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[Eastside]

Hey everyone. I hope you are well. I am trying to research into how people with pre-existing mental health challenges are finding the perimenopause. I seem to be in very early perimenopause. I'm nearly 51. My periods are still regular like clockwork, though with some minor changes. But I have complex PTSD and it feels like, emotionally, everything has ramped up several gears, and not in a good way: severe rage and distress attacks, especially when woken up, general nervous system activation and dysregulation - hence getting woken up more, sobbing fits, feeling like I'm regressing to the emotional states of my childhood and taking several steps back in terms of mental health progress. Irritable, feeling like I can't cope with things in the way I used to, distancing myself from any friendships where people have annoyed me or are generally very flakey etc. Some days are good, and I feel like nothing that bad is wrong with me. But other days are beyond awful. It's hard to know what may be psychological and what may be hormonal. Has anyone experienced similar? I've been prescribed HRT - I've yet to take it as I'm a bit anti-medicine and also have been unsure about the psychological component. But I feel myself edging ever closer😌

[CLKD]

Why R U anti-medication?  Hormone replacement Therapy works really well for many ladies.

R your rages etc. cynical?  51 is the mean age for menopause which is literally, the last monthly bleed.  Then we need to wait 12 months to make sure that we are into menopause and Nature may throw in more periods so we begin counting again 

Peri-menopause are the years leading up to that last bleed and can begin at any age. 

MayB U could consider counselling if U have unresolved issues, I found venting to a stranger cleared my head completely!

Waking suddenly may be a sudden rise in cortisol, the waking hormone or a change of body temperature.  Some find that keeping amood/food/symptom diary of use to chart progress. 

[CLKD]

In the 1980s I didn't want to take antidepressant medication because I wanted to know what the causation was, however they gave me my lift back.

[Eastside]

Thanks so much for sharing your insights and experiences. I'm hesitant about medication as I've always tried to lead a more natural life - eating healthily, exercise, yoga, meditation etc. I don't really like the idea of things like HRT or anti-depressants, with side effects and risks and question marks over them. But I'm reluctantly getting to the point where I realise I may need to resort to them. I think I'm in early perimenopause so this could go on for years 😱. Counselling will also invariably be part of it. I'm also tracking monthly events. I think it all gets worse in the last week of my cycle, but not exclusively. I have seen other forums that talk about complex trauma and the menopause and I just wondered if anyone here could resonate. But your replies have been really helpful, thank you.

[Penguin]

Thanks so much for sharing your insights and experiences. I'm hesitant about medication as I've always tried to lead a more natural life - eating healthily, exercise, yoga, meditation etc. I don't really like the idea of things like HRT or anti-depressants, with side effects and risks and question marks over them. But I'm reluctantly getting to the point where I realise I may need to resort to them. I think I'm in early perimenopause so this could go on for years 😱. Counselling will also invariably be part of it. I'm also tracking monthly events. I think it all gets worse in the last week of my cycle, but not exclusively. I have seen other forums that talk about complex trauma and the menopause and I just wondered if anyone here could resonate. But your replies have been really helpful, thank you.

Hi Eastside
I have complex PTSD and health OCD and it has definitely got worse in perimemopause. I tried hrt for 14 months  but could never get the dose right and it made things worse. I am not ruling out trying again when I am properly in menopause though, ans i am about to trial local estrogen cream. I ended up seeing a psychiatrist privately, stopped hrt and started in mental health meds and it is that specialist help that has made the  difference to me. I still have a difficult few days either before my period or just when it comes bit nowhere like before amd I am much more on an even keel throughout the month. Before hrt I spent years and lots of £££s trying to do it all naturally but in the end it wasn't enough. I still supplement under direction of a functional medicine doctor and do a lot of natural things but it has been the support of a specialist that has really made the difference.

[CLKD]

Peri/menopause is natural.  So any1 can go through without any medication if they can bear the unexpected symptoms.  For many of us we knew it was the end of periods with a few hot flushes  .  However!

Unless medication is required to keep people alive we can trial what we may feel is appropriate.  Giving medication a trial and if it doesn't help, it can be stopped.

The night B4 a bleed began I would sob, even if a period wasn't due.  The next morning, there it would be!  I also suffered excruciating pains ........ until I went onto The Pill which helped a lot. 

I had premenstrual syndrome in my mid-30s and eating every 3 hours, 24/7 saved my Life.  The nausea was dreadful 

Replacement does what is says: replaces the hormones which the body is dropping which can help how we feel, also it protects bones and heart health.  Importantly brisk exercise as often as possible keeps the long bones healthy and chewing properly keeps the jaw bone in good fettle: less likely to the gums to recede = loose teeth.   

