AIBU to ask if you find anxiety changes with your hormones?

[BartiRum]

I am feeling incredibly anxious the last two days, I’ve noticed this seems to happen at a certain point in my cycle the last few months.
Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve only been off hormonal contraception about eight months, so feeling the ups and downs quite severely after not having cycles for many many years.
If hormones are the reason, anyone know what I can do about it?
thanks

Yes 100% I think the key for me is that I know it's hormones and not really "me" so not to make rash decisions during this time.

@Livelaughllama thanks for the info, helpful to hear from someone who is using an antidepressant like this. I'm only 34 and could be putting up with these symptoms worsening for another decade or so, so is definitely a possibility for me. Do your partner/family notice a difference is your behaviour? My OH thinks I'm an irrational loon once per month, but he is very understanding!

Hi @SushiSuave yes they definitely notice a change, as do I. I'm 38, nearly 39 and must have started the intermittent anti depressants at 36. It made me realise how unwell my hormones make me to see how well the citalopram works.

Some months I can come on my period and I barely notice now. Some i can feel the irritation, but its like a distant feeling; one i can manage.I start taking them when I feel I'm getting irritable and stop when I'm bleeding heavily.

Before, I could be really irrationably angry, like an out of body experience where I know I'm being awful but I can't stop. I'd scream in my families faces, or cry uncontrobably and feel i cant face seeing anyone. The house would be a mess, and I'd eat like i cant stop - it can be really extreme. But the rest of the month i'd be a very normal, stable person!

For me, I made the change mainly for my children, although my lovely husband is very long suffering (and very very kind to me). I realised I was changing rapidly from a reasonable, kind mum to someone who was so angry and scary and for them, they had no idea why.

I'm so glad I tried the antidepressants, it's really changed our lives as a family. Wish I'd done it earlier. Only you can know if you want to give it a try, but I have had a great experience 🙂

@Livelaughllama
How did you approach this with your doctor? I'm 42 and get dreadful pmt, I get uncontrollable rage, night sweats and can't face anything or anyone, with shaky uncontrollable anxiety. They have tried hrt in three different forms which made it worse!
I also get similar symptoms around the time of ovulation for a day or so and then a few days before and during my period. I've actually thrown things and scream at my poor DH in front of DD before. A few days into my period I feel a cloud lift and am then ok.