Menopause - low mood and motivation, any natural mood boosters?

[Sunshineandrainbow]

I am 49, periods still regular (unfortunately!!)

I just feel really low and lacking motivation. I work full time and at the weekends don't want to go out, stay at home and lay on the sofa. Motivation is rock bottom and I have this little dark cloud over me.

Is there anything natural I can take to give me a boost? Don't really want anything prescribed due to the coming off it nightmare. I have had sertraline in the past.

Thankyou

HRT is first line treatment now for low mood that relates to hormones.
You are in peri menopause now with regular periods but you are still heading into menopause.

Hrt really helped me. Also found reducing caffeine, exercise outdoors, reducing alcohol, eating more fibre and veg and buying a wool duvet that controlled my temperature while I slept, so better nights sleep. Vaginal oestrogen (tiny amount) meant I wasn’t getting up to wee as much so slept better.

but mostly hrt.

I'm in the same boat as you.

Low mood, low motivation.

I've tried HRT but it made me worse and much more weepy and angry. Plus the bloating wasn't great.

At the moment I'm trying to boost up my vitamin intake beyond basic levels and it does help me. I've noticed a difference. I started off by taking a double dose and then I'm trying to make sure I take my vitamins every day so my levels don't drop.

I used to have a 'big career' and was always very career focused. My job ended last year when the company was bought out and I've been taking a break ever since. I'm trying to motivate myself to get a part time job but I'm really struggling. My confidence has dropped massively and I've almost become scared of going out. The funny thing is once I'm out in actually fine its just getting out that I'm really struggling with.

Just wanted to offer support and let you know you're not alone.

Exercise works for me. I do body pump and run. Not been able to do any for 2 weeks and starting to feel it

HRT was a game changer for me. It was a revelation that this was what normal felt like!

HRT isn't addictive in the way that other drugs are. Try it for a few months and if you don't like it you can stop taking it. You do need to get the right doses and balance of oestrogen and progesterone though.

I feel the same as you, OP. On HRT but listless, unmotivated and lacking in energy. I run nearly every day but my runs are much shorter than they used to be and I don't seem to be finding them getting easier. I don't know if it's boredom that's made my brain loose it's sparkle and hormones are making the boredom harder to cope with. I'm not someone that has ever been prone to boredom before.

I’m the same. I’m on hrt but still lacking in energy. I’m sort of accepting that my life will be smaller and quieter. I read a lot more books. But I don’t really need to work and what I did I’m self employed. I could be out the door bright and early to work these days.

@Quirkswork and @fruitbrewhaha I have found my energy and motivation only feels normal when I am on a high enough dose of oestrogen.

@SpaceBunniesareCool do you just take a multivitamin?

Thanks everyone for your responses, seems HRT is the way to go, I wanted to try some thing I could just buy first rather than going to the GP, but I will have a think.

I did stop on way home last night and walked a lap of a lake where I normally come home and nap. Walk was slightly ruined as not sure why but between 5 - 6pm I have an awful urgency to wee and towards the end of the walk I could no longer hold it. Oh the joys!

Vitamin D! I take a multi vitamin as well as a vitamin D. I really noticed the improvement.

Also research suggests that morning exercise is more beneficial to mood, if you could shift your walk?

I might prescribe myself an extra dose. Currently on two pumps of gel.