PMT is such a downer

[biggirlknickers]

I’m struggling tonight.

I find it does 3 things:

1. Makes me reflect on an earlier time in my life and desperately wish I could be back there. This could be: when I lived in my last house, when DP and I first started seeing each other, when my children were littler, when they were newborns, when I was a teenager or child. Sometimes this involves regrets about decisions I made. Sometimes it’s just pure longing to be there again and deep sadness at what can never be again. Actual crying over this.

1. Dissatisfaction with my current life - my home, my job, my DP, my children’s behaviour. None of it seems good enough or what I really wanted and I would really like to walk away from it all and just be by myself somewhere else. (My life is not that bad, but none of it is perfect of course.)

1. Flat. Lethargic. Joyless. Unable to feel or show affection.

I’m sure it’s PMT because most of the time I’m fine. I usually feel quite optimistic and I’m easily pleased by small things.

But I’m getting older (48) and my periods are getting closer together (last cycle was approx 24 days) and these symptoms are getting worse AND more frequent.

I know I’ll feel better again in a day or two. Just struggling today.

Anyone go through similar?

Yes, I have very down days every month. Currently due on and just feel crappy, grumpy, tired & everyone is annoying me! I get very anxious and start thinking of my past alot too. Very weird! I just keep telling myself...its because you're due on, it will pass. Normally happy, energetic & positive too. Just got to ride it out! Im coming back as a man in my next life!

You described my PMT to an absolute T. Scarily so. I am 42.

Thank you for getting it.

I’m still struggling today.

It really makes me question my whole life.

I just want to hide in my room and see nobody.

Yes I feel exactly all this every month for a few days. I have suffered with anxiety and depression in the past and it always feels like it's come back, but then it does pass and I feel ok again. Generally I feel my best for about 2 weeks a month mid cycle. I think it's worth tracking it to see patterns, I also have peak times where I want to eat healthily and exercise and then low times where I can't be bothered with anything and just want to eat crisps. I don't have much advice other than to say yes I feel the same

Yes @Parkmama it makes me think there’s something really wrong with my life and / or my mental health and that I need to change something or get some help.

It feels so real. It is real.

Then I get 2 weeks of ‘normal’.

Feels like living in 2 different realities.

Also YY to the eating habits. Mine has gone to shit since the day before yesterday and I’m sure that doesn’t help my mood either.

I relate to this so much! Most of the time I eat well and exercise, but for a few days each month I just eat crap while laying around on the sofa. I have such lethargy and feel like all joy has been sucked from the world. It’s horrid.

Totally sympathise. Up until December I have been on contraception that all but stopped my periods for years. I'd forgotten how awful the entire thing is to be honest and I'm really struggling to get used to it again. I was so down and miserable one day last week, legitimately felt like I hated my life and it was only when I came on the next day I realised what it was. On one hand it's a relief to know there is a reason and on the other hand I just think FFS, endless years of this shit again.

It’s peri menopause. It increased my PMT enormously.

I suspect you’re right. Have you tried HRT by any chance? Would you recommend? I have another medical issue I want to be finished dealing with before I ask for this but I’m really hoping it’s going be a small miracle when I get there.

Sorry that last comment was directed @GeneLovesJezebel

This sounds like me. I am 44 my cycle is shorter but very heavy. I get really angry the day before and eat anything I can get my hands on. I too feel so miserable. It's a complete contrast to my general life. You have my sympathies.

@biggirlknickers

I suspect you’re right. Have you tried HRT by any chance? Would you recommend? I have another medical issue I want to be finished dealing with before I ask for this but I’m really hoping it’s going be a small miracle when I get there.

No I haven’t, I don’t have the courage.

@biggirlknickers I am on HRT and it has helped a lot. I had several symptoms of menopause as well as horrendous PMT over the last 3 years. I would be in agony and now the pain has almost gone completely. I suspect my dose needs tweaking at the next review as my moods have got much lower over the last 6 months, initially they improved with HRT but have come crashing down again.
HRT has given me my life back in so many ways, but it is often a work in progress As new symptoms emerge or old ones get worse. Your hormones are up and down like a yo-yo during periods so understandably Meds are often tweaked accordingly.

Oh my goodness. This is me exactly!!

I’ve spent today hiding away in floods of tears contemplating my life and hating it all!!
The rest of the month I’m bubbly upbeat and very sociable!! No one in real life knows I feel this, I hide away as I feel it’s a weakness, which ultimately loads more feelings of failure into me!!

I’m 48 and sure peri. I just wish I could do something to change it before it wrecks my marriage. For 2 days a month I’m vile!!
I’d love to take HRT but have an aunt that had cancer so wondering if this may be a risk?