Navigating Insomnia and Menopause: Seeking Answers Beyond Medication - Psychiatry

Confusion

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Three years ago, for unknown reasons, I experienced insomnia for three months.
I was very resistant to sleeping pills, and after exhausting myself to the limit, I reluctantly took sleeping pills and antidepressants for a month under the assurance of a psychiatrist.
Initially, I hoped to correct my sleep issues with medication, but after a month of failure, I realized that everything needed to be treated at the root level—addressing the psychological factors.
I worked hard to rebuild my inner world, self-awareness, and confidence.
During the first month, I visited the doctor four times, wanting to wean off the sleeping pills.
After stopping the medication, I still couldn't sleep that night, but the next day I was able to fall asleep naturally and continued to do so for two weeks.
However, I had another night of insomnia, but then I resumed sleeping naturally.
It has now been three years.
I took the antidepressants as directed by my doctor for a year, gradually stopping one pill at a time.
When I was about to stop the last half pill after a year, I asked my doctor what illness I actually had, and the answer was symptoms of menopause.
The month after I stopped taking the antidepressants, my menstrual cycle ceased, and six months later, it returned, marking the beginning of irregular periods.
Although I can fall asleep naturally during menopause, I am easily awakened and find it very difficult to fall back asleep after being disturbed.
I can take a nap the next day, but I still hope to sleep well every night.
Currently, I have a problem where someone seems to be monitoring me.
They somehow know my movements at home and create disturbances, especially when I am alone, waking me from deep sleep.
The sounds could be from upstairs or the neighboring unit, but I live on the fifth floor of an apartment building where no one lives above me, and the adjacent unit is vacant.
Since the noises only occur when I am alone, it feels like I am the only one experiencing this.
After a while, the roommate I lived with also heard the sounds, which increased in frequency over time.
One day, when I returned home, the noise was particularly loud, so I went upstairs to check with the neighbor on the fourth floor to confirm whether it was just my imagination.
She also heard the noise, but her unit was empty, making it impossible for the loud sounds to come from there.
With no one living above or beside me, where could the noise be coming from? If someone were stomping in the living room upstairs, there would be noise in my living room below, but not in the bedroom.
Now both the living room and bedroom are making noise.
One night, the noise persisted from the moment I lay down until after 1 AM.
Frustrated, I called the police.
When they arrived at my door and heard the loud noise, they were taken aback and rushed to the roof, but found no one there.
I also had someone check my home for hidden cameras, and the answer was negative.
Are we all experiencing hallucinations? Especially since I am going through menopause and have a record of taking medication for mental health issues three years ago, my family believes it is all in my head.
I invited them to stay at my home for a few days to see if it was indeed my imagination.
They could only stay one night, and after a few days, they had to leave.
My family advised me to ignore it and just sleep.
I wanted to do that, but being disturbed during menopause makes it impossible for me to roll over and continue sleeping like I could at twenty.
As for the disturbing sounds, my family thinks I am imagining them.
I have had enough and decided not to endure it any longer.
I started taking action, first by staying at a hotel, then at my sister's house in Taoyuan, hoping that being around more people would prevent any further disturbances.
Indeed, the noise stopped.
Dr.
Su, I am unsure whether I am seeking psychological counseling or playing detective.
I know menopause can bring about various physical and psychological symptoms, but professional medical advice could provide me with a direction to pursue.
I kindly ask for your guidance!

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A-Sang, 50~59 year old female. Ask Date: 2007/09/17