Perrimenopausal anxiety or 'normal' anxiety?

[TheGirlOnTheLanding]

A few years ago I had issues with anxiety/depression and was prescribed antidepressants for about a year, which helped get me through the bad patch. At the time, I put it down to work stress, but I did ask the GP if it could be perimenopausal anxiety and she more or less shrugged and said as the treatment would be the same, it didn't matter what the cause was. HRT wasn't discussed.

Just recently, I've found the symptoms ramping up - insomnia, anxiety, negative thoughts, being on the edge of tears, not being able to focus on things I normally enjoy - and so I think I need to do something before I get as bad as I was at last time I sought help. Having heard more about menopause and HRT since last time, I wonder if I should be pushing for HRT rather than just accepting more antidepressants if that's what's offered. But how do you know whether it's hormones causing the problem or if it's just common-or-garden anxiety? I'm 53, definitely been perimenopausal for about 6 years, but my symptoms have been manageable otherwise.

Hi, I would push for hrt as there are also many other long term health benefits. Your symptoms sound very similar to what I went through earlier this year! Hrt really has changed my life! I noticed I was becoming very anxious and irritable and had this feeling like I didn’t care about things anymore, just very tired about life! Also terrible insomnia and waking at 3am with hot flushes, terrible joint pain, dryness everywhere. I now feel much more like myself and no more anxiety, much calmer and positive! I use Estradot patches 50, and micronised progesterone 100 continuously (one capsule each night). I found I reacted badly to the synthetic progestins in combi patches that I started on. Best wishes!

Thank you - that's useful to know. I'm glad it's helped you feel better.

I would DEFINITELY push for HRT. There is all sorts of evidence that prescribing antidepressants to women in the menopause doesn't work. I listened to a podcast by Louise Newsom discussing exactly that. Anti depressants work to fix the receptors in your brain and if they are not working well, they do the trick. With menopausal women though the problem is hormonal so it's understandable that anti depressants aren't effective.

I had really bad anxiety symptoms a couple of times, saw the GP (cried lots) and left twice with a prescription for Prozac. What I really needed was HRT! My symptoms eased off within a week or so of starting oestrogen. It's definitely worth the conversation with your GP and don't be fobbed off.