaning of life more's the pity

Yes I think it is. HRT helped a bit but not miracle cure.

Try hrt and see. I found useful combined with taking sertraline.

I remember reading on here, about a poster saying all she wanted was to sit at the window like an old car staring out.

I'd love to be that cat too.

Old cat. Ffs.

I felt like that from the age of 46. It took until 49 before I finally went to the doc and was prescribed HRT. Now I feel like my old self again. I do think it's what a PP said and it's a natural drop off in hormones that stops you wanting to nurture, because there's no need now your child-rearing potential has ended.

Not child-rearing, I mean child-bearing.

1. Its January - everyone feels a bit Meh around this time due to lack of light, poor weather and post Christmas bleurgh
2. Peri-menopause could definitely be impacting...it certainly has for me.

You describe exactly what I feel op, I have very little enthusiasm for anything, quite content to sit and do nothing if I can. Family life is difficult I suppose but even if it wasn't I don't think I'd feel any different. I'm 43 and blood tests showed Im peri about 5 years ago but this meh feeling didn't start untill a couple years ago. Don't think I'm depressed either, don't take anythingt. I want to have some motivation and optimism for the future but can't see how it will change tbh. So you're not alone but ive no advice I'm afraid.

I felt this at 44 amongst other symptoms of peri. Mainly I didn't want to do any mundane everyday caring jobs. Like cooking, tidying etc which are thankless and relentless and never end. I was happy to do things for myself - focussed on my health and fitness. Taken HRT for 6 months and I have slightly improved - I cook every now and then but some days I just refuse.

I found the feeling like a 'detachment' from the world abd 'attachment' to myself.

Yes to the 'old cat' analogy. It sums it up perfectly. In fact for the last two days this is exactly what I have been doing.

I have been on full strength HRT for a two years now and although it helps in lots of ways the nurturing mode has been turned to low and I feel meh 50%of the time.

Yes it could but only one way to find out for sure, try it for six months and see.

I found hrt great at first then the old cat returned and she's still here.

It is peaceful though..

Op I could have written your post pretty much. I long for the days when I had enthusiasm & looked forward to stuff, now I feel cut off, bored & detached. I have a lovely life, nice DH, great kids, still feel like hopping on a plane to somewhere hot, quiet & beautiful with a book and never returning. I’m not unhappy or depressed, just feel very flat and bored.

I can’t take HRT for medical reasons so I have to suck it up. Argh.

Thanks for all of the replies - I’m sorry to hear others are feeling the same/similar. It probably is age related I suppose, I’ll have to get my high blood pressure sorted out so I can access HRT. Which in itself feels like an effort 🙄

I think there might be a business opportunity here - perhaps I should look into running ‘retreats for the perimenopausal’. We could just sit quietly, not really talking, with pets on our laps while we look out of windows. There would need to be plenty of hot drinks, snacks and comfy seating with blankets…….think I’m selling it to myself!