More anxious and emotional

[OldLeatherSuitcase]

I think I'm probably perimenopausal but not yet sure

My symptoms are
Increased anxiety
Small things making me tearful
Occasional diarrhoea
Fatigue or lack of energy or motivation
Feeling flat or depressed
Increased tendency to think doomy thoughts / think the worst

I find it hard to unravel what is my 'real' mood and what might be hormonal. This week my son broke his arm and I'm feeling anxious about the fact he might have nerve damage and because his fingers are swollen I'm catastrophising and imagining him having to go back into hospital with an infection. Don't worry I'll phone NHS direct when his friend has gone home!

I don't have work at the moment (I'm looking for my next contract) and partly I think feeling purposeless each day doesn't help. I had to leave my last job for some health issues that are better but still there.

I suppose my question is how do you know if your depression / anxiety / tearfulness is peri or just life in a bad patch?

I usually think of myself as relaxed and resilient and am surprised to be feeling so low.

I definitely had some of these. I’m on HRT now and it has helped me get through some very tough times without feeling flat and completely hopeless. The flat feeling was the pits.

I had all of this bar diarrhoea (I had bloating and wind, though.) Thought it was just general life woes, but got put on HRT a couple of months ago and the difference is enormous.

The other delight was suddenly having to get a stronger deodorant especially for the gym. I do seem a bit more fragrant post-HRT.

Interesting to hear that you've both had similar symptoms and both found relief with HRT.

I spent most of today sitting in bed feeling sorry for myself but finally dragged myself to town to buy something I needed. I forced myself to walk round the park in town and it did make me feel better.

I think because of some other health issues it can be difficult to unravel what is perimenopause and what isn't - especially if you don't have the traditional hot flushes or weight gain.

I'm the same (other than the diarrhoea), I did have a consultation at the GPs about HRT but went away to think about it then covid happened. I agree it's difficult to unravel things, is it perimenopause or is life just shit. I haven't been bothered about doing anything for a while now, and I've been anxious, but then again I've had a lot to be anxious about! I do need to make that appointment....

The thing is that menopause often coincides with a time in life when everything is hard. Mine hit me when one parent was dying, one undergoing chemo for incurable cancer, my youngest child had left home, and my career was taking a huge nosedive. I feel better able to cope with all this now since taking HRT. I can now sort out in my head things I should worry about and things I have no control over and shouldn’t get myself into a state about until it’s essential for some practical reason.

This is interesting. I have had most of those in the last two years plus as another poster said complicated and difficult life issues. I have been advised to take anti-depressants and I do finally after 2 years feel much better.

I wonder if HRT would have helped instead.

www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/menopause/women-should-receive-the-right-help-straight-away-beverley-h-case-study

Abraid2 that sounds so tough.

My own situation is not nearly as bad as yours but I still have a lot of challenges (no job, worrying if I'll find another and if I'll be able to manage to work, teenagers having issues, unable to see my unwell mother, husband's job very busy and stressful, Covid).

I am very up and down - last Friday and Saturday I felt good and had fun outdoors times with friends and family! Feeling that way is a distant memory compared to this week's depression.