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Menopause Matters magazine ISSUE 75 out now. (Spring issue, March 2024)

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Author Topic: Mental health crisis  (Read 12560 times)

CLKD

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #15 on: September 21, 2020, 07:21:17 PM »

That is so awful  :'(
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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #16 on: September 21, 2020, 07:30:54 PM »

Baby you have my deepest sympathy - sounds so similar, I've been in that screaming place so often, seem to swing from unbearable anxiety to deadening depression on a regular basis (not sure which is worse). My partner of a year has said he doesn't want me to come back to live with him once I'm discharged because he can't stand it any longer - alright for him, he can just walk away. I simply cannot believe that unbalanced hormones can make you feel so unutterable dreadful, but I've seen enough evidence on here to know that they can x.
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Bring me Sunshine

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #17 on: September 21, 2020, 08:05:33 PM »

racjen

Another option for you is Diane Danziebrink she is so wonderful I went to one of her talks.  Here are her details as I enquired about an apointment with her too: Dear Julie
Thank you for your email enquiring about one to one menopause consultations with Diane, the consultations are for one hour via telephone or video call and can include a letter to your GP if required, the fee is £75, concessions available for those experiencing financial distress upon request.

If you would like to book please advise us of your regular weekday availability along with your telephone details. We will reply with the earliest available opportunities.
Kind Regards

Andrea Swan
Office Manager
www.menopausesupport.co.uk

Diane too wanted to end it all by driving her car off the road.  This menopause is serious stuff for some of us susceptible sadly to hormone swings.  If I had had a button to press to end it all I would have done couldnt face all the other options so you are not alone feeling and acting the one you have done.  Dont feel any guilt you are not well it is a physical illness but believe me just having someone to say I will help you and sort it out means the world and Diane isnt in it for profit just to help having mean there herself ....Lots of love go gentle and you can private message me anytime if you want my appointment xx
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Nas

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #18 on: September 21, 2020, 08:47:56 PM »

Hi Racjen.
Do consider getting in touch with Diane. She has wonderful capabilities and is very very knowledgeable on how to tackle these distressing menopause derived situations.

Keep reaching for support. So many of us are just existing rather than living and it’s horrible and can be put right with the correct treatment.

Wishing you strength.
Nas x
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CherrySG

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #19 on: September 22, 2020, 11:30:53 AM »

I wrote a long for me post last night but must not have pressed enter.
I was planning my end as my mental and physical health plummeted with menopause.
I can't reclaim my physical deterioration and grieve a lot about it.
Antidepressants never ever helped and had seroius side effects.
I am only recently on a therapeutic dose of hrt. I don't bring up hrt issues because i'm scared doctors will take it from me.
Provera will increase your depression and stress response.
Gaba (gammaaminobutyric acid) helps anxiety. Cheaper in powder form. So does passionflower and valerian.
Jayashri Kulkarni is sort of my hero- a Monash (Melbourne) psychiatrist who writes and lectures about hormones and mental health. Why is main stream medicine not taking this stuff in? Because big pharma don't incentivise hormonal therapy.
I am only here by the grace of my precious Lord.
Much love Racjen and Baby xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

I'm so sorry that this has happened to you Racjen, Baby and Avalon, I really am. I really hope you get the help to recover. This year wouldn't have helped any of us.

I take citalopram but I need HRT now. Couldn't take Utrogestan because of the side effects but I too struggle with Provera worsening my mood, to the point where I had a breakdown in June and had to leave my job. Admittedly I was being bullied at work, so it was mostly the job - but my reaction was OTT, even for me.

Avalon, have you found a less psychologically damaging form of Progesterone? Because if so, I'm wondering if I can ask my GP for it.
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CherrySG

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #20 on: September 22, 2020, 02:15:25 PM »

Thanks for replying, Avalon :-*

I tried Utrogestan - even vaginally every other day gave me the kind of acid reflux even Lansoprazole couldn't control!

I guess I'll have to stick with Provera for the time being.

There are quite a few of us struggling with MH issues, it's certainly true that no-one is alone in this. When I first developed it, I spent a lot of time feeling alone, then I took to various depression forums and there are an awful lot of us out there, what with 1/10 of people on AD's.

Hugs to everyone going through this. It's hard to know what to write sometimes.
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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #21 on: September 22, 2020, 02:22:13 PM »

Unfortunately I couldn't tolerate Utrogestan vaginally either, haven't been able to find any form of progesterone that doesn't send me into the black pit. It was recommended that I have a hysterectomy earlier this year and it felt pretty drastic, then lockdown happened so it went on hold anyway. If and when I get through this bad patch I may very well consider it again as it may be the only answer.

Thanks to you all for your suggestions. I did actually speak to Diane Danzebrink very early on in all this (so several years ago now) and although she was very sympathetic and encouraging I didn't feel her advice was that helpful. Later on I saw Dr. Sarah Gray in Plymouth, and her advice at that point was good as I was getting absolutely  no help from my hopeless GP. Dr. Gray put me on a very high dose of estrogen which helped a lot, but she wasn't able to help with the progesterone intolerance or the anxiety side of things - when her suggestions of sertraline and amytriptyline failed that seemed to be it. So I'm wary of going to see just anyone, it needs to be someone who really does have in depth experience of major mental health problems resulting from menopause. I'm not keen to see Prof. Studd as he seems to just dole out estrogen and Utrogestan to everyone, and I know that's not going to work for me. Louise Newson seems like my best bet - I'm hoping that the fact that she charges twice as much as the others mentioned is an indication that she really does know her stuff (although I may be wrong...) This is my last chance to sort things out so I really need to see the right person.
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CherrySG

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #22 on: September 22, 2020, 02:37:04 PM »

This is the thing, isn't it, finding someone who specialises in both menopause and mental health conditions...AD's work after a fashion but mainly by making me too tired to get anxious. Add in the Prog and I'm permanently knackered  :-\

I wonder if Levornogestrel or Dydrogesterone are less damaging on this front. If Femseven patches come back online, I'd definitely give them a try. Have heard that Norehisterone in the Evorel conti patches isn't great for mood, but if it's transdermal, maybe won't be as dramatic. I guess you've tried them?

