Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: JeanneA on June 29, 2013, 09:15:36 PM
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Has anyone else felt like I do since going through the menopause, I'm scared of getting old and of dying, I also suffer with extreme anxiety at times. I never used to think like this, is this a symptom of menopause? I would love to hear others views please. Time now to me seems to go so quickly, whereas a couple of years I never used to think about time at all.
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Hello. Yes I've suffered with anxiety since being in meno. Lots of ladies seem to. If you put the word anxiety into the search you will find lots of posts on this problem, I'm afraid it seems quite common and for many ladies is the worst symptom. Have you spoken to tour gp.
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Hi thanks for your reply. No I haven't spoken to my GP, I hate going to the doctor's so tend to keep putting it off.
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it might be worth the extra anxiety to go and have a chat with your GP .
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Thanks JJ I will try and pluck up the courage!
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Yep. I think we feel our mortality much more. We are acutely aware of our physical feelings and I have a DREAD of DH dying :'(
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Hi
when i started peri 2 years ago this was my worse symptom, i couldnt help thinking constantly while having panic attacks at the same time that i was going to die, i told my gp she asked why i felt like that i said because its true i will die at some point, she recommended counselling i only had 2 sessions the counsellor said it was fear out of control and to take 5 minutes a day to have worry time, it has helped a lot but in reality i think its the fact i now take an ad that has curbed this terrible feeling. Dont suffer in silence go and see your doctor xx
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Hi is ad anti-depressant? I'm on amitriptyline already at nights, I take 60mg, it only seems to help with my sleeping not with making me feel better in myself.
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Yes an AD is an anti depressant. To be honest I think you would be better going for counselling. ADs will mask the feelings but if you stop they will still be there. A councillor will help you figure out why you feel like this and help you deal with it.
I think we all get a bit scared as we get older especially if we have ailing parents. Suddenly we become the carers or if our parents have passed away we are the oldest with no one on front of us.
It's natural to worry.....I do. I worry about hubby and how I would manage if I was on my own. I also worry about me and if I was unable to look after the people who rely on me.
You are not on your own but if it gets really bad then seek help.
Honeyb
X
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Go see GP I had/have it too he will help
I took Antis for 8mnths best ting I ever did
Now when I get anx I take Beta Blocas xxxxxxxx
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Hi jeanneA,
Yes I too use to think a lot about dying.
I would think,what's the point in doing anything if we die.
I had terrible anxiety a few months ago so my GP put me on the AD Mirtazapine 15mg at night which is a very calming AD.
This worked wonders for me and it started to work very quickly too unlike some other ADs.
I would pluck up the courage and see your GP.
I'm feeling great now so perhaps something like that would help you.
Dyan x :)
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It's July and already I'm phaffing about what to buy everyone for birthdays and C.mas :-X ...... we have 5 birthdays between now and 25/12 :o
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Hi jeanneA
Those feelings of doom and gloom really are dreadful. Its as though you cant see anything positive in life. I couldn't watch certain tv progs or adverts without feeling really low. Its more than just the usual worries you would normally have isn't it? But you're not alone in this it seems par for the course for a lot of women.
I also take an ad, mirtazapine, and hrt and its slowly got much better. It took about 18 months before i started to feel more like myself with lots of ups and downs along the way. I'm not sure which medication is doing what but just grateful to get relief from these horrid symptoms.
If you feel its too much for you i'd get yourself along to your gp and discuss your options. Its best to go armed with as much info as possible as most gp's dont seem to be up to date with the meno.
Hope you'll start to feel much better soon.
Take care
Delilah.x
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Hello Jeanne A,
I can really relate to what everyone is saying about the feelings of gloom and impending doom. I also felt really bad and it was made worse by a period of about 6 months when my husband was quite ill and having tests, scans etc. Hopefully we are over the worst now but if I hadn't started taking HRT I think I would have cracked up by now with anxiety. it is a horrible feeling and I feel for you.
