Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: jorainbow on May 20, 2017, 02:06:43 PM

Title: Spaced out feeling
Post by: jorainbow on May 20, 2017, 02:06:43 PM
Dear all. Is this a peri symptom? I ask because I recently tried EMDR and the therapist tried to say it was dissasociation due to a past trauma usually childhood. Other than a bit of the usual kids being mean I didn't suffer any trauma. Nearly convinced me I was losing it (which is easy given my anxiety) The feeling comes and goes with no pattern with an excellent example of today. Walking around town started feeling anxious then spaced out feeling got worse then I just wanted to burst into tears. Got home had a cry and now feel fine. I'm at ovulation (given a normal cycle). Just curious.
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: CLKD on May 20, 2017, 02:23:37 PM
What is EMDR?

I feel woozy nearly all the while due to the medication I take without which I wouldn't get out of bed  ::)

How is your diet over-all?  If the body/brain get hungry = woozy feelings  ::)
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: jorainbow on May 20, 2017, 02:31:13 PM
It's supposed to help with anxiety - a bit like tapping but using eye movement. Suggested by a friend but I didn't like it one iota! Appetite not brill CKLD not sure if it's down to anxiety/mood but when anxious I can't eat. I'm eating a fruit veg vit d smoothie a day plus iron supp and metatone to top up if needed. Sleeping better though!!!
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: edelweiss on May 20, 2017, 02:48:28 PM
Yes it is a peri symptom Jo. I'd say you need estrogen and I know you have a px now, but hopefully all will resolve when you start taking it xxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: CLKD on May 20, 2017, 02:50:46 PM
I can never eat when anxious, hence the emergency tablet which knocks me out to allow my body/gut to relax.

That doesn't sound enough from where I'm sitting!  Tapping nor other ideas helped me not one jot!
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Tempest on May 20, 2017, 03:02:50 PM
Yes!!!! Jo, I'm on no HRT at present and have no ovaries, and I get this most strongly. It's the symptom I hate the most! :'(

It's not disassociation - I got hit with this at one time during my previous dealings with mental health services. If you read Lizab's posts, you'll see that she describes this too. I get mine for approximately 90 minutes, twice a day at the same time no matter what I'm doing or have eaten, stress levels etc. It floors you so I completely relate!

Sending you biggest hugs! xxxxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: CLKD on May 20, 2017, 03:10:57 PM
At what time of day Tempest?
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Tempest on May 20, 2017, 03:19:53 PM
I get one at 11am ish and another at 5.00 pm ish, even if i've eaten and they last about 90 minutes, CLKD. I've measured blood sugars (have a monitor) and BP (yet another monitor - Hubby's) and the only thing that shows up untoward is an increased pulse and raised dist. BP (bottom number), but still within normal range. My BP is always on the low side of normal. xxxxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: CLKD on May 20, 2017, 03:31:26 PM
How long after you've eaten ......... or is it after exercise or taking medication or  :neutral:
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Lizab on May 20, 2017, 03:38:22 PM
Definitely a symptom! Thank heavens it seems to be getting better for me, along with I'm trying to learn to cope with it. The spaced out feeling is awful. I can feel it coming on but can't snap out of it. It's a real struggle to carry on with whatever I'm doing. I've asked my husband if he can see when this is happening to me. Do I do anything differently? He says no, only that my nervous habit of playing with my earrings starts up. However, my friend in the same stages of peri as me gets the same thing and I can see it in her. Her face gets a very determined looked and she keeps her eyes straight on whatever she's tending to at the moment. I can tell she's really struggling to stay focused and carry through when it happens.
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Tempest on May 20, 2017, 03:50:38 PM
Its one of the magical (I jest) mysteries of meno., CLKD! I wish it would just b###er off!  >:( xxxxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: jorainbow on May 20, 2017, 04:34:44 PM
Thank you all! Tempest - magical is one word for it!!! And yes  i wish it would do the same. On a bad day it can last hours - usually to late afternoon. Its awful and though i do ignore it when you feel like youre talking out of the back of your head its difficult to keep a conversation going!!! Thanks for the hug 💜
Edelweiss the letter arrived yesterday so I'll be banging on the gp door on Monday!!!
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Hurdity on May 20, 2017, 07:05:18 PM
Heavens jorainbow - I'd ditch the therapist although you must have gone to him/her for a reason. Fancy telling you that this is due to trauma. Blimey! Everything put down to childhood experiences? What rot!! - all therapists should understand women's hormonal issues and menopause as well as physiological issues which could cause this - blood sugar has been mentioned. Hormones are another. Balance issues are another. I also get spaced out feelings - I'm on full HRT and bloods are always normal. Who knows what causes them but sometimes I have to hold onto things. I mostly completely ignore it because I can function and it is intermittent. Maybe a balance thing in my case as I often have the sensation that things are moving when they are not, and if I've been in a boat - get these sensations a long time afterwards - ie several hours!

