Loss of Self-Image and Lack of Self-Confidence

I can absolutely relate bev.

I was almost suicidal when I diagnosed a year ago at 42. I found myself obsessed with loss and death. I was feeling that I was not young anymore and that my life was over. I was thinking to give up my highly demanding career and I couldn’t recognize myself. I was spending my time at home crying and talking with my friends again and again about meno nightmare.

Hrt made a huge difference for me and I started to feel normal again after a few months. Try not to think so much about and keep yourself busy. Stay strong!

I can relate in that I wake up and dread each day.  I do start feeling better at night, and I have noticed previous posts of others saying the same thing.

Today I woke up and wanted to cry, this happens pretty much every day.  I am the opposite though of you, I find that I have nothing to look forward too, even though I have two young adult children and I am married (although I feel very unhappily right now).

True that for a few moments at a time I forget how I am feeling and feel "normal or happy" but then almost snap myself out of that and say "no, I am depressed and anxious".  I almost refuse to let myself feel happy thinking something bad will happen.

I have an elderly mother who I do need to tend to at some times during the week.  And she helps bring me down as whenever I call her she is certainly always complaining.

I have 2 dogs, one of them we just adopted so that is another thing that actually makes me feel worse, as I feel like I have yet another life to care for.

I am 55 and in menopause.  (period free)

Ladies thank you, I have nothing to add except that I feel everything each one of you wrote...i pray I get back to my normal soon.

God bless you all for sharing, it reassures me that it's not only me. I'm 55, 18 days late.

Yes Bev i can relate. Going thru these changes i have lost myself. I keep saying this is just a stage in life. I look in the mirror and I don't look like myself anymore. All my weight has settled in the middle and I look old. I was told I have ms at 46 and I care for an autistic son. I don't feel sorry for myself,every one has their challenges in life. I just try to take good care of myself and know things will pass. Best wishes to you. Remember everybody has a story to tell, your not alone.

Sorry to hear about your dog Bev. That's a terrible loss, along with all the other stresses especially! My story is similar to yours. Had to put my 12 year old dog down 4 years ago. I didn't realize it at the time, but peri had already started. Only since reading comments on this forum, do I realize what was/is happening to my body.

Got laid off in 2009 (after working full time since I was 20). Depression and isolation soon followed. Was single for 2 years. No social life.

I'm turning 50 at the end of the year. Been having that doom and gloom feeling for years. Weird/bad dreams, etc. Feeling useless. Blamed middle age. Blamed my son graduating next year. Haven't had a period in 9 months. Seeing my gyn tmw and requesting HRT. Cbd oil has helped with headaches, insomnia, and pain. I usually feel better in the evening also. Sounds like typical menopausal symptoms to me. Just hope we can find some relief and our old selves again. I don't remember that girl most days. Hugs!

Yes yes yes to all of it! I feel everything you just said , right down to pushing yourself to do something during the day which i don't always do, but sometimes , to it lifting by night fall, crazy hormones.. And I lost my beloved dogs last year in 2017 all 3 of them one in April one in may and my other in Oct, they come see me in my dreams too, I cry A lot and miss them as well as my old life.. I don't know why we hold onto the depressing memories I want to release them all too.. Your not alone I feel same..?

I also wake up, and my mind full of negative thoghts and fears. The negative thoughts manifest in painful spasms that go through my body. I noticed this correlation that they definitely become these spasms. But I also noticed that there are more lighter moments, and this dark negative cloud doesn't appear every single morning like it used to be even a year ago. I am 50, and still get my periods, but my hormones are on the low side according to blood work. It seems that this definitely only a temporary thing and will pass.

Hi Bev...

First:Yessss!!!to everything you wrote, for I have been feeling that way for at least the last 6 months. it sort of crept up on me...or so I thought. But when I look back at the fact that in the last year I've dealt with my husband having a bad surgery reaction, then he was diagnosed with prostate C (I hate the word), then his sister with stage 4 colon, my 94 year old moms deteriorating health, adult children who lost jobs due to diwnsizing,on top of teaching duties and my own meno issues....I see now this is reactive on top of physiological. And it appears that you've had a rough time of it lately, too...as have a lot of our sisters on this forum.

So we wonder if this is all meno or is it just that everything changes and it usually happens at these ages/stages???

I know for me..I pray a lot. It helps. The tears during crying jags are a release. so let them flow when they come.

Although my hubby is better, in the space of 10 days we lost my mom and his sister with the colon C .

We all just have to find what comforts you u til we arrive at our new normal...which i am certain will be good.

Hugs 😚🙏🏾