Anxiety - can hormones do this?

[Anxietyswatchingme]

Since Monday I have been feeling really anxious/on edge, not knowing why. Heavy weight on my chest, struggling to breathe/eat. Even at night my sleep tracker tells me I was only getting light sleep, no deep sleep. Waking constantly. Through the day my watch kept telling me "you seem stressed, would you like to so some breathwork?"

It was a week like any other, nothing particularly stressful. Today it all lifted all of a sudden and I feel back to my normal self. Then realised my period has started.

Could it be down to this? I've noticed worsening PMS symptoms over the last few months but this was next level. Is it going to be my life now?

Any tips to get through it? I spent the days trying not to burst into tears, it was overwhelming.

How old are you OP? I felt like this whilst perimenopausal before taking HRT (obviously not that if you’re too young!) or anything else on your mind you’re struggling with?x

You have just described my symptoms to a t. I am 48 and definitely peri and take HRT. So yes, it is absolutely possible for hormones to cause this.

Yes

peri gave me massive anxiety

Yes I had exactly this and it was awful at night as kept jolting awake as was going to sleep. I am 44. Sertraline has sorted mine for now

Thank you all, sorry you're suffering too. I am 40 so thought too young for peri, but maybe not? I must admit I also sometimes feel terrible rage as well for no reason. What a roller coaster.

I am so happy to be back to normal today, its been such an awful feeling. As soon as my eyes popped open in the morning I'd feel absolute dread and overwhelm.

I am actually particularly content in life right now so it's very confusing.

Peri did this to me. I have never been an anxious person- never ever until I got to late 40's and started worrying about everything and anything. Many sleepless nights later I have finally had a year with no bastard periods and I felt it lifting off me like a weight. I finally feel like myself again in my mid 50's- DH has noticed it so it must be obvious.
Sorry you are feeling this way. I never tried HRT as the worst of it was during lockdown where you didn't bother the doctor with 'trivial things' - it was my period of insanity.
When it got 'safe' to go to the docs I thought I may as well just go through it and get it done with. Lots of my friends swear by HRT though so there is help out there - much more awareness of the process of menopause and what it does to you. Whole thing took about 5yrs for me.

I got peri at 44.

Mine started at 38 🙈 I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster. One minute I was angry, then next bawling my eyes out. I began to get anxious when driving, which I’d never experienced before and also eating when alone as I feared would choke. HRT has made me feel almost normal again!

I am also 40 and went to the gp in recent weeks. I get waves of anxiety and feeling dizzy/ light headed amongst other peri symptoms. Gp was great and offered hrt advising to wait if I can but really listening to me!

That sounds awful, it's terrible having no control over your own emotions. How are we supposed to manage work, kids and all this and somehow keep it together? I'm glad HRT has helped for you.

Oh, I have also had a LOT of hairloss, since last year. It sort of seems to grow back a bit then falls out massively again.

How are your stress levels generally? Like the boiling a frog analogy stress can creep up without us noticing until the symptoms are too big to ignore?

HRT has massively helped me, it is just a small (2cmx2cm) patch that I change twice a week. Not completely symptom free (the dread at night is my least favourite - I have absolutely nothing to dread and it isn’t focus on anything just a vague nebulous feeling) but so much better than without it.

Speak to your GP, mine was awesome.

I'm going with the mumsnet suggestion of getting a blood test. I found I was extremely low on vitamin d and folic acid. The tiredness and forgetfulness I had has improved, I generally feel much better.

I went to the gp as I have had anxiety all my life and its returned after a few years, no cause, just crept back in. But about a week and a half before my period is awful. I'm also getting period pains again, which I haven't experienced since my teens. I sweat so much in the night in the week before my period too. The gp said it could be the beginning of peri. I don't feel that I want to explore hrt yet but betablockers are really helpful for the anxiety, might be worth trying those. I'm also 40.

Hi @Anxietyswatchingme how are you feeling now? I’m having similar anxiety symptoms to you, I’m 44 and just been given HRT by my GP. Insomnia, brain fog, fingers and toes tingling plus sweating. My ears and tinnitus are also acting up. The worst thing for me is the nighttime sleep and the jolting awake 😞.

@kittenheelhow long did it take you to feel better after starting Sertraline?

@lul37sorry to hear you have these symptoms too. I would say 4-6 weeks. That’s quite standard with Sertraline I think and it can feel worse before it feels better so you have to tough it out a bit - but for me, once it kicked in it’s been very effective. Worth a good chat to your GP and they can take you through all the options. Just seen you have started HRT so hopefully that will help. I am not on HRT - yet!