Anything to get rid of the flat feeling that’s not HRT

[DustyLee123]

I absolutely do not want HRT.
Has anyone found anything to give you your spark back ? To make me want go on holidays and days out again ? I just can’t be bothered.
I’ve had great results from using magnesium for sleep etc, and wondered if there was anything that people have had success with.

I am on hrt but still have the flat feeling- I wonder if we just have to plough through this bit to a certain extent? I tend to like my own space/company anyway so it's maybe more exaggerated at this point? I'll give other things a go if anyone has ideas.
I do tend to do the things I'm not bothered about anyway (holidays, nights out, exercise) and on the whole enjoy them once I'm doing them.

Can I ask why you are so against hrt?
I caved (!) after 15 years of deteriorating health.. aching joints, poor sleep, rages(!!), lack of interest and energy.
4 months in I am civil(!), sleeping like a baby, smiling(!!).. no more itchy legs and can see my future panning out to my satisfaction.
Wish I hadn't waited and suffered so long.

I take starpowa menopause, Multi B bit, Vit D and magnesium and this ( I think ) has helped me a lot

Because my only symptoms are this flat feeling about doing some things, and lack of tolerance towards people, which could be just age, post covid or peri.
I’ve dealt with other symptoms in other ways.

You could be right, perhaps it’s just the way we go.

Thanks, I will consider the Starpowa.

Pootling in the garden and growing things. I never did much before but I'm finding nurturing plants makes me serenely happy.
Or maybe I'm just weird.

Weirdly gardening has had exactly the same impact on me. I can highly recommend it. Even if you only start with small pots. Now is the best time too as we approach Spring.

Do you know what, perhaps holidays and days out just aren’t for me now.
I like watching crime programmes, walking my dog, and having a mooch round M&S.
The trouble is that DH wants to travel. So maybe he should, but without me 🤣🤣

St John's Wort (I use Boots high potency one) is worth a shot (but it does interact with some medications, so check if you take anything else - warfarin and oral contraceptives for example).

I find swimming just helps.

And it being winter - for me SAD is always a problem. Could try a SAD lamp if you haven't already ?

I feel very tired and unmotivated at the minute. I think it is exacerbated by this time of year. It feels like the end of a very long winter and I just want to sit on the sofa all day.

I do find, however, that the more I do the more I want to do. I normally do exercise classes about five times a week that’s slightly down at the minute. I’m just recovering from a cold and I said I think this time a year is pretty difficult for motivation.

I think for me at the minute it’s just going with it for a bit without being too hard on myself. I’m pretty sure as the days get longer and warmer and so long as I get outside, I’ll start to feel a bit better.

I think as others have said, B. Vitamins, and vitamin D all help. I think just gently encouraging yourself to get out more will encourage a virtuous cycle. That’s what I’ll be doing anyway.

Femarelle -not cheap but has given me a lift

Ashwagandha.

What is it about holidays that puts you off? The risk of exhaustion?

Getting to the root of why you have the flat response might help you find the solution/compromise

I would also echo @CorsicaDreaming - St John's Wort high strength. I use Natures Best brand. It took about 2 or 3 months before I really noticed a difference. It also helped with the 'mental fog'.

Gardening was always my joy; the flat feeling destroyed it!

Hrt is helping but my go to is lots of varied regular exercise. Being outdoors

Acupuncture, I swear by it for getting rid of feeling a bit meh.

I can't be arsed going on holiday either but could this just be general ageing rather than meno? I'm 51 and on HRT but the thought of holidays is like... meh. Makes life cheaper and it's better for the environment just to stay near home I reckon, plus you don't have to deal with as many idiots. Win!

I'm on HRT patches and feel just the same .. flat unmotivated cba with anything can't get out of bed in the mornings etc etc . It's driving me insane ... even the thought of looking for and booking a holiday doesn't interest me anymore ... I hate it 😞

And when you booked in, how did you describe what you wanted fixing ? Saying you can’t be arsed doesn’t sound very specific !

I’m glad I’m not the only one. And I don’t want to take HRT just for that one symptom, especially as it doesn’t look like it would solve the problem !

Thanks for all your replies, the gummies and St John’s Wort are all going on the ‘to try’ list, although not at the same time !

Exercise is the only thing for me that keeps the meh feelings at bay. I lift weights at the gym and try to get outside for a bike ride or run as much as possible. If I miss a couple of days I can tell the difference in my mood

Hrt helped me with the constant night waking, which gave me back just enough energy to get outside and exercise. I was too bone weary to even go for a walk before, I was waking 3 or 4 times a night, just tossing and turning. Horrendous! So exercise and fresh air seriously helps me, but I needed the hrt to give me back the energy.

Btw I sort of agree about holidays abroad, sounds like far too much hard work!