Hi Annie26
So sorry to hear about your mum - that must be very stressful and upsetting for you.
In terms of your symptoms, if you have started skipping periods some months, and your cycle length varies by a week or more, or has started to be quite variable, then you are in the early peri-menopausal transition. If you are also getting menopausal symptoms such as flushes and sweats and you are over 45 then this also confirms it and the first line of treatment is HRT if you have no medical reason not to take it. Your doctor is right not to prescribe ADs, but wrong not to consider HRT if you are able and willing to take it!
At this stage a low dose HRT tablet may well help (eg Femoston 1/10) - or else if you are under 50 have you thought of one of the CCP preparations which will suppress ovulation and regulate the cycle, and so help with mood swings?
Hurdity x