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[Starfish43]

I'm new here and definitely looking for advice/support.  I have had pmdd my whole life but not diagnosed until 37.  10 months ago at 42 my symptoms became constant and in April I developed severe anxiety.  I am become the opposite of what I was.  Gone is the capable, adventurous, fearless, kind, loving person. 
I was put on HRT but because my symptoms were so bad the specialist kept raising my oestrogen levels and then I went on a high progesterone trial, though i am possibly progesterone sensitive.  I was all over the place emotionally and have had many thoughts of not wanting to be here anymore.  My Dr believes that it is purely a mental health issue and convinced me to come off the HRT.  I was then even more of a mess.  I know this is perimenopause but dont know what to do anymore.
There is no joined up approach to menopause and mental health.  What can i do?      

[CLKD]

There certainly isn't joined up thinking.  Your GP is probably correct in that it's mental health, which is now being aggravated by hormonal upheavals.

Dr Dalton did a lot of research in the 1980s about hormones and anger etc..  What did your GP suggest, he/she should have referred U to a dedicated menopause clinic because there are so many ways of delivering HRT.

Which symptoms would you like to ease first?  Which HRT did you try?

   some keep a mood/food/symptom diary to chart progress.  Ask away!

[SarahT]

Hello starfish,
I just wanted to assure you that perimenopause can indeed make severe pms and pmdd worse. It has for me. I have have pms my entire adult life but in the last year the moods went through the roof. I felt totally out of control and unsafe with myself. I was fortunate to have an understanding gp, who told  me peri can worsen  pms\pmdd  and worked out a programme of hrt to try to suppress my natural cycle.
 I am on the mirena coil for the progesterone as I felt this gave me a bit more stability rather than the oral utrogestan I was on, and gradually increased my patch to 125. This was about 3 months ago, and although I still get pms, it is nowhere near as bad as it was. I genuinely had suicidal thoughts on the run up to my period. ( no actual bleeds due to coil).
from my personal experience, I agree with CLKD,  I think your mental health has been affected by hormones. I should add my gp suggested using an anti anxiety medication in the week or days leading up to my period. I found this helped me so much I now take it, with their knowledge every day of the month.

Although you have seen one specialist, is there another dr at your practice you can speak with? someone with an interest in women's health?

Use the search button on this forum too. Many women sadly sure anxiety, and horrific moods brought on by changing hormones, just so you know you aren't alone.

[CLKD]

I have taken anti-depressants since 1989, used 'valium' as necessary which helped a lot; took Propranolol for several years to ease anxiety surges, again with success.  Now I take ADs and have an emergency go to anti-anxiety tablet.

U R not alone.  I do wonder in hindsight if my extra anxiety in my 40s was peri - as I already suffered with anxiety and depression, it never crossed my mind.