Racjen, I really hope you get to see Dr. Newson and she knows what will work. Quite a few medical things one has to pay to get the expertise, it doesn't seem fair, but so worth it if it works.
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corianne

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #23 on: September 22, 2020, 03:20:42 PM »

Oh racjen. I am in your shoes, I think about taking my life regularly  but something inside me keeps telling me to fight. The anxiety cripples me and I walk round the streets with my sunglasses on just sobbing and sobbing. Feelings of complete hopelessness fear and guilt consume me. I just can't get my hormones right. I did have a video consultation with newson health 250 pounds to be told to up my HRT which didn't work.  I go to the gym swim run waiting for feelings of happiness but they don't come. I actually took a lorazepam last night and it did knock me out for a few hours. I am on pregabalin but it doesn't help. The doctor did want to try  quetiapine at the beginning of this year  but I was too scared to take it. The word anti physcotic meds petrified me. And I feel because it's more to do with our hormones these drugs will just mess us up more. My husband was thumping the wall The other nighT because I was screaming to the lord to just let me die. I don't  know how much more of this shit i can take. I live half a day at a time but it's not living its existing. All my love Baby.x

Hi Baby,
I just wanted to say that even though taking Anti-Psychotics is a petrifying thought, it is worth trying if all else fails, you shouldn't have to suffer like this.
I say this from personal experience, my son was going through hell (he ended up headbutting the wall and putting his head through the window, to name just a couple of things  :() and we tried EVERYTHING before going down the Anti psychotic route but after 18 months we could not bear to see him suffer anymore.
They worked wonders, within a couple of weeks he was happy, he now laughs, the mood swings and self harm are gone, something we were so scared to use gave him back the quality of life he deserved  :)
I think sometimes we expect HRT to be the 'cure all' but sometimes we need a little help, and to give something else a chance.
I hope this helps, and shows that Anti psychotics can sometimes have a good outcome.
Take care
xx

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CLKD

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #24 on: September 22, 2020, 03:30:54 PM »

 :thankyou:  Corianne
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Baby

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #25 on: September 22, 2020, 05:32:45 PM »

Thank you corinne for your kind words. Sometimes I think about self harm to take away the mental pain but know it isn't the answer. Could I ask what your sons problems were to have to take this medication. X
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racjen

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #26 on: September 22, 2020, 09:12:37 PM »

Hi Baby, I had a similar experience with my teenage daughter who suffered really severe OCD and anxiety. She was recommended to go on Sertraline, but I was terrified because I'd tried it and had a really bad reaction to it. However, she's had no problems at all, no side-effects except loss of appetite, and it's really helped her general mental state.

After one day on Quetiapine I feel OK, better than I have in quite a few weeks actually. Greatly reduced anxiety, slept better and feeling much more sociable. It's very very early days, sometimes the bad reactions can come after the drug's had a chance to build up in your system, but at the moment I'm feeling optimistic. Maybe it's worth a try - you can always stop immediately  if you really don't like it...xxx
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corianne

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #27 on: September 23, 2020, 01:40:02 AM »

Thank you corinne for your kind words. Sometimes I think about self harm to take away the mental pain but know it isn't the answer. Could I ask what your sons problems were to have to take this medication. X

Hi Baby - Apologies -  I wrote a post, went to change it then deleted it! So this is a short version..

Severe Anxiety mainly, it started with puberty (before that no problems at all) his enjoyment for life drained out of him. He would burst into tears and sob for no reason and wake in the night like he had night terrors.  It progressed to self harm, destructive behaviour and harming others.

Our GP prescribed a sedative for him to take when things got really bad and I think it was her who first mentioned anti psychotics, but because he was under the Paediatricians care at the same time it needed to be prescribed by them, and although we were petrified of what the medication might do, we thought it was a risk worth taking. There was an 18 month battle to get the Paediatrician to at least try him on them, but in the end they agreed.

To our amazement  they worked! He is still on them, it's been 4 years now, and recently we have begun the process of weaning him off them to see if he still needs them, or can manage on a lower dose. We will still have the option of putting the dose up if he gets worse.
I know this isn't menopause related, but I hope it shows that even in the very worst cases, the right medication can make a world of difference  :)
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CLKD

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #28 on: September 23, 2020, 08:24:27 AM »

corianne - thank you.  I have a belief that hormones can cause mental health in boys especially schizophrenia [sp].  I wonder if anyone has ever researched purity in young boys?
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corianne

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Re: Mental health crisis
« Reply #29 on: September 23, 2020, 11:22:57 AM »

corianne - thank you.  I have a belief that hormones can cause mental health in boys especially schizophrenia [sp].  I wonder if anyone has ever researched purity in young boys?

I agree!!
We looked at the time for any research to back up what we suspected and that it was hormonal, but there was very little available at the time.
We see the changes hormones can make to women in Menopause, and girls going through puberty, but  there must be some boys who suffer as well.
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