Sudden drop in self-esteem and body confidence at 47, perimenopause?

[FantasiaTurquoise]

Just turned 47 and have always struggled with anxiety but came off sertraline 18 months ago and have been doing well. No libido in general but that's been for years, possibly thanks to being on sertraline for so long. In the last few months I've noticed a bit of brain fog creeping in and the odd nighttime hot flash. But what's concerning me is the sudden drop in my self esteem. I'm a slim size 12 jeans and 10 top and dress well but also only 5 foot. If anything I've lost weight over the past few months but every single time I look in the mirror I feel SO short and dumpy and its beginning to affect my confidence. I was out for dinner with a group of younger friends (all 40-41) this week and barely spoke all evening because i kept thinking how young and cool they looked and how old and dumpy I felt. This really is quite a new feeling for me and I'm wondering if it's perimenopause as I can't see anything else has changed. Has anyone else experienced this?

Yep, welcome to the perimenopause!

I am nearing the other side at 51. But just the other day, I was thinking back to March 2020 and how I was 45 when Covid kicked off. 45! A great age.

47-49 was the hardest part of peri for me. Before I went on to HRT. But it also forced me to start looking after my health more. Drinking lots of water, collagen and vitamin supplements, magnesium at night. Getting out in the fresh air as much as possible.

Peri isn’t great but it does have its good points. You become far less interested in other people’s opinions of you. As your oestrogen levels drop, you can become refreshingly less focused on the needs of others so that you can focus on your own.

My biggest advice is don’t wait to start HRT, natural remedies etc. Too many women wait until they are at crisis point and it is very hard to drag yourself back from that.