If you have mental health problems how do you differentiate those from menopause symptoms?

[Fullnessmind]

I looking for some advice. If you have had a life time of mental health problems, how do you know when you are having menopause anxiety/depression/irritability symptoms what is causing it?
I am 47 and have always struggled with pmt and rising anxiety before my periods. Just lately things have got a lot worse. I am due on in 10 days (regular 28 cycle) and I can already feel the build up of helplessness, anxiety, low mood, irritability, urinary symptoms (which I use estrogen pessaries for), itchy skin, joint aches, brain fog, tiredness and insomnia problems. The acutal period itself is so painful and I feel so ill with it, which I feel pathetic about. I feel such a failure as I am already on the maximum dose of anti-depressants and I take a top up one at night too. I probably have a week where I feel "okay". Could this be the menopause? Just not sure what my GP will suggest as more medication isn't an option 🙁 Thanks if you've got this far.

Could this be the menopause?

Peri menopause, yes.

PMS is known to get worse in the lead up to menopause.

To be brief, the only way you can find out is to try HRT (licensed for low mood etc) and if it helps, that's the answer.

Don't wait for your GP to suggest anything- do some reading up on it all (try the Balance website/app ) and go along asking for what you want to try.

On MN, any undesirable health change at age 40+ is due to (peri)meno.

Unless you're on HRT. Because HRT never causes health problems in anyone.

One day at a time, OP. It's all any of us get to do. Thinking we get to do anything else is just illusion. The things that usually help with your MH at other points in life should still potentially help now.

I didn’t. It was only afterwards age about 56 that l realised that the crippling anxiety which had lost me my job was menopause related.

@Fullnessmind sometimes we don’t know.

I was unsure if my symptoms were MH related or peri-menopausal.

I decided to try HRT first before anti-depressants and fortunately I’m feeling better on it. I have a friend that’s on both (HRT and AD)

Lifestyle changes also helped (walk every day, cut out caffeine in the afternoon), stopped drinking alcohol, mindfulness and reading everything I could about the subject.

I hope you find the right solution for you and that you feel better soon.

Thanks so much for your suggestions. I will mention hrt, although for some reason I am reluctant (not sure why tbh as watched the davina doc which explained about risks etc) I will also look at a blood test and lifestyle changes.
I'm sorry to those who have also struggled :(

HRT is actually a treatment for PMS in any case, look up the Royal College of Gynaecologists guidance in that too and start recording your symptoms in your cycle if you don't already.