Can I ask what anxiety feels like for you?

[tartancladpjs]

I'm new to anxiety and panic attacks they have started with perimenopause and I'm so confused as I keep feeling feelings I'm really unsure about.

I will have totally normal days, busy, meetings rushing about and having fun and then out of the blue I'll wake up and feel this massive sense of doom.

I get a tight chest, burning sensation, pounding heart, feel panic and totally not in the room, I can hold conversations just.

I can't focus on anything at all, my stomach churns I need so many wees and it feels like my eyes are blurry and funny. I have zero appetite and can't get on with life, I also get an odd tabby back pain kidney area.

It's a bizarre feeling but I've tried the breathing and calming, but this lasts for hours and hours and sometimes days.

I'm reading up more on how to manage this, my HRT has dialled it down a bit but it seems to be coming back.

Can I check in that this sounds typical, normal and something that I can manage.

I'm away for business at the moment and in the depths of this feeling, dreading the next few days as I can't seem to shake this at all.

That sounds horrible... also horribly familiar. Anxiety can do some really weird things. Mine is also very physical... I feel shaky, racing heart, sometimes frozen to the spot... (not literally, but sort of afraid to move), dizzy... sometimes I also feel sick.

You say you're on HRT... have you spoken to someone specifically about your anxiety recently?

Speaking to my HRT lady was next on my list. It started while I was off HRT, and now it seems to be happening when I'm on HRT as well.

I'm wondering if what I'm feeling is anxiety as it feels so bizarre, almost like I'm coming down with something as well.

Mine came back on HRT but upping my oestrogen dose really helped

Perimenopausal anxiety was really physical in the stomach for me - hard to tell if that's what caused it as I have a lot of stress in my life, but the HRT definitely made a difference

Yes to all that - plus diarrhoea, obsessive thoughts, early waking with a churning stomach, and feeling incredibly nervous at the tiniest thing. It’s an utter joy.

Mine started out of nowhere when I was 35. I remember the first time it happened, I was walking and speaking to my mum on the phone (was telling her I was feeling stressed as Dh was working away from home at the time).

-Feeling of impending doom
Feeling faint
Heart racing
Aches & pains
Migraine/headache
Strange feeling like the room/roof is closing in on me
Dizzy
Legs feel like jelly and I need to sit down
Loss of confidence, especially meeting new people
Being completely over anxious about things that never worried me before - e.g., driving, being late for an appointment, health anxiety (moles etc)

That was several years ago now and happens only very occasionally now.

Such a horrible, horrible feeling

Obsessive thoughts, OCD ramped up and a horrible “lump” in my throat.

Stomach churning and sense of impending doom

My physical symptoms of anxiety:

Nausea
tight chest
tight upper back
reflux
lump in my throat
hot and cold
tingling in fingers, toes and nose
hives
Tearfulness

Panic symptoms:
Even tighter chest
intense nausea
the world feels too fast and busy and loud
shaky legs
hyperventilating
light headed

Definitely get the impending doom feeling, and the feeling like I’m about to die feeling.

It might be you’re having limited symptom attacks (kind of like partial panic attacks) - I find these can go on and on in a way that a full on panic attack just can’t

Blurry vision? Weeing a lot? Stabby pains? Have you had a blood test recently? Might be worth getting your thyroid and kidneys checked out.

Panicking and can't think straight , impulsive decision making

All of the above. My verbal fluency also reduces. I am pinning my hopes on exercise and nutrition.

How much HRT are you on? I bet it’s something small like 1 or 2 pumps of Oestrogel? I’d try increasing it to 3 or even 4 for a week and see if that helps.

This really chimes with me, OP. I have experienced most of the same symptoms as you for the first time in perimenopause. I’ve always been such a chilled out, confident person and it felt like the rug was being pulled from under me. HRT reduced it by about 75% for me when we got the dose right - I’m on 3 pumps of Oestrogel and a Utrogestan tablet every night for days 1-25.

Recently, I’ve upped my vitamin intake and can honestly say that I am 100% better! I feel like me again. I take Hormone Balance and Hair, Skin, Nails tablets by Starpowa and a Berocca every day. I think it’s the B vitamins which work for me.

Hope you can get on top of it as it’s so very miserable.

I hear you OP. I have the pending doom feeling. It’s horrible. I have experienced anxiety before - and low mood - but nothing like this. I dread work. I have times where I get on top of it and think rationally…. Worst case scenario, if I was sacked I would cope. And then it kicks in again and I can’t think my way out of it. I have also cried when I would never normally cry. My GP thinks it is hormonal, I am hoping HRT helps.
i hope you get a good night sleep, being away with work whilst feeling anxious sounds difficult.

I just have on a low dose one patch twice a week as I had endometriosis surgery 3 years ago. I'm 49 now and no signs of it being around anymore, but having to stay low on the dose.

Seems maybe I need to up this?

To the other poster, all bloods done, just uncovered some high cholesterol.

I have a good diet and lifestyle.

Thank you, I'll take a look at this. I'm exactly the same, confident, no issues sailed through career and family dramas and always the strong one and now I'm a panicky mess.

I hope it's ok to post, I have had bouts of anxiety but for the most part nowadays it's just bouts of self doubt - anxiety's easier-to-get-on-with cousin. But your thread reminded me of a comedian I came across on Instagram last night talking about her experience of anxiety. She said she no longer wants to describe it as "struggling" with anxiety, and instead says "my mind is sparkling with imaginary danger". Of course it was said for laughs, but the line stayed with me.

In a way it's such a relief to know that what I'm feeling is "normal" it's so extreme in the moment, your replies are so reassuring. I feel lucky in a way that this has been so far a small window of my life, if I'd had to grown up with this I'm not sure how people cope.

I started to feel better last night and had a good sleep and so far feel on edge and tired but normal.

I forgot the throat lump thing as well, it's all so odd and so physical I can't fathom how hormones do this.

Yesterday after posting I messaged and made an appointment with my lovely HRT lady so I can tweak the dose, I also took 2 anti histamines which are my temporary cure, they take the edge of.

I have a spare patch with me so I'm tempted to pop it on today.

@dudsville that's great..😀