Wait, wait, wait. Whether it's hereditary and whether it's "real" are completely different questions. Broken legs aren't hereditary, but they're obviously a real, painful and disabling condition. In many cases depression may be like a broken leg - a normal response to trauma, but real, painful and disabling, and only sometimes responsive to treatment.

Back to topic: yeah, I'm perimenopausal too, and if you look at the age poll I think it's most of us

At least I'm past the age where I'm buying pregnancy tests four or five times a year because my periods aren't regular any more. Although I still have stress in that department, it's not as often...