Perimenopause and menopause can certainly cause "mental health" symptoms - depression, mood swings, irritability. And if you have a prior history and are on psych meds, they often have to be tweaked during this time of changes in ovarian hormones. Hormone testing isn't always helpful when you're still having periods because they can fluctuate so much so you need to do a series of hormone tests (FSH is the main one) not just one time. Have you considered going on a low dose contraceptive? That may level out the moods.
Thanks, ladies. I definitely have patterns, 2 weeks before I would start I went through the same symptoms as you, specialmom, and much more. Not fun! What you're saying, ZonnyC has always been in the back of my mind, what if this Dr diagnosed me wrong with PMDD and it's mental health issues. Now at my age, it could be both. Lol! I believe I'm going through menopause right now but like you said, time will tell. My main concern is not wanting to take psych medication if I don't have mental health issues. They scare me and so far Zoloft is the only one that didn't have really bad side effects. I felt like if I wasn't mental they would for sure make me mental. THAT"S SCARY!!! Thanks again <3
So, for me, when something is related to my hormones, it is almost cyclic. I can definitely track a pattern. I use an app to do it and I have routine anxiety the week before my period for about 3 days. I can tell that I'm being irrational too. That probably sounds strange unless you are like me. Like something makes me want to explode that is stupid and I realize it and the I have to do my best to NOT explode and scare my family. ha ha. Good times
No period for one year would definitely confirm menopause in your case, but it would be even better to get a physician to draw those labs. And no, you aren't too young if you are 51. I am menopausal and I am 51. Anxiety and Depression have been linked to Menopause because of a lack of hormones and/or hormone fluctuations. Is your regular physician prescribing the medications or a Mental Health Specialist? Sounds like you need to switch physicians. That's the advice you gave me and you need to do the same. Labs will give you a clearer idea of what's going on. What is the reason why he/she refuses to do this?
Are you of the age to be going through perimenopause? Have your periods changed - frequency, bleeding patterns?