I am currently going through menopause and I've noticed something. I've dealt with depression and anxiety since I was I a child, and I've had recurring suicidal thoughts on and off through the years, but I KNOW that the first time I had a suicidal thought was the very same month I got my first period. (I certainly didn't make that connection at the time.) And I know that over the years, the suicidal thoughts would be strongest right before my period. And now that my periods are starting to become more erratic, I'm noticing that both the depression and the suicidal thoughts are lessened dramatically or completely gone during those months when I don't have the usual monthly hormonal cycle. (I recently weaned myself off of an antidepressant, and I'm not taking any other medications.) I'm actually starting to feel hopeful that, after 40 years of this burden (I'm referring to the mental/emotional issues), there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I've always heard negative things about menopause and being post-menopausal. Is it possible that this could be a beneficial outcome of "The Change"? Has anyone ever heard of anything similar to this?