Unhappy or depressed (or menopausal, eek!)

[Babbit]

For a while I have felt very down. I have significant anxiety (as in I feel it is a problem and intrusive). I thought it may be work as I have quite a stressful job but I was on annual leave over the school Christmas holidays and it got worse in some ways. I feel it may get worse when I'm premenstrual (I haven't kept a diary so I don't know).

I snap at DC which makes me feel worse. I am overeating at the moment. I am not happy in my marriage and I wonder if this is the cause. I don't want my marriage to end though. Recently I have let minor things get really on top of me and I have cancelled social events, which I know I would have enjoyed, because I just can't face it.

I just don't know what's wrong! More to the point I don't know what to do about it.

Does anyone have words of wisdom??

I dont know either. Sorry, I know that doesnt help you.
I think it may be worth keeping a diary for a month [assuming you can wait a month, before possibly seeing a GP], and jot down how you feel, good and bad, and why you think you may feel like that if you can. Or even question marks against certain ideas too.

Not sure that it is work related, if you felt worse when away from work.

Which aspects got worse over the school Christmas holidays?

Thanks amillionyears. I really don't know why it got worse over Christmas. I was really looking forward to the holidays and spending family time together. There were no flash points, other than I felt very "down".

I should keep a diary, and will. I am 40 and wonder if its hormonal as it has got worse over the last 1-2 years.

I think work may be a trigger. I also wonder if my unhappiness in my marriage is a symptom rather than a cause.

I can't talk to DH as he doesn't really understand melancholy.

Hi Babbit

How are you feeling now? I added your thread to my watch list last week as I feel the same. As it's gone a bit quiet I decided to join in/bump the thread!

I had flu over Christmas and can't seem to get back on track. I just feel so down and 2013 has been completely joyless so far for me. Like you I have a really hectic job (which is about to get more hectic soon), relationship issues, I'm worried about my DC and things aren't great with my parents right now!

Has your work been bad for a while,do you work full time?

I have a Mirena a coil and am actually wondering about getting it removed in case it is not helping or even the cause of how I feel. Also I'm 44 this year, not sure if I could be peri menopausal or if the Mirena would override that.

Anyway I'm not sure I'm any help but you're not the only one feeling like this, amillionyears ' advice is good, I might try the mood diary too. But I feel so apathetic rihgt now it's hard to get started!

I think you probably need to talk to someone in RL. That could be a good friend or reliable family member. It might also be worth a visit to the GP to see if there are menstrual/gynae things that need to be checked out and/or to get a referral for specific help for your anxiety/depression, especially as you say you are now withdrawing from your social life.