Anxiety & sadness - is it menopause or life?

[Ohlaydownandlaugh]

I'm seeking some reassurance please....

I'm having bad anxiety at the moment, the kind that fills my chest and runs through my body. I don't think anxious thoughts, but have all the physical feelings. I'm also extremely tearful almost all the time. I'll cry seeing a sentimental advert or thinking about my kids moving out in 10 years....

I've had depression/anxiety before and this feels different, it's more physical than mental, if that makes sense.

For context, my confidence has taken a knock following redundancy, but I've now got a new job (not what I wanted, but objectively a good job). I've loved spending time with the kids and feel guilt about not being around as much when i go back to work, but again, objectively, I have good childcare sorted

So why am I feeling like this? I really don't want to go on SSRI meds again - I've done it before and it was right for them, but this feels different.

So is it menopause? I'm about 4 weeks into the change from hrt patches to gel (I went from gel to patches months ago thinking it was easier, but it didn't work for me). 3 times this week I've messed up, turning up in the wrong date, which never used to happen.

Any advice?

Physical anxiety is the pits.

I took SSRIs for decades and I'm also worried about having to start again

I find CBD helpful

also, is it possible that this is linked to lack of light in December? I use a light box.

Never thought about CBD and light boxes. .. of to research now. Anything to avoid the need for meds if I can

Menopause is brutal. I found it easier to put most (negative) things down to it, and I rolled with the punches. Try and think of it as natural, and that it does finally end!

It could be your HRT. Do you have a good doctor who reviews you?
I moved from gel to patches & I would be considered to be on a high dose but my bloods show otherwise. My levels are about right now & lots of the symptoms have settled like anxiety, racing heart, hot flushes, brain fog, irritability, itchy skin & aching joints. These are so much better now I'm on the right dose.

I am struggling with this at the moment. On patches but start a new job and my anxiety is through the roof - feel suicidal and blood pressure so high, palpitations etc. I just feel I can’t do anything and that the will fire me within a couple of weeks. Don’t know how to get round this as I am awake all night running though worst case scenarios.

I saw a gynaecologist about something unrelated to menopause a few years ago and he touched on it given I'm heading to that age. He mentioned anxiety was definitely a part of it and sometimes is one of the symptoms people don't associate with menopause.