A few great posts there.
Just as a followup on the divorce being related to this topic.
The figures don't lie.
The main reason for getting divorced in this "peri/meno" age range is noted as "behaviour" related! Not Adultery.
In terms of myself in the peri years, my behaviour became erratic, self centered and down right nasty at times.
Empowerment, sure I was empowered not to give a stuff about my DH or family at the worst times.
My DH and family suffered before I moved forward with HRT.
That is my view and experience, far be it from me to push that on anyone else.
The reason for my abandon? My hormones were completely off and I was suffering!
If others can't see this being a cause then I can help that.
Sorry others feel they cant take HRT for various reasons. However looking at posts on MM, a lot of those "not allowed" to take HRT seem to be basing this view on varied, scant and often inaccurate information provided by a series of people who should know better.
This is often without even going to the extent of proper testing from the docs to prove genetics or other issues that may stop them. Just because a relative had a type of cancer does not mean your prone to it also or you should be denied any treatment. Sorry for anyone who's experienced this in their families also.
Its a vague and not very helpful way to put people off and prevent them enjoying a potential solution that may need the help of HRT badly.
I'm not asking anyone to take HRT but the balance of facts seems to indicate in terms of depressed / anxious ladies in their peri/meno year are missing their hormones. Depression and anxiety are key factors stated when most peoples relationships start going south.
For me, I ran things close, and nearly lost my DH. I see now what I put him through and frankly if others don't see that's a prime problem in a lot of peri/meno years then I'm not going to worry too much about it.
Certainly not saying we cant survive without HRT. We ladies are complex though and if you take parts of us away then we don't work the same, simple biology and due to that we often loose our sense of self and who we are in there too.
Unfortunately the loss of function in our ovaries is often followed by reduction in function of our thyroid. Which can explain why even when we are on HRT things start to change in other ways, fatigue, painful joints and low moods are all associated with Thyroid too.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/thyroid-pictures/decrease-joint-pain/ ![Sad :(](https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/Smileys/extended/sad.gif)