Developing anxiety in your 40's?

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I really think this may be happening to me. I have never had anxiety before but now I have started feeling on edge, like I have got a fright but the feeling doesn't go away. I have a lot on my plate I suppose if you were to look hard enough, but at the same time these are not particularly new things.

I want to go to the GP but I really don't want medication so I'm not sure there is much point. I just wondered if it actually is anxiety, and if I can do anything to help myself really.

I just wondered if it's usual for anxiety to randomly hit

Recommend blood test. I feel like this when my iron dips and last time I had vitamin d deficiency too.

This happened to me too. I wonder if it's the perimenopause for both of us?

Following. I feel the same. I did experience anxiety after the birth of both of my children but never severe enough to consider medication.

I'm blaming peri-menopause.

Mine was the menopause. HRT has helped beyond belief.

My anxiety pretty much went away with HRT. I’m 44 and believe that lots of the little symptoms i was feeling were due to oerimenooause (periods still as regular).

Anxiety that develops suddenly in your 40s could be high blood pressure / thyroid problems / angina too. You need to see a GP.

I'm 42 and this is definitely happening to me. Life is v busy - work hours are long and seems 24/7, kids are full on, parents getting older...

I've done 2 things which have really helped. 1. Am getting my heart checked out as I'm getting palpitations, and (2) have been to see a work coach. I went planning on talking about coping strategies for work but ended up talking about life more generally and how family and work fit together. None of these things may be the same for you, but I wanted to let you know I'm going through similar, whereas I've never had anything like anxiety before. My DM and maternal DGM both suffered from depression so I've been looking out for it.

Another one with this! I'm 48 and have never been anxious in my life ever! I'm putting it down to menopause - horrible!

Perimenopausal anxiety is very common, do you find it is worse at certain times of the month?
Maybe ask your GP for some blood tests to rule out any deficiencies / thyroid issues etc.

Is there any reason you don't want medication? I have anxiety which was crippling me and find medication allows me to feel normal most of the time.

This happened to me too. HRT helped massively as does propranolol I've been on it for a year (I'm 48)
Still have anxiety though and I wonder if it will ever go away

Wow thank you for the replies.

I never considered menopause - in my head I think I am still 18

I have a mirena cool so no periods to gauge regularity but the more I read the more I realise it totally could be that!

Vitamin D - also could fit

Anxiety that develops suddenly in your 40s could be high blood pressure / thyroid problems / angina too. You need to see a GP.

I have been checked for all of those plus had heart and lung scans over the past few months. That said, the anxiety is new in comparison so it's not to say something hasnt developed since

Is there any reason you don't want medication? I have anxiety which was crippling me and find medication allows me to feel normal most of the time.

Yes; I know you mean well, but it's not crippling me. I'm not against medication at all, just at this stage I would not want to take something for anxiety (an anti depressant?) without fully understanding the cause.

I've done 2 things which have really helped. 1. Am getting my heart checked out as I'm getting palpitations, and (2) have been to see a work coach. I went planning on talking about coping strategies for work but ended up talking about life more generally and how family and work fit together.

Heart has been checked

I'm actually off work just now; but I do wonder if talking to someone might just help. Maybe I don't cope with things so well because I'm getting older

Hi op. I'm 47 and have developed anxiety in the last year. Went to GP last week and he gave me propranolol 40mg - 1 a day for a week and then 2 a day. It's really helped. I still have the thoughts, but I can deal with them better now I don't have the racing heart and wanting to run feelings! I'm also going to do cbt.

He checked thyroid and all bloods were normal. Honestly, I feel more in control, so perhaps a beta blocker would help you. I feel calmer.

H R T worked for me in my 40s

I had thought mine might be peri menopause as it's definitely worse at certain times of my cycle, but HRT wasn't mentioned. Beta blockers have definitely helped.

I do think if it might be menopause related I wouldn't rather go down the HRT route than a blocker but I have have a feeling that might be somewhat difficult. I'm not dead against other meds but I really would like to get to the root of things before going down that road.

I fee happier to ask the GP now though as I hadn't even considered it might be related to the menopause

I WOULD rather HET

I found that I my massive anxiety symptoms almost went away completely after taking vitamin B and D supplements.

I'm definitely going to get some vitamins. I think I will try the vitamins and see how I go over a few weeks (maybe 4) and then visit GP if not change

Anxiety sucks of course any mh issue can develop at any age.
Please do go to your GP, they can point you to counselling, CBT etc, and self-help, if you don't want meds. Plenty of self-help available online and in books too.