Quote Originally Posted by Dogmama View Post
I know the lack of sleep is feeding my depression/irritability. I'm hoping the estrogen boost will move me out of it. SSRI's make me really stupid, but I take a small amount to smooth out the rough edges - mainly so I don't bonk my DH over the head for leaving his underwear laying around (again! Grrr!! Was I put on this planet to pick up after this man?? I digress...) See what I mean?

Part of me - the 60's flower child - says that I should move through this without meds - learn the lessons of life- etc. The fact is that suicide runs in our family - my mother tried twice & my brother was successful so I'm very alert to depressed feelings in myself. All of the docs say "take the pill" but if your only tool is a hammer, doesn't the whole world look like a nail?

I'm just rambling, so I'll stop now. I'm hoping that some TE sisters can at least tell me that I'm not alone!
Besides your hot flashes, perhaps there's something in life that is nagging at you. I tend to believe that long-term depression is not hereditary. Suicide is never just an instant sudden idea or unsubstantitated action. Depression and how we deal with it is based more on learned behaviours how people cope in new, better ways or break past family pattterns of how to deal with problems of coping with the future and present.

I'm not the right person for advice, since my perimenopause is completely the opposite. Period is gently and slowly fading away. Get only a mild hot flash for 5 min. maybe once or twice at start of my period..in the morning.

But keep on cycling. Every physician does recommend regular exercise during this time.