Hi Helen57!
Here is my experience.
It hit me too in April this year.
I'm 49 and still have the same periods as you.
Before that, I noticed changes for about a year, same as you, I didn't pay much attention to it.
Then April came and it hit me like a bolt of lightning. I didn't sleep for 2 months, because I was woken up every night by night sweats, anxiety appeared, after 3 weeks I fell into severe depression. I didn't eat anything, I couldn't get up anymore. My GP prescribed me HRT - lanzetto spray 2 pumps and 200mg utrogestran for 12 days. Lanzetto unfortunately increased my anxiety to the point where I thought I was going to die, and utrogestan pushed me into depression.
I persevered for 2 months and just prayed every night that I would die, it was so bad.
I then stopped the HRT and after 2 weeks asked my GP to prescribe the anitidepressant mirtazapine as I was not sleeping at all.
The night sweats have stopped, the anxiety has subsided, the depression is gone. I've been taking Ad for a month and a half now and the anxiety is still not completely gone and I'm not as happy as I was before. But I am functioning.
But you have to wait at least 2 to 3 months for ad to start working.
Unfortunately, my experience with HRT was very bad. I talked to my GP about other types of HRT, but they all have the possible side effect of anxiety and depression.
Unfortunately, I've found that hormones just aren't for me and I sincerely hope that ad will help me through this terrible transition into postmenopause.
Unfortunately, HRT is not an instant cure, it has to be tried and it can take months. But once you're in such a mess, only AD can help you.
Maybe later when I'm stabilized I'll try some form of HRT, but for now I'm just as scared of HRT as you are.
I am mad at the health care system that doesn't warn about the side effects of HRT on our mental health, they always talk about the benefits, but unfortunately HRT can cause anxiety and depression and if you already have it, it can only make it worse.
This is just my experience and I'm not trying to convince anyone to try something or not.
I'm sending you a big hug because it's amazing that we're in the exact same situation. You are NOT ALONE!!!!
Good luck!