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[Lesley49]

Hi everyone

I am 50 and have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks over the last 4 months.  It is 5 years since my last period but I still have hormone surges and dragging sensations in my stomach.

About 4 months ago I started feeling dizzy and panicky.  This got worse when my father was hospitalised for a week in July.  After his release I had a bit of a mini breakdown and was put on to Kliovance (HRT) and Sertraline (antidepressants).  Anyway after 5 weeks off work I finally felt well enough to return and after 8 weeks on the ADs I felt back to normal and happy again.

About a week ago my skin started to get spotty and my stomach bloated and painful, once this happened my anxiety crept in again and I have now had 3 days of feeling a little sick in the mornings and felt the anxiety creeping in again too.  I am sure my anxiety is hormone related and just wondered whether anymore ladies suffer like me?  I don't think my doctor believes my anxiety is due to hormones and she just thinks I am an anxious person but I can honestly say that I am normally a happy go lucky, cheerful person.  I would love to hear from ladies who have the same symptoms as me because these feelings are hard to describe to someone who has never experienced them.

Thanks ladies

[walking the dog]

Hi lesley49
I'm 51 but still perimenopausal
I have all the symptoms you describe and more. I'm on hrt and started sertraline 3 weeks ago. Morning is the worse time for my anxiety and the feeling sick issue.
I firmly believe its hormonal based which leads to my anxiety but getting anyone in the medical profession to believe me is impossible!
Just wanted to say your not alone xx

[Annie0710]

I think it's quite obvious if we've not suffered anxiety before meno then it's hormone related

I've always been quite a shy, but friendly person but since meno I developed social anxiety where I've wanted to hide away from everyone, including family at times.  I've not been to docs about it as meds would be a last resort, I would rather treat the cause, I'm early days on testosterone as that's a symptom of low T

I won't rule out meds though

X

[bramble]

Anxiety was the worse menopausal symptom I had.  I got to fifty two and then bam. Still suffering from it now at 63....... tried every thing known to man. Including alternative treatments.  Read every self book, websites etc.  I just have to accept this is how I am now. However awful it is. I seem to go for months and months when it is not too bad then get another spell for six months or so when it badly affects my life. Off I go to the doctors to try another pill and/or another alternative treatment. Can't tell you how much I have spent on stuff in the last ten years.
Sorry I am a bit doom and gloom but that's how it's been.

Bramble

[Anna67]

Hi lesley49, I'm the same as you too, I've been on Premarin 1:25 for 4 weeks now, the doctor also prescribed setraline too for the anxiety, I haven't taken the ads yet though as I'm trying to ride it out without them, my nurse told me that anxiety and depression are symptoms of peri menopause and to give the hrt 3 months to get into your system and I should feel the difference, so fingers crossed. It's such a horrible feeling when it creeps up on you though, but just lately I'm having better days too now which is a blessing, I've been keeping a mood diary too which I write in Dailey on my feelings to see if there's a pattern to them, could be period related ? You'll get plenty of advice from these lovely ladies which helps loads ! Hope you start to feel better soon 

[Elsiebear]

Hi
I too suffer from this very badly...in fact this is the reason i joined this forum just this week !
I am (was) am outgoing person and my job is performing on stage as a pro singer ,i have never suffered stage fright or any social anxiety until now .It started about 2 years ago with the onset of peri and i won't ease no matter what i try.
I also suffer with low blood sugar drops with make me feel very faint which in turn causes panic attacks on stage ....god what a state i sound on paper !!

I totally feel your pain ,its so terrible.My doctor is female but way too young to have felt any of this so i don't think she really takes this side of menopause seriously.I'm on HRT which is great for hot flashes etc but it hasn't touched the anxiety and panic attacks which is bitterly disappointing as i was pinning a lot of hope on it

Sorry i can offer no help other than support at the moment ...take care....xxxxx

[CLKD]

What ever the reasons, anxiety can be draining and all controlling.  Once it is more under control one can see the wood for the trees.  I have used Rescue Remedy with success and have Propranolol twice a day as well as an emergency drug for when it over-takes me.

Maybe make a list of the worst symptoms and which you would like to ease first?

[MIS71MUM]

Me too!
I get both anxiety and panick attacks from peri.  I also joined this forum for that reason because sometimes I feel like I'm going totally mad.  It's definitely hormonal for me.

I take both ads and HRT but sometimes neither of them help.

I think it depends whether your anxiety is physical or mental as to which treatment works best for you either ad's or beta blockers.

CBT is also really helpful. 

[kaz s]

Hi.

I also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks. CBT is really good and your dr should be able to help organise this. I find just posting and remembering that I am not alone or insane really helps. At the time I am sufferring it's hard to focus on anything else but I try to rethink back and realise I have felt this way before and will get through the feelings. I also treat it as a proper symptom the same as all the others and go a bit easy on myself. Xxx

[Urbanchick]

Another sufferer.   I can echo what kaz said about finding it hard to see clearly when in the middle of an anxiety attack.    Try to tell yourself that it will pass, you won't die from it and keep yourself busy.   I find exercise helps, as do sudoku and crossword puzzles which I do on my iPad.   

I think a drop in oestrogen started mine, but it is certainly carried on by negative thought patterns, which I find it very hard to break.

[CLKD]

Surely anxiety is physical - that's why it's anxiety  .  How can it be mental ? 

It's a flight/fight response which is automatic.  Anxiety surely happens first, then the mind starts getting worried ……

CBT never worked for me.  Complete waste of time as my anxiety was triggered within hours of being born 

When anxiety hits, I am floored completely.  I appreciate every moment when I have no feelings, even staying awake to enjoy those non-anxious feelings 

[Anna67]

What's CBT ? Sorry got to ask I have no idea 

[MIS71MUM]

Cognitive behavioural therapy- it helps you examine your thought processes and come up with more helpful ways of thinking.

it's hard work but very very good.

[Anna67]

Oh of course it is  I should know this from years ago, whenever I was having a panic attack I would totally distract my mind by thinking other things, although easier said than done sometimes  depending on how bad the attack was at the time, thank you for reminding me though another meno symptom of mine ' forgetfulness '

[Fosse]

Yes, me to! I am 54, menopausal and the anxiety / agoraphobia has been a worsening symptom over the last few years (never had it before then). It now dominates my personal life and I have had to work from home for the last month because I can't face going into the office and an attack starting (on edge, trembling, breathless, brain fog, dizziness, jelly legs, loose bowels, palps, crying). I tried Sertraline and Venlafaxine but had bad reactions (I seem v sensitive to medication). BB's don't seem to help. I am under a gynaecologist who has been trying to help with all the other menopause symptoms but I can't tolerant more than 35mg of estradot which isn't enough to see if HRT would take the edge off the anxiety.

So in desperation I recently started ‘solution focussed therapy'. The idea is to stay positive about my anxiety, get to know my own anxiety (everyone's is slightly different) and develop coping strategies for different situations so when an attack starts I can take control of it better. It's a process and will take time – but I have to do something. I have to get my life back!

I think the main thing to remember is however awful it is at the time you are not alone, it doesn't physically harm you, it will pass, try not to get negative about it and be kind to yourself when it happens! Much easier said than done I know!