Can anyone with MH issues history talk to me about their peri/meno experiences?
I am 44yo and have had a couple of episodes of depression/anxiety after having my kids. Always been prone to anxiety before those episodes but never sought help or support. Was well for 5 years and came off AD last year no probs. Feb this year had couple of premenstrual sort of panic attacks then really off the charts anxiety. Got my period but the anxiety never really left and evolved into a depression too. Went back on AD start of March and it's helped a bit but I still don't feel well. Last 6 months my periods have become more irregular/lighter, have had night sweating, brain fog, aching hips/pelvis, oily skin and even more waking in the night and can't get back to sleep. Last menstrual cycle I felt great second week of cycle and really thought I'd turned a corner then after ovulation back into the darkness and fear.
My question is this: is the anxiety and depression associated with peri/menopause a different thing from the anxiety/depression I've had before? I feel like the SSRI has helped but I'm being flung up and down on a choppy sea of changing hormones too.
Any thoughts or advice gratefully received. Xxx