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Hi ladies thanks so much for all your replies I do appreciate it. I haven't gone to the doctors as yet still thinking about it trying to pluck up the courage! It is so nice to have all you ladies on here I don't know what I would do without you so pleased to have joined this forum. X
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Hi JeanneA
I could have written this post myself, sometimes the anxiety around this is overwhelming especially as I have little one too!
I can't speak to the GP about it either, I would rather suffer than admit I've lost the plot!!
Hope it gets better soon for you and you find a way of dealing with it all
D xx
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Hi ladies, I feel this way too, doctor put me on lustral....anyone tried this?
Also I had hrt for a while but kept getting ankle swelling so came off it.does anyone else get this? :'(
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I think it's just another name for Setraline. It's one of the large family of anti depressants.
I hope they help. Let us know how you get on.
Honeyb
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Yes it's anti depressant, how does anyone find it? It's making me worse i feel,though I will stick with it for a bit yet.anyone else get swollen ankles with hrt?
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Hi green eyes... I have not taken this medication myself, but my daughter takes it....She did have a lot of unpleasant side effect for about 4wks and was going to stop, but our GP told her to persevere she's so glad she did it has transformed her life....she suffered badly with anxiety and panic attacks and now she's free from both....
If you can do try to give it a while longer before you stop taking them.
Lots of :bighug: :bighug:
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Thanks amber, that's encouraging to hear ::)
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BUMP
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I have had bad anxiety since I was a child around health (trauma that made me feel my mortality very young) but it go so much worse in peri meno. I am now over 2 years post meno and I can now see how bad I got. You have all these awful physical symptoms plus anxiety. I had more health tests in those 5 years of peri than ever!
I tried mitazapine but I react badly to alot of drugs and this was another one, the side effects for me were worse than the condition ::) but I know it works wonders for alot of people so don't worry about trying something like this.
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Jeanne I had overwhelming anxiety when my meno stuff blew up - I'd been anxious for large periods of my life but I managed it. However, the hormonal changes at menopause cause anxiety too - so for me I would say I developed generalised anxiety disorder - it was horrendous. So just because you feel anxious, do know that it might not all be down to your thoughts - it might be physiological changes that are causing the anxiety to heighten as well.
Re: death and morbid thoughts - I've heard someone say that menopausal gloom and doom is the worst - so again, there might be a hormonal component to what you are experiencing. It might not all be in the mind.
Having said that, life is precious and, as I've aged, I've realised this more and more. When I freak out about my life - at the moment things are very very uncertain and precarious - I remind myself of all the extra days I've been given that others haven't had - I know of one person who was killed in their 40's in a very tragic way and another person who died as an adolescent - so his life was really cut short. So for me, trying to focus on the good things - even very small things - really helps at the moment.
Since my breakdown I have barely listened to the news or read a newspaper - and it's really helped me as it's made me realise how much news reported is just bad news. Instead, I focus on trying to be kind to myself and to others in my life - and that gives me hope to carry on each day.
Like others have suggested, it probably would be helpful for you to see a Dr - can you found out whether there is one who specialises in menopause at the practice you are registered at? Either by looking on their webpage online or calling them and finding out? That would be a small baby step to take.
Just remember - you're not alone in what you are going through.
Hugs xxx
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Hi JeanneA,
I too could have written this post. I have suffered with anxiety for 10 years then was diagnosed with complex trauma a few years ago but I must admit he menopause has made my anxiety a lot worse and the fear of dying has become stronger than ever.
I have tried CBT, AD's etc but had little relief. My mum died suddenly at 56 and her mum 45 both from heart attacks so I have worried about death for years but worse with the meno symptoms.
Going to see your doctor is not a weakness it's a strength that your willing to seek help and advice as that's all they can do its then your option to take it.
I take HRT which helped all the meno symptoms except anxiety and low mood, I also get a heart check every year which has helped. I walk a lot, take diazepam as and when I need it without feeling guilty or ashamed. I'm a person who needs and deserves a quality of life as do you.
Don't be scared be brave ❤️