Anxiety, but emotionally flat!

[Smokemeakipper42]

It’s a long one ladies so anyone with brain fog should check out now 😭

Ok,so bit of background as desperate for help.

Had anxiety as a child and teen but have taken antidepressants and they have been a lifesaver.Been on them at the lowest dose on and off for most of my adult life and anxiety free.

Had a really stressful year as choose to give up work to care for terminally ill Mum.
Was unbelievably awful but I coped and muddled on.

Mum passed and I remember thinking what I have to deal with now is the grief but I have been hit with the most awful panic attacks and anxiety and this has coincided with been smack bang in the middle of menopause.And to add cream to the cake I’m emotionally dead inside 😭 So am either feeling everything as in anxiety or nothing at all!

Looking back I can see that I am really affected by hormone fluctuations.
When I come off the pill I was awful post natal depression and PMDD on the occasions I was off the meds.

Went on HRT “Evorel Conti” but I can’t say I notice much difference.
Upped my meds and again no difference.
Added a beta blocker and you can guess ..no difference!

But I think the thing that is really disturbing me is not being able to feel anything apart from panic,anxiety or depression.

I don’t even know where to start as don’t know if it’s menopause,being on meds too long or grief.

I just know that I don’t feel any joy in anything and drag myself through the day.
Don’t feel excited about anything,have no motivation to change and see a future of old age and illness so feel what’s the point.

My doctors are not that great as they don’t really take the time and just default straight to medicating me.

If anyone has been in a similar position I would love to hear from you .

Thanks for taking the time to read .

It’s called Anhedonia - failing to feel joy - and is not uncommon. Have another word with your GP and ask either for a higher dose of ADs, or a referral to a Menopause specialist clinic for HRT that works.
Hugs 🤗

It's possible that your HRT doseage isn't quite right for you. Have you been on it for 3 months or more? It can take a lot of time and tweaking before finding the right one.
Check when you're next HRT review is. CBT might be good for you

Hi OP. My HRT didn't make much difference at first, I was only on 50mcg of oestrogen. Once I went up to 100mcg and added testosterone I got my life back.

I felt exactly like you.

Also my GP didn't make me wait three months. I changed after two and after four months.

You can push this, it doesn't have to be left to the GP.

Also, you say conti. You could try gel/oestrogen only patches and utrogestan or the mirena coil.

Thank you all so much for the replies.
i have been on the patches about six months so think i will look to increase to see if that makes a difference.

Grieving can also make you feel like this. I really struggled the first couple years after mum passed feeling numb and joyless yet getting anxious over small things.

Also get your bloods checked. Iron tablets and vit D helped me feel more myself more than hormones.