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[Lavender Girl]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here so please forgive if this topic has been done to death but I'm struggling a bit with anxiety.
I'm going through some emotional post relationship turmoil right now but know my response to it is more heightened because of the stage of life I'm in.
I'm 47, have had perimenopausal symptoms for a couple of years probably, tinnitus is worse, sleep issues, and anxiety.

I've been on HRT for just over a week, 2 pumps of gel and one tablet of utrogestan at night for days 1-25 of my cycle.
I reduced to one pump because my anxiety has been out of control, though I think that was probably too hasty.  I did that because I read that it can make anxiety worse sometimes.
I'm on the waiting list for the mirena coil too at the moment.

Mine is obviously linked to my current situation, but at the same time I know it's my hormones too.
Does anyone have any advice on dealing with it, when it might settle etc?

The only way I can describe the feeling is similar to grief, that lump in the throat, pain in the chest and stomach sickie feeling.  Worry about future situations.  This week is was cripping and nothing I did stopped it.  It was quite scary, and it's there every morning and stays with me in varying degrees all day.. it's hard to be alone right now.

I'm also having therapy now to see if that helps, but it feels so physical at the moment, I can almost rationalise what's in my head, but then that doesn't match with my symptoms so that's also why I feel like it's very much to do with what's going on in my body.

I exercise enough, lots of weights etc, but I'm not finding joy in anything. I'm verging on tears most of the time, never used ot be this way, there's a lot I probably need to unpick and deal with but any thoughts on HRT/Hormones and anxiety and any advice I'd be so grateful.

Thanks a million
x

[Aubrey]

Hi Lavender girl,

I hear you. Hormonal anxiety is different. I've been on HRT for 4 years and still haven't managed to fully control it. I've increased and decreased the dose but no luck yet. I'm a therapist too, so I should be all over this! My plan is to chat to my GP about SSRi's, antidepressant meds, because lots of peri women have found them to be the solution, alongside HRT. What has put me off SSRi's so far is that some of my clients find it causes insomnia to begin with, and god knows I can't have less sleep than I currently get!

[MillieMoo10]

Hi Lavender Girl

Yes the anxiety is truly awful and takes over your life.  I am over a year post menopausal and anxiety for me was the worst symptom I had.  I started on the patch Evorel 50 (equal to your 2 pumps of gel) and after about 8 weeks on that I began to feel worse and worked out from the lovely ladies on here that it was too much oestrogen for me.  I have since then been trying to tweak the amount (less than 25 patch) to find a dose that helps but wherever I end up with it it will be a very low dose and certainly not enough to fix the anxiety so I have started citalopram which has been a game changer for me.  I am however quite envious of women who can fix it with HRT and you may well be able to do that once you work out the correct dose that suits your body but my sensitivity makes that impossible for me.  I tried NLP, hypnosis, various apps like Dare etc but these things only took the edge off I was still functioning just below panic attack level.  It's all trial and error but rest assured you will find a solution it just takes time to work out the right path. Best Wishes x

[K45]

Hi Lavender Girl

I found that when I started the gel and utrogestan my anxiety was initially quite a bit worse as my body/mind was adjusting to all the hormones. In addition to HRT, magnesium glycinate and D3 seem to help and might be worth a try. I was advised by my GP when I started HRT to give it 3 months to see if it helps so it's probably a little early to know if it's effective yet. Maybe keep a diary of how you're feeling physically/mentally for a bit so you can see if things are improving. In perimenopause the hormone fluctuations can feel pretty overwhelming at times. The most important thing is to know you're not on your own and there are options to make this time in life more bearable...e.g. tweaking HRT, brain supplements and a supportive community like this one.

[Mariab]

Hi,
Like the other ladies here i have suffered and still suffer with the anxiety levels during peri, it is truly the hardest thing to over come...however is has become bearable...I have been on hrt for over  a year and the coil..I found that less eastrogen is better for me so I'm on 1.5 pumps of gel at mo...I am also on citalopram and that has helped alot!...
I also take suppliments . Magnesium and probiotics...
It truly does get better and know that you definitely are not alone in this.

