Thank you, Paisley! How do you feel today? I know what you mean about being at a retreat a loooong time!
I'm so glad you don't get these blinkin' aura's! They are like a mini panic attack before a flush. I also get these surges of adrenaline that can last hours - no anxious thoughts attached - it just feels quite excruciating at times. I refuse to call it anxiety as I'm not 'driving' it!
I recently got a copy of Dr Vliet's 'Screaming To Be Heard' abd I have to say it's THE bible as far as all things hormonal goes. I understand what is going on so much better! I have read a few books on menopause, but nothing that explains the whole hormonal stramash like this. What a remarkable woman she is! For instance - low estrogen raises norepinephrine and it can get out of control (aka adrenaline), steady estrogen levels keep cortisol in check (the weight gain hormone and another stress hormone), and........most of the brain's estrogen receptors are in the amygdala. The part of the brain that is responsible for the anxiety response and that responds to valium. It's mainly mad fluctuations or a sudden drop that 'shocks' this brain region. Make sense? I know it did to me! Explains so much about my responses to HRT when trying to stabilise and how I felt when I stopped HRT.
If you can get a copy and you fancy it - do!!! It's a massive tome - I got a very good used copy from Amazon at a very reasonable price. xxxx