Funny, I (almost 42) have been struggling with anxiety and likely depression for about 7 months now, and I only yesterday, when reading a magazine for women over 40, realized that this could all be a perimenopausal thing.

My main things are ruminating anxiety (that sometimes can be really overwhelming), lack of energy and motivation, irritability, and on and on. All the typical depression & anxiety stuff. But above it all are the sleep issues- it's hard to fall asleep sometimes, and even when I *do* fall asleep easily (because I am so exhausted) I end up waking up 2 or 3 hours later. So I lie there and get all anxious about how crappy I know I am going to feel the next day because I can't sleep, which of course keeps me up even more. It's a vicious cycle.

Like you, sleeping well definitely helps- though in my case it's certainly not a guarantee that I will have a good day.

Anyhow, from everything I've read, I gather that regardless of whether anxiety/depression are part of perimenopause, the treatment is similar. Of course there is the hypothyroid link as well that can contribute. In our city we have a women's health centre as part of one of our hospitals, and they take a multifaceted approach- counselling, meds, diet and exercise, etc. I may well as my GP to send me there. Perimenopause can last for years and years, and ugh, who wants to go on with this stuff for that long?