How to bring back those highs

Don’t beat yourself up

Anhedonia is not a sign you’re a bad parent, partner or friend – you can counteract it by becoming more conscious of how you feel. Jayne Morris, author of Burnout to Brilliance, recommends thinking of joy as a dimmer switch you can dial up or down. “If you find yourself feeling ‘meh’, intentionally do things to raise your happiness levels. Plan something fun, perhaps something you haven’t done since childhood, like going to a theme park. When you start to bring laughter back, it spills into every area of life.”

Share your feelings

Rather than feeling embarrassed by muted emotions, share that there may be physiological causes for them with your partner. Then ask them to help you find activities that allow you both to enjoy yourselves more, says psychotherapist Lohani Noor, author of 12 Steps to Sexual Connection.

Rediscover touch

Just 15 minutes of massage can boost levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin, according to a University of California study. Life coach Julie Grint, who specialises in helping menopausal women, recommends starting the day with five minutes of facial massage. “Notice the sensations you feel as you look in the mirror. Then, throughout the day, look for ways to connect with your body through touch and movement, like walking barefoot, wearing new fabrics, and noticing the taste of what you’re eating.”

Eat to boost oestrogen

While HRT to replace oestrogen levels can help improve mood, it’s also worth boosting them with diet. Menopause specialist Dr Ferhat Uddin says: “Eating food rich in phytoestrogen – found in plants such as nuts, seeds and soya – produces similar effects to oestrogen and can make a big difference.”