Hi all,
So glad to have found this forum. I'm 51 and I think I am in peri-menopause. I say think as I have no family to compare my experiences to and no female friends of this age to ask. So to the internet! And here you all are, experiencing and talking about things I have never been sure are a part of 'the change' or a part of my usual crazies
![Wink ;)](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/wink.gif)
I have bi-polar, suffered depression since I was 13 and so many of the emotional, and even some of the physical, effects of menopause are the same or similar to the symptoms I have had associated with these conditions that I struggle to know which is which. I also worry that my anxieties, depressions, lack of self-worth, weight gain and mood swings are going to get so much worse because of the hormones! I assume there are others here who have the same or similar issues so I look forward to reading about experiences and sharing my own on that side of things.
As to me, I'm a writer, a reader, a pagan, a crazy cat lady, and I love to bake, amongst many other interests. I'm just getting into growing herbs and veg. I walk a lot, love history, love nature and music and more.
Anyway, enough about me. Time to go off and read the forum voraciously
![Wink ;)](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/wink.gif)