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Author Topic: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?  (Read 9508 times)

CLKD

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #15 on: January 20, 2023, 09:40:25 AM »

That sounds too much like hard work for me  ::)

Relaxation for the body at night is different.  It supposedly has a calming effect all the way up.
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Fiona1968

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #16 on: January 20, 2023, 09:59:32 AM »

Anxiety that bad when I woke up this morning I’m having to take another day off work :'(
 
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Kathleen

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #17 on: January 20, 2023, 11:13:51 AM »

Hello Fiona 1968

I am sorry that your anxiety is causing problems for you today.

I think a CBT therapist would ask you what you were thinking about before the anxiety started. I must admit that I found this question difficult to answer because the anxiety seemed to come out of nowhere. Infact I could be thinking the exact same thought later in the day and feel calm and happy.

Hopefully your upcoming appointment with your GP will be helpful.

Wishing you well and sending hugs.

K
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Fiona1968

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #18 on: January 20, 2023, 12:53:15 PM »

Hello Fiona 1968

I am sorry that your anxiety is causing problems for you today.

I think a CBT therapist would ask you what you were thinking about before the anxiety started. I must admit that I found this question difficult to answer because the anxiety seemed to come out of nowhere. Infact I could be thinking the exact same thought later in the day and feel calm and happy.

Hopefully your upcoming appointment with your GP will be helpful.

Wishing you well and sending hugs.

K

I would also find that question difficult to answer Kathleen as my waves of anxiety seem to come out of the blue but the impact on my day to day/work/social life is awful.
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CLKD

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #19 on: January 20, 2023, 02:43:23 PM »

The therapist who asked me that Kathleen got a look and I left the session.  I have never had thoughts prior to an attack, it happens instantly.  "Well you must have thought something to trigger the anxiety".   :bang: :bang: :bang: 

It can come out of the blue, usually when my body is hungry = nausea and the panic floors me.  If U felt bad first thing Fiona it may be that cortisol 'waking' hormone which can be startling.  When it happened in the early hours I would suffer prehensile terror. 

Any improvement during the day?
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Fiona1968

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #20 on: January 20, 2023, 03:00:16 PM »

The therapist who asked me that Kathleen got a look and I left the session.  I have never had thoughts prior to an attack, it happens instantly.  "Well you must have thought something to trigger the anxiety".   :bang: :bang: :bang: 

It can come out of the blue, usually when my body is hungry = nausea and the panic floors me.  If U felt bad first thing Fiona it may be that cortisol 'waking' hormone which can be startling.  When it happened in the early hours I would suffer prehensile terror. 

Any improvement during the day?

I have my first CBT appointment in a couple of weeks so will see how it goes. No luck with an earlier telephone consultation with GP today :(

It has taken me most of the morning to feel less on edge and dry mouth and heart racing has calmed down. I know that I couldn’t go out the house even for a short walk as I feel it would all start again :(

« Last Edit: January 20, 2023, 03:07:52 PM by Fiona1968 »
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Kathleen

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #21 on: January 20, 2023, 05:24:54 PM »

Hello again Fiona 1968

 Meg Matthews talked about her Meno anxiety and said that at it's worst she couldn't leave the house. She said that she just about made it to the corner shop for groceries and when her friends phoned her she told them that she had Glandular Fever. All this came on suddenly and was due to her hormones and menopause.

It will be interesting to see how your CBT person helps you. I spoke to someone ages ago who was very new to the profession and still  learning all the necessary skills. I remember asking them how they would explain the 'up ' moods I had where everything felt fine and they were a bit confused by that. I am sure a more experienced therapist would have been a better bet but unfortunately that option wasn't available at the time.

I'm sorry to hear that the telephone consultation with your GP didn't go well.
If you have any further questions I'm sure the lovely ladies of the forum will be able to advise you.

This time of life can be a rollercoaster ride but you are not alone.