[fiftyplus]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here so please forgive if this topic has been done to death but I'm struggling a bit with anxiety.
I'm going through some emotional post relationship turmoil right now but know my response to it is more heightened because of the stage of life I'm in.
I'm 47, have had perimenopausal symptoms for a couple of years probably, tinnitus is worse, sleep issues, and anxiety.

I've been on HRT for just over a week, 2 pumps of gel and one tablet of utrogestan at night for days 1-25 of my cycle.
I reduced to one pump because my anxiety has been out of control, though I think that was probably too hasty.  I did that because I read that it can make anxiety worse sometimes.
I'm on the waiting list for the mirena coil too at the moment.

Mine is obviously linked to my current situation, but at the same time I know it's my hormones too.
Does anyone have any advice on dealing with it, when it might settle etc?

The only way I can describe the feeling is similar to grief, that lump in the throat, pain in the chest and stomach sickie feeling.  Worry about future situations.  This week is was cripping and nothing I did stopped it.  It was quite scary, and it's there every morning and stays with me in varying degrees all day.. it's hard to be alone right now.

I'm also having therapy now to see if that helps, but it feels so physical at the moment, I can almost rationalise what's in my head, but then that doesn't match with my symptoms so that's also why I feel like it's very much to do with what's going on in my body.

I exercise enough, lots of weights etc, but I'm not finding joy in anything. I'm verging on tears most of the time, never used ot be this way, there's a lot I probably need to unpick and deal with but any thoughts on HRT/Hormones and anxiety and any advice I'd be so grateful.

Thanks a million
x

Hello & Welcome     after a very stressful to me, kind of grief situation I found myself in, when I felt my anxiety was through the roof, I started each day having 3 sprays of Rescue Remedy Spray on my tongue which I have found has helped me massively with my anxiety and has calmed me right down.  I was recommended this by the lovely ladies in Boots and Holland & Barrett who had both used it before.  I don't know how it works but it does for me - thankfully!  I have 3 sprays before work each day and also at other random times when I feel I need it.  When the ladies recommended this to me I was a little sceptical but I gave it a try and so glad that I did xx

[CLKD]

 

I have used Rescue Remedy mouth spray with success.  Let us know how you get on?

[Lavender Girl]

Hi Aubrey,
Oh blimey no, same here, that's something I definitely don't need, as sleep has been an issue on and off for the last 4 years really.
Hope you find a solution though! maybe they won't cause that in you maybe
x

Hi Lavender girl,

I hear you. Hormonal anxiety is different. I've been on HRT for 4 years and still haven't managed to fully control it. I've increased and decreased the dose but no luck yet. I'm a therapist too, so I should be all over this! My plan is to chat to my GP about SSRi's, antidepressant meds, because lots of peri women have found them to be the solution, alongside HRT. What has put me off SSRi's so far is that some of my clients find it causes insomnia to begin with, and god knows I can't have less sleep than I currently get!

[Lavender Girl]

Hi Millie,
Well that's what I was wondering as GP first said she'd start me on one pump, but then the prescription said two pumps.. so I'm not sure, but maybe it's too early to tell at the moment.

Thank you so much, glad something is working for you x

Hi Lavender Girl

Yes the anxiety is truly awful and takes over your life.  I am over a year post menopausal and anxiety for me was the worst symptom I had.  I started on the patch Evorel 50 (equal to your 2 pumps of gel) and after about 8 weeks on that I began to feel worse and worked out from the lovely ladies on here that it was too much oestrogen for me.  I have since then been trying to tweak the amount (less than 25 patch) to find a dose that helps but wherever I end up with it it will be a very low dose and certainly not enough to fix the anxiety so I have started citalopram which has been a game changer for me.  I am however quite envious of women who can fix it with HRT and you may well be able to do that once you work out the correct dose that suits your body but my sensitivity makes that impossible for me.  I tried NLP, hypnosis, various apps like Dare etc but these things only took the edge off I was still functioning just below panic attack level.  It's all trial and error but rest assured you will find a solution it just takes time to work out the right path. Best Wishes x

