is it normal to experience short bursts of feeling down

[sphil]

I'm talking a few minutes to a few hours - never more than that. Then I'm absolutely fine. It's as if a dark cloud descends but then lifts again quickly. It tends to be related to my cycle - I feel it particularly around ovulation.

Anyone else?

Yes me and majority of friends are same.
Life doesn't always seem rosey. As long as you recognise that these moments of feeling low are related to your cycle you can hopfully plan for extra support around those times.
And also, its ok to have a meltdown now and then. Life is hard.

It's not really related to anything in my life though. For example, I've just had two days off - should have been lovely and I had a lot of 'me' time - but I've just felt down for no reason.

I get this all the time, also for no particular reasons. think its pretty normal

Interesting to read about others feeling low around ovulation time... I'm actually on holidays at the mo and yesterday felt really low, just wanted to cry all day. Should be relaxed and having fun, but no. And .... I should be ovulating around now, so maybe that explains it?!? Don't remember this pre DD though. Have mild PND too....wanting to come off tabs for it now so hadn't been taking them regularly, so I thought it was that that was affecting me yesterday....hmmmm.... food for thought....
Anyway, sphil... you're not alone in feeling this way

Normal - I get dips around ovulation and big time week before period.

Thank you all - you don't know how reassuring these comments are. I had an episode of anxiety/depression four years ago which was related to events in the family - was worried that it may be coming back but it sounds as if it's pretty normal.

Pinkmarshmallow - I never had ovulation dips pre-pregnancy either. Or any dips really!

sphil - you might like this book called "Stop Thinking - Start Living".

It has a useful (to me) perspective on thoughts and how our thoughts cause feelings and we are not our thoughts.

I hope its normal

Yep - definitely normal! I find a have a day or two of "dip" about a week before I'm due. I always warn the DP in advance so he's prepared (and ready with hugs and chocolate - LOL!).
I started a big healthy eating / exercise blast in late Jan, and since then I've noticed that my PMT etc has almost disappeared, so would definitely recommend watching what you eat and exercising as much as poss.