Wishing you well and take care

K.
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CLKD

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #22 on: January 20, 2023, 05:30:36 PM »

My mood can dip for no apparent reason.  Fortunately it passes quite quickly. 

Sorry about the GP lack of assistance.  Quite common, sadly.
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Mary G

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #23 on: January 20, 2023, 07:49:30 PM »

Fiona, it could be a case of needing both HRT and an AD..

Menopause specialists usually like to prescribe hormones first and then filter in ADs if and when necessary.  It's not unusual to suddenly find you have symptoms for the first time when post menopause.   Depression, anxiety and panic attacks are closely linked to low serotonin which in turn is linked to low oestrogen.   

So it's a vicious circle which I can personally relate to for different reasons.   I was controlling my silent migraines with hormone manipulation for over 10 years post menopause but it suddenly stopped working.   My migraine specialist said more intervention was needed because it was clear that my serotonin levels had tanked and the hormone therapy could no longer stem the tide as it were.   I needed an AD and she suggested either venlafaxine or amitriptyline so I opted for the latter because I already had some.   Six months on I can say it's worked very will indeed.    Obviously migraines are a different manifestation of a similar problem but they are linked to anxiety and depression.

My advice is to read as much information online as possible and perhaps start with a low dose of HRT and see if you have any improvement.

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CLKD

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #24 on: January 20, 2023, 08:25:17 PM »

 :thankyou:
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Fiona1968

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #25 on: January 21, 2023, 10:01:55 AM »

Fiona, it could be a case of needing both HRT and an AD..

Menopause specialists usually like to prescribe hormones first and then filter in ADs if and when necessary.  It's not unusual to suddenly find you have symptoms for the first time when post menopause.   Depression, anxiety and panic attacks are closely linked to low serotonin which in turn is linked to low oestrogen.   

So it's a vicious circle which I can personally relate to for different reasons.   I was controlling my silent migraines with hormone manipulation for over 10 years post menopause but it suddenly stopped working.   My migraine specialist said more intervention was needed because it was clear that my serotonin levels had tanked and the hormone therapy could no longer stem the tide as it were.   I needed an AD and she suggested either venlafaxine or amitriptyline so I opted for the latter because I already had some.   Six months on I can say it's worked very will indeed.    Obviously migraines are a different manifestation of a similar problem but they are linked to anxiety and depression.

My advice is to read as much information online as possible and perhaps start with a low dose of HRT and see if you have any improvement.


Hi Mary

A GP phoned me yesterday and gave me 2 options:

First option 100mg continuous Utrogestan and 1 pump of Oestrogel

Second Option Evorel Conti patches

I really didn’t know which one to go for so said I would have a think about it over the weekend and phone the surgery on Monday with my decision.

Is there a better option to try first?

Many thanks

X
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CLKD

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #26 on: January 21, 2023, 10:22:11 AM »

From my little knowledge, I believe that patches bypass the gut in delivering the HRT.

MayB put the product names into the search box : separately : to see the threads relating to the medications.  Make notes ;-)
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Fiona1968

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #27 on: January 21, 2023, 10:26:15 AM »

From my little knowledge, I believe that patches bypass the gut in delivering the HRT.

MayB put the product names into the search box : separately : to see the threads relating to the medications.  Make notes ;-)


I did have a go at that and there is so much information..

I like the sound of the patches because it’s not something I have do every day and also I’m not very good with tablets at the best of times.

Thanks

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CLKD

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #28 on: January 21, 2023, 10:33:41 AM »

Let us know how you get on.  There are several ways of delivering HRT so don't give up too soon ;-)
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Hurdity

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Re: HRT or Anti-Depressant for Anxiety?
« Reply #29 on: January 21, 2023, 10:39:28 AM »

Hi there

I've always taken HRT transdermally and had a nil-by-mouth approach, as the most natural way to get it into the system! So patches all the way for me....

Hurdity x
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