[Lavender Girl]

Hiya,   
I take Magnesium L Theronate as I'm also a migraine sufferer, and as they're falling around my periods lately HRT was actually recommended by my neurologist, but I have peri symptoms too, so was hoping it would fix a number of things.
Yep I also take D3 so all good there.
You're right, I can't expect a quick fix, and it will take time I guess to balance out?
She said she'd review it in 3 months.

That's a good shout regarding a diary, thank you.

That's really kind, thanks for the support I really appreciate it. 

Hi Lavender Girl

I found that when I started the gel and utrogestan my anxiety was initially quite a bit worse as my body/mind was adjusting to all the hormones. In addition to HRT, magnesium glycinate and D3 seem to help and might be worth a try. I was advised by my GP when I started HRT to give it 3 months to see if it helps so it's probably a little early to know if it's effective yet. Maybe keep a diary of how you're feeling physically/mentally for a bit so you can see if things are improving. In perimenopause the hormone fluctuations can feel pretty overwhelming at times. The most important thing is to know you're not on your own and there are options to make this time in life more bearable...e.g. tweaking HRT, brain supplements and a supportive community like this one.

[Lavender Girl]

Thanks so much Maria,  it really is.. everything else I can handle, but this very physical anxiety feeling is something that's making my life very miserable right now.
How do you find the coil? any side effects?
I'm keen to get mine save messing about with days 1-25 with utrogestan!

Hi,
Like the other ladies here i have suffered and still suffer with the anxiety levels during peri, it is truly the hardest thing to over come...however is has become bearable...I have been on hrt for over  a year and the coil..I found that less eastrogen is better for me so I'm on 1.5 pumps of gel at mo...I am also on citalopram and that has helped alot!...
I also take suppliments . Magnesium and probiotics...
It truly does get better and know that you definitely are not alone in this.

[Lavender Girl]

Thanks so much for the tip, I have just ordered some, I'll try anything really.  The usual methods just aren't helping at all.
I will give it a go.
 

Hello & Welcome     after a very stressful to me, kind of grief situation I found myself in, when I felt my anxiety was through the roof, I started each day having 3 sprays of Rescue Remedy Spray on my tongue which I have found has helped me massively with my anxiety and has calmed me right down.  I was recommended this by the lovely ladies in Boots and Holland & Barrett who had both used it before.  I don't know how it works but it does for me - thankfully!  I have 3 sprays before work each day and also at other random times when I feel I need it.  When the ladies recommended this to me I was a little sceptical but I gave it a try and so glad that I did xx

[Lavender Girl]

Ordered some! I definitely will, thanks!

I have used Rescue Remedy mouth spray with success.  Let us know how you get on?

[Mariab]

Hey,
I have found the coil very beneficial...it is uncomfortable when having it put in but I also started to take vagifeme which on the coil check up I didn't feel a thing it was a god send.. I've had no periods and this way you cant play about with eastrogen to try and fine your balance... the only down side for me is I don't know where I am period wise anymore.x   

[Lavender Girl]

Thanks Maria I like the idea of it and just forgetting about it for a while!
Utrogestan seems to be ok so far, but only had for just over a week.. does seem to make me sleep heavy which I think is good.. but having to time it etc is a bit annoying.  Will save me prescription money too!
Yes I've been told by people to ensure I take painkillers before I get it put in.
oh right, yeah that must be strange! but also good?! 

Hey,
I have found the coil very beneficial...it is uncomfortable when having it put in but I also started to take vagifeme which on the coil check up I didn't feel a thing it was a god send.. I've had no periods and this way you cant play about with eastrogen to try and fine your balance... the only down side for me is I don't know where I am period wise anymore.x