Yes- anxiety!! And snowballed- yes!!
I nearly had to leave a (long) queue outside the supermarket a week or so ago as it just swept over me. When my meno symptoms were at their highest, I actually left trolleys (full) in supermarkets as I had to get out, left the hairdressers with my colour on because they were busy and I was desperate to get it off my head, and my most dramatic- cancelling a flight for family holiday the morning of the day I was due to fly!
Anyone here who has suffered or is living with anxiety or panic attacks will relate entirely to your middle of the night panics. Thankfully, I am further along now with meno and I recognise the feelings when the approach and can say to myself- I know what this feeling is, it will pass and I will be ok!
Hence, stayed in that queue and rode it out. And I was ok.
I think often about those with high levels of pre existing anxiety, OCD, health anxiety etc (I have experience of all of these) with everything that is happening right now. Many without pre existing conditions will have background or foreground anxiety and stress now.
Try not to set yourself up with the if I could just have one good night so I know etc. Trust your body. And your amazing mind. Both will protect you and kick in at some point. Maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow, but it WILL. It WILL pass.
As Jaypo said, it made so much sense to me- Your body does get fed up with being in a state of alert all the time and your system will take over your fight/ flight mechanism.
I might have missed this, but are you on HRT?
Also, ditto to CKLD- think I mixed letters up there - beta blockers work. I often used to have one if jittery on morning waking. It was enough. They can, for some, affect sleep though but not everyone.
And if you need to sleep at some point, have a tablet. Again, you will be fine and it might just give yourself a little break from the waiting to sleep, overthinking what you are feeling, worrying about it then spiralling into the panic etc. However, I am not an advocate of either medication in all honesty, even though I have had both at times. I would be more keen to pursue the possibility of HRT as I think this is what could be triggering/ exacerbating the deep anxiety. It made a huge difference to mine. Brought it in line.
Hope you are ok right now? There is so much support on here (I’ve relied on it many times) and you are not alone with this xx
