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[Annidav]

hi ladies - sorry to be posting about this again but home alone and no-one to talk to; I work from home most of the time but go in to the office one day a week but am careful to choose a day when I know the area will be fairly quiet (it is a hot-desking area); anyway I have been asked to cover a meeting tomorrow for a colleague who is on holiday - I don't have a problem with the meeting itself HOWEVER I have been on the verge of a panic attack this morning at the thought of going to the office tomorrow because I know that Tuesdays are particularly busy there with all of the top people and everyone else associated and the last time I went there on a Tuesday I got to the car park and had to ring a colleague to come out to my car as I was having a panic attack which was so bad she thought when she saw me that I was having a stroke as my face was lopsided and I sounded odd....so now I am almost having a panic attack at the thought of having a panic attack tomorrow......this is madness.....I have contacted my GP surgery this morning and have specifically asked if they have anyone there who specialises in Menopause (can't believe I never asked this question before but took it as read that all of the GP's there have experience in this area- light bulb moment should have been when the last GP I saw was looking things up in her book in front of me...)  anyway, they don't, specifically, but the lady I spoke to was absolutely wonderful and told me she had "been there" herself and totally understood when I said I feel like I need to be able to discuss it in general with someone in the know and then to be able to discuss options, HRT dosage etc....well the best I can get is a double appointment next week (so that's 20 minutes) with a lady GP who has experience of female issues (but is not an expert in menopause and HRT) and well woman clinic and Mirena (don't want that)  - I started typing this earlier this morning and since then I have spoken to one of my seniors and explained things to her and she is going to cover the meeting tomorrow - however, she was sitting opposite my manager at the time of our conversation and  he would have heard what was being said; I have just had a scheduled one to one with him and felt I had to bring up about my anxiety and now he wants to refer me to internal services to give me some support in trying to overcome the reasons for my anxiety and for me to understand the cause of my anxiety - told him I know what the cause is ie time of life....feel really inadequate now that I seem to be the only woman in the whole of the organisation suffering like this.....although the rational side of my brain is saying of course you aren't .....sorry for going on - just needed to get it off my chest.....

[nothappybun]

Hi fiftygirl,
 Sorry to hear you are feeling like this.
Keep in mind panic attacks are very scary and a lot of things go on in our mind that makes them worse. It is easy to say but don't feed the panic attack, when it happens let it go, concentrate on your breathing and try to get it regular, take a deep breath in, count till 5 and let it out slowly thinking "relax". Have a paper bag handy if you hyperventilate. Distract your mind to let it pass. Look at a picture or something and start analysing every detail, ask yourself what color/shape/weight it is, look around you and try to find small details in things, distract your mind and tell yourself, this is just a panic attack, it can't hurt me or kill me, it is chemistry in my body, I can do it.
Hope you get the appointment soon to treat your anxiety. Are you on hrt at the moment?

[Justjules]

fiftygirl, sorry to hear you are having such a rough time of it.  I was in exactly your position a few months ago - tryingto get to work every morning while having a panic attack was dreadful and to make matters worse, I travel in with my daughter who is very unsympathetic about these things so on top of feeling like I was about to keel over every day, I had to try and hold a lot of it because of her lack of understanding!  The only thing that worked for me was a small dose of diazepam but eventually, when I knew in my brain what it really was and that it wasn't going to hurt me and was just uncomfortable, I used to just shout at it and tell it to 'bugger off' basically and the anger seemed to override the panic.

It might be worth googling 'menopause and the workplace' etc.  there are some guidelines and articles somewhere which were referred to recently as they are constantly trying to get employers to understand how some poor menopausal women suffer at work and how they can help.  I think (someone correct me if I'm wrong) Dr Currie was interviewed on the radio about it - there might even be a link on the stickies at the top pages on here if you look.

It will pass but it's an awful thing to suffer and I send you a big hug in support because I've been there xx

[Michelleems]

Hi I am new to here but in need of some help  and advice please from people who understand . I am post menopausal and have been suffering for the last 6 month with terrible anxiety . I had to walk off my job last week with anxiety and stress . My GP has not been very sympathetic. My mum died whilst on HRT with a DVT at the age of 49 so I suppose this is not an option for me . I am awaiting an appointment through work for a phycologist . Can anyone give any good advise . Think I need to know i am not going crazy I can't find anyone I know who has felt as miserable , angry, weepy, irritable as myself though I'm sure your out there .

[Annidav]

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions - Michelleems I am so sorry to hear how you are feeling and sending you a big hug ... You are most definitely NOT alone although I know that doesn't help you much; I have found that the beta blockers have helped me enormously and I am lucky in that I can for the most part avoid the situation which causes me the most anxiety which is going to the particular office and I appreciate this is not possible for everyone - your GP sounds charming - not. Can you see a different one? Is there one with more expertise/knowledge/ experience in menopause and available treatments? Xx

[CLKD]

I have an emergency drug to take when anxiety takes over.  It can floor me in moments    .  Out of routine can upset me.  I can understand the suddenness of your anxiety earlier today.

[Michelleems]

Thank you for your kind comments . Wonder why my GP hasn't suggested beta blockers ? Do they help with anxiety , I am willing to try anything

[CLKD]

They stop the anxiety surges for me.  "Propranolol" 20 mg night and morning.

[Michelleems]

Thank you I will try seeing another GP and hopefully discuss these options . It helps to know I am not alone

[CLKD]