menopause- terrible temper!

I would n' t go for HRT. I would suggest asking doc to put you on fluoxetine. I know there will be anti responses to that suggestion, but ssri' s have a proven safety record and fluoxetine has a very good chance of helping you.

I second jings suggestion.

I was on HRT for many years and noticed little difference.

Is it necessarily connected to the menopause? As you are under some pressure re finance and building up a new business, perhaps this is causing tiredness and stress, and is contributing to your "short fuse".

If you are able to spare the time, it might be helpful to get into a routine of taking a break so that you can go out for a daily walk or do a weekly yoga or exercise class.

Mmm. We have discussed HRT or not before, and there seem to be no real conclusions about whether the benefits outweigh the risks. We all have our own stories; I was on HRT for quite a while, but it WAS about 12 years ago, and it was, I think, a heavy dosage. It worked. I was suffering dreadful mod swings and temper, which is not me.

I also had breast cancer 10 years ago. As I say, I, and many others, don't know about links etc.

Probably not a lot of help! There are some people on GN better qualified than me to comment.

Maybe ask for counselling again? It sounds as though you benefitted the last time from just being heard (could do with a bit of that myself)

j08 fluoxetine is an anti-depressant, so it would not necessarily help the OP.
Agree with nightowl that counselling would probably be more helpful.

I agree with nightowl makes sense if it worked before. Also much better to talk than to take any kind of meds.

Not necessarily Movedalot. If mental illness is due to chemical imbalances in the brain, for example in severe clinical depression, then no amount of talking is going to make any difference.

There is no evidence that clinical depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain though jane. That isn't to say that antidepressants aren't helpful in some cases but the mechanism by which they work is very complex and not as straightforward as putting right a simple imbalance, as we have been led to believe.

This is an interesting article.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8138893.stm

HRT helped me and my sister..... I swear by it , but guess its not for everyone

Thanks Nightowl - however I listened to the excerpt from the Today programme, and sounds as though the author of the article is not representative of mainstream psychiatry. The other psychiatrist in the interview distinguished between mild and severe illness and disputed her claim that there's very little evidence of how psycho-active drugs work.

janeainsworth fluoxetine is also used to treat anxiety. It is calming. Take the word of one who knows.

It is also used to treat pmt. Which has the same symptoms as the original poster is experiencing.

The whole human race should be on vitamin p.

j08 I'm not disputing that fluoxetine is helpful, calming etc.
I just don't think we should attempt to diagnose the OP's mental health problems, if any, that's all

Oh! I'm not diagnosing anything!

Should we just say to the OP, "No can't suggest anything, sorry"?

You did say that fluoxetine is "an antidepressant". I simply pointed out that it has other licensed indications.

OP was asking if we had advice re HRT as she related her problems to menopause.

I have not used HRT so am unable to offer advice other than go back to GP and discuss further!

(makes note: must not widen thread topic)

JO else you will get a slapped wrist . !!not from me I hasten to add !

[groin]

Oh crikey bobs , grin NOT groin . excuse em moi !!

Nonu I was beginning to think winning that book was giving you ideas!

From the article:

In my view it remains more plausible that they "work" by producing drug-induced states which suppress or mask emotional problems"

May I, just this once, pleeease, say "bollocks"?