Hi Everyones mum
I have been reflecting in a similar way to you. I didn't know I was in perimenopause until recently and for the last 18 months I have had anxiety that I don't really recognise, in that I have had anxiety on and off in my life related to life events. This anxiety had a depressive element, not major, just noticeable to me.
I agree with Hurdity about some women being sensitive to hormonal change - my sister had PND very badly (I have not had children) and recently I made a connection that perhaps the depressive part was almost genetic and related to hormonal change.
I am unsure what action to take right now, I have very few other ongoing symptoms related to the menopause, nothing that isn't manageable. I spoke with my GP yesterday and will go again in a couple of weeks to chat further about HRT - having identified this 'new' anxiety, he agreed that I clearly understood it to be different to my 'usual' anxiety, if that makes sense. So far, my usual strategies haven't helped. He said that HRT may or may not help these psychological aspects of menopause.
Now that I feel clear there is a layer of emotional struggle related to menopause I feel better placed to think about solutions, be it HRT or something else. The flat, depressive feelings were new to me and just thought they would go, they have lessened but still, I need to give things some thought.
So, in a nutshell, I agree with your observation.