I suffered with depression on and off for many years and know what it’s like to feel no joy and that life is just not worth living.

I’ve been offered anti-depressants many times but am not a fan as they really do not work for everyone and can make things worse - my youngest sister committed suicide the day after starting on them.

What I’ve found really works for me is:

1. Exercise – especially outside – it gets the blood and endorphins flowing and definitely helps you get out of your head and into your body – lifting your mood.

2. Meditation – 20 minutes once or twice a day keeps you grounded in the present. Since taking up transcendental mediation in 2002 I’ve not suffered since.

3. Sleep – seems like a catch-22 as it’s sometimes hard to sleep when you’re down, but without a good 7-8 hours sleep you’re just going to feel a whole lot worse.

4. Good nutrition - taking care of your gut bacteria by eating lots of different kinds and colours of veggies – your gut and brain are connected if you didn’t know.

Have you noticed you feel more depressed since being in menopause?  Let me know.