Without anti-depressants and anxiety meds I wouldn't be sitting here typing to you.  From 1988 with support of our GP, I have coped.  Fortunately my husband hasn't put any pressure on me when we've had to cancel holidays or theatre tickets etc.. 

Peri-menopause can throw up symptoms that will need treatment which of course, doesn't have to be for ever.  Or we can take HRT for ever if required.

Why struggle if there is help out there?

[bombsh3ll]

I also have cPTSD following a life altering brain injury at the age of 34.

Whilst my day to day problems are mostly physical, I believe that anything you can do to minimise further suffering and disruption to homeostasis is especially important for anyone going into peri/menopause with existing physical and/or psychological health challenges.

I have therefore chosen for myself to completely bypass the whole experience by using continuous combined hormonal birth control for menstrual suppression until menopause can be reasonably assumed, then transferring straight onto hormone therapy at a comparable dose.

Whilst the symptoms of menopause would seem beyond trivial compared to what I already deal with, and you may feel likewise, it is never going to be just menopause it is always going to be additive on top of any challenges you already have.

As others have said, there are no medals for suffering!

[Penguin]

I also have cPTSD following a life altering brain injury at the age of 34.

Whilst my day to day problems are mostly physical, I believe that anything you can do to minimise further suffering and disruption to homeostasis is especially important for anyone going into peri/menopause with existing physical and/or psychological health challenges.

I have therefore chosen for myself to completely bypass the whole experience by using continuous combined hormonal birth control for menstrual suppression until menopause can be reasonably assumed, then transferring straight onto hormone therapy at a comparable dose.

Whilst the symptoms of menopause would seem beyond trivial compared to what I already deal with, and you may feel likewise, it is never going to be just menopause it is always going to be additive on top of any challenges you already have.

As others have said, there are no medals for suffering!

Does the combined birth control prevent the hormonal fluctuations of peri then? I have never been offered that, but then havent needed birth control per se for years as husband had the snip. My biggest issue with cyclical hrt was getting the dose right and not getting massive highs and lows. If your own hormones are fluctuating in peri underneath, does your approach still stop this? Really interested to understand how it could work for me.

[Eastside]

Thank you everyone. I can resonate with many of your replies and I am glad that some of you have found things helpful, albeit it trial and error. It all makes perfect sense. I am just my own worst enemy sometimes. I've struggled through life with just therapy so far, but I think this is potentially just too big a challenge to manage on my own. Though I am having some good days, at least! It is hard knowing whether to go down the HRT route, the anti-anxiety meds one, or both. But, like you say, you can stop something if it's not working. I am very keen to get into trauma therapy but it's v expensive and I don't have much privacy where I am. But I hope to change that next year 😊. Thanks so much again and I wish you all well with keeping well!

[CLKD]

U shouldn't need to pay for therapy do let us know how you get on!

[Eastside]

Thank you. I've had free therapy from the NHS in the UK (currently on the waiting list for more). It can take 6 months to get the therapy and they don't want to acknowledge my complex trauma issues. I guess maybe they see dollar signs for that. Also the therapy is short term (up to 12 weeks), so really the only choice I have is to go privately as I think I need long term. Thank you, though, and I hope everything goes ok with you 😊

[CLKD]

In the 1990s I had to wait 18 months B4 an appt for therapy.  It certainly helped my mental state!

I wonder whether MIND Charity or SANE would have access to various therapy options?

[Eastside]

Wow, 18 months. Speedy! That must have really helped. Thank you. I did look on Mind's website, but I'll check again. And the other one. I don't mind paying for private therapy if it means I get what I need. But it's just that the more qualified therapists are, the more they charge and sometimes that's just a bit too much, especially when costing it out long term. I hope you are generally in a better place than you have been.

[CLKD]

That was in the 1990s ........... and finding the therapist that suits is very important.  I could tell when one got fed up with my problems because she got the app later and later then terminated earlier and earlier  . At £70.00 per hour I expected my full hour!

Paying for qualifications may seem pricey but those hours of study have to be acknowledged.  Let us know how you get on?

[Eastside]

That's awful you were cut short. Such bad practice. And I imagine it may have been quite hurtful to feel disinterest from a therapist. As you say, finding the right one is important. I too got my first therapy in the 90s. A few sessions with a lovely NHS therapist but she then cast me into the wind with no idea where to go next. I ended up with a psychoanalyst who clearly didn't know how to treat trauma. Anyway, onwards and upwards! Thank you, I'll have a think over the holidays about my next move and share any updates. I wish you a lovely holiday season