Post baby, really really really hormonal before cycle - is this peri-menopause?

[Gigi]

It sounds like a hormone imbalance. Progesterone rising can affect moods like that. Whether it's peri-menopausal or not I dont know. To check, you can have blood tests.

Otherwise, if you can, it might be worthwhile getting acupuncture or seeing a naturopath who specialises in women's health.
Diet can help. Cut down on sugar and coffee and refined, processed foods. Go for a walk, get some fresh air. Get a good night's sleep. All these things help hormones.

I'm most likely, doing the opposite of all these things.
I am aware of the need to cut down on processed foods, but so far, the desire to do this, has not turned out too well. I am throwing away fresh produce, not sure how to store it, forget it's there, unsure what to do with it, get overwhelmed about cooking, cannot menu plan if my life depended on it, no matter how many other people say how easy it is. I open the fridge and pantry, look at all that food, and still feel blank about what to cook. The anxiety gets in the way, i feel so anxious, i just end up shutting the door again.

Cut down on sugar by going cold turkey with my iced coffee (former) addiction. Had a try at subbing sugar with sugar substitutes in recipes, that hasn't turned out well either.

i would like to ask a naturopath how to go off coffee. i had a try this week, and had three days of really stabbing headaches (so i went back to coffee - i have one plunger coffee per day.)

Stressed out of my tree, (single parenting is a new status for me), on top of chronic insomnia, from my child's first couple of years.

Living in a tiny, badly ventilated place, very dodgy area, i'm too scared to go for walks around here, even in daylight.

Should go get a blood test, my veins are all shut down (from copious blood work, during months of being in a coma), so i am hard to get blood from now. Will mean a special trip to the city, to the IMVS blood collection unit.

[nothing2lose]

I would tend to agree it sounds either hormonal or dietary.

Do you take any supplements. Vitamin B6 is cheap (about $7 a bottle) and really effective in helping with pre-menstrual symptoms and stress. Others swear by Evening Primrose Oil. I would also recommend a good multivitamin. It can really help you feel so much better...Even something like a Berocca everyday.

Honestly, one coffee a day will not hurt you IMO. If you enjoy it, I would not give it up. Sounds like you need some enjoyment

If you ever need help with meal ideas or what to do with random stuff in the fridge/pantry, give me a hoy. My grandma was an amazing Depression Era style cook IYKWIM. She had six kids and my grandad was a priest so there was NO money. She could turn nothing into a fabulous tasting, wholesome meal. My mum learnt from her (I am one of six!), and I picked up some tips from her....

With regards to sugar substitutes in cooking. I hate the substitutes (Splenda, Equal, etc) with a passion! If you are trying to avoid sugar "spikes" go for a lower GI alternative to sugar. Molasses is good. So is pure maple syrup (although expensive). A low GI honey (Yellowbox) is a good alternative. But it must be a low GI one. Also try sweetening things with fruit (apple is good - grated, pureed, small cubes), banana is good - but the GI is higher, pear is good, apricots, berries (although, not a lot of sweetness as such).

Can you try cooking up a few meals a few days ahead? It will help when you feel down and not feeling like cooking???\

Let us know what we can do to help x