I wouldn't worry about it unless it is interfering with how you function day to day.

Hurdity x

Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: dangermouse on May 20, 2017, 07:31:59 PM
Yes I'd agree with all, a peri symptom. I get this worse at ovulation too.

I practice EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing) but it's to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias (as the mildest condition) and other trauma. It's not actually like the tapping (although most people make that assumption understandably) as it's actually replicating rapid eye movement to reprocess painful memories. It's a great therapy but not if you don't have any trauma to deal with!
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: edelweiss on May 20, 2017, 07:39:42 PM
Yay Jo!!! Was the letter hand delivered... by a tortoise?! Never known a mail so snail.

Anyway, at least you have it now and you can get on the good stuff next week. Brilliant and hope it works its magic for you very soon. xxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: jorainbow on May 20, 2017, 08:49:48 PM
I know edelweiss!!! Tortoise!!!!  :lol: :lol:  dangermouse thanks for the insight. She did seem to want to pinpoint some trauma but the closest I could get was my car accident in Dec but I don't get flashbacks etc and am back to driving as usual. The other stuff was upsetting/relationship/life stuff but not trauma. Yet the med phobia she ignored! Also when I mentioned hormones she said they don't bring on anxiety to which I actually replied 'I could direct you to a forum where a lot of ladies would disagree!!!' 😂😂
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Tempest on May 20, 2017, 09:18:46 PM
Good grief......is SHE in for a surprise  then!!! :o xxxxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Annie0710 on May 20, 2017, 09:24:31 PM
I know edelweiss!!! Tortoise!!!!  :lol: :lol:  dangermouse thanks for the insight. She did seem to want to pinpoint some trauma but the closest I could get was my car accident in Dec but I don't get flashbacks etc and am back to driving as usual. The other stuff was upsetting/relationship/life stuff but not trauma. Yet the med phobia she ignored! Also when I mentioned hormones she said they don't bring on anxiety to which I actually replied 'I could direct you to a forum where a lot of ladies would disagree!!!' 😂😂


Hmmmmmmm !  :angryfire:
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Tempest on May 20, 2017, 10:17:53 PM
I''ve made a new personal rule NEVER to try to discuss meno. issues with any man who doesn't have a wife old enough to have reached menopause, or any female of pre-meno. age. There's no point. They don't get it. However, when faced with folk who are ignorant of such matters from lack of personal experience, it's always good to plant a wee seed in their minds about what meno. is like. I guarantee the watering can of impending middle age will cause it to sprout eventually, and they'll be thinking 'oh God. That woman I saw who I told was crazy/anxious/neurotic etc. WAS RIGHT'!!!!   ;) xxxxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Yahana on May 20, 2017, 11:38:18 PM
I know that feeling.  Mine came on suddenly one day 18 months post menopause.  Felt like I was doing everything at one remove.  I found it very scary at first.  It was accompanied by a whole set of meno symptoms so I eventually figured out it must all be related.  Had it very often for a year, less so the following year, and now I get it occasionally.  It still rattles me when it comes but now I know it does go, and happily it happens so much less than it used to.  Hang in there xx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: dangermouse on May 20, 2017, 11:43:48 PM
My psych colleagues do disappoint me sometimes. It's bad enough some doctors telling us hormones don't cause anxiety but a therapist should not be using their 'professional' opinion to spout such nonsence. I guess she meant well but you shouldn't try to invent trauma in clients either?!!
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: jorainbow on May 21, 2017, 08:01:10 AM
I wouldn't mind Tempest but she's at least in her late 60's early 70's!!!! Thanks dangermouse - that's how I felt like I had to find a trauma. Anxiety has ramped up something chronic today - early morning waking etc but looking at my diary it happened at the same time last month. Thank goodness I keep track.
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: Tempest on May 21, 2017, 08:54:48 AM
I'm with you, Jo! Rotten start to the day with huge anxiety - there are no 'triggers' either - it just happens. Sending you hugs, as always. xxxxx
Title: Re: Spaced out feeling
Post by: jorainbow on May 21, 2017, 09:23:04 AM
And likewise to you 💜💜