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[Bracken willowshimmer]

Hi ladies

I am 42 years old.  Started with peri menopause symptoms just over a year ago.  My worst symptom has been anxiety.  Originally, I could tell when I was going to suffer with anxiety, it was always there around period time, would always be worse at the end of my period.  However, just lately it doesn't seem to be following this pattern.  My last period started on March 13th, anxiety started a few days before this but I still have it now.

Has anyone else noticed a change in their pattern of anxiety? I am worried that it will never go away.  Anxiety is always worse in the morning, mostly there all day but does ease off during the day.  Coincidently, hot flushes are much worse lately (sitting here now with beetroot face).  Also when anxiety is at it's worse in the morning, also gave a very strange headache with it.  Like someone is moving my brain around. 

I'm not on hrt (dr won't prescribe it, I get migraine with aura).  Would love to hear from. Anyone else with same symptoms.

Thanks s xx

[CLKD]

Low blood sugar can cause anxiety surges so keep hydrated and make sure that you graze through the day/night.  If you get up for a bathroom visit, eat a biscuit before you go back to sleep.  Betablockas can help.

[Suzyq]

Mine changed! For 3 years only had anxiety from ovulation to day 2 of period - largely because I had zero progesterone. When estrogen levels fell I had it pretty much constantly. This is also when I started to get hot flushes and other symptoms.

It is worse in the morning apparently because of low serotonin levels (according to my gp).

[Bracken willowshimmer]

Thanks for replies.

Suzy do you still suffer with anxiety now and if so can you recommend anything to help? X

[Suzyq]

Hi Sarahm

I do not really suffer anymore since I started hrt - well odd little spells but not like before.

The things that helped me were:
- cbt - more helped with dealing with panic attacks
- hypnosis - I had some sessions and he gave me some free downloads to listen/breathe to
- exercise - but not realistic to exercise all day every day! A nice long (1-2 hour) walk always helped
Ativan (lorazepam) when I felt desperate or just like I needed just one normal day!!
Without hrt, my gp was proposing low dose lyrica or clonazepam as next step. Heard very encouraging stuff about lyrica.

Sorry I can't be more help but i did get better as the months went by but it was a truly awful stage in my life, so I do appreciate how you feel!!

[katem]

Hi Sarahm
I am at a completely different stage of the menopause than you but, as you, anxiety has alsways been the worst part about it. Plus, I always feel worse in the mornings. I am now almost six months down the period over stage but my anxiety has just got worse. When I was having periods, like you, the anxiety followed a pattern but now it is random and seems to be there all the time. Thats why I went back to my docs and I have just been prescribed prozac and menopace( have been posting about this). I am now on my fifth day and I'll see how it goes. I do really feel for you. I know how soul destroying it is when you feel wretched and you think it will never end. It does ebb and flow, but when you are down its hard to think positively and look forward. This site is great for gathering other womens experiences and advice, I am sure there will be someone along to help you soon.

[Dandelion]

I'm 47 and perimenopausal.
I think I started my perimenopause at around 42-43 years of age, but, I am unsure exactly of the start time, because back then, I was addicted to valium and I was tapering off it, and the withdrawals were the same as peri menopause.
I don't know when the withdrawals finished and the peri menopause started.
I am on HRT but I still get a few flushes each day and I still got anxiety.
That was until I started taking magnesium citrate powder a few times a day.
Things seem to have improved a lot for me with magnesium
Warning, take it between meals for good absorption and take it a few times a day, rather than your whole dose in one sitting, because it can cause diarrhoea.
Splitting the dose stops the diarrhoea for me though.