Help! PND/Anxiety and adrenaline rushes in sleep!

[Sunnyscot80]

Hi,

This is my first ever post. Im sorry if it's very long winded.
Over a year ago, I stopped breastfeeding my second child. I was age 40 at the time. After I stopped, I changed overnight. I went from functioning to what felt like a total breakdown..
The first thing I remember feeling is I had far too much adrenaline. I then had a panic attack which led to a night of no sleep then the worse ever anxiety and aggitation I could imagine.
I was experiencing derealization all the time, panic attacks. Insomnia. I couldnt leave my house. Or be left alone. Colours seemed to bright. Noises too loud.
Long story, but I was put on meds (setraline first, then mirtazapine, and escitalopram ) which made me a thousand times worse. I did 9 months on mirtazapine and it made me suicidal.

A year on and I function far more but I'm still anxious. I have a feeling of being detached /things not seeming real. some panic attacks (I can't face appointments like hairdresser etc) and nervous energy like I'm always stimulated (cut out all caffeine), I can't nap. I have days where I just sob and feel helpless and so guilty that I'm a burden to my family. Especially at beginning and end of my cycle.

But the thing that has remained throughout is waking at about 3.30/4am every morning with what feels like huge adrenaline rushes. They start in my sleep. It's like electricity waves going through my body and leaves me with the most frightening fear / dread feeling. These rushes seem to get worse at different times of the month. Or if I do any kind of vigerous exercise🤔

I wonder if any of this could be perimenopause or if its all from anxiety.

Sorry again for the length of this post. I'd love to hear from anyone out there who's experienced something similar, especially with the adrenaline rush /panic feeling in the night /early morning...

I see a crisis team psychiatrist who isn't very helpful. He's asked me what drug i want to try next! There was some talk of venlafaxine as I don't get on with ssri's.

Feeling like theres no hope left. I jsuf want to be normal again. And to sleep peacefully.

[EddieVeddersfoxymop]

I don't have any answers, but following with interest because I suffer from this too. I have anxiety and panic attacks since having my daughter 14 years ago - it was a traumatic time and I've never really recovered.

I'm 42 now, and suffering with the most awful anxiety that follows my cycle.....not to mention that horrible 4am awakening when I'm flooded with adrenaline and cannot slow my heart rate.

I really hope for some answers as my GP has suggested its just my age and basically to get on with it. It's so debilitating though.

[Sunnyscot80]

The 4am thing is awful isn't it. I've heard hrt can be helpful for it. But my gp is only interested in antidepressants. I don't know what to do.

[Sunnyscot80]

@EddieVeddersfoxymop did you ever try an antidepressant? X

[EddieVeddersfoxymop]

@Sunnyscot80 no, I've been offered them but never been brave enough to try them out

[Sunnyscot80]

Anyone else out there?

[Haggisfish3]

Do get your thyroid checked. It can go haywire.

[freshflowers2]

Hi I wanted to say please get your thyroid checked. I developed hyperthyroidism after having my DS. Luckily I knew what to look out for because my sister had the same problem- she wasn't diagnosed for ages though and she got really, really bad (much like you describe)

[Sunnyscot80]

Thank you. I've had my thyroid checked by my gp a few times and it's always comes back normal apparently.

[Sunnyscot80]

Did your thyroid issue show up straight away?
I was wondering if anyone else who had Pnd / anxiety had felt these morning rushes. My gp won't discuss anything kther than antidepressants and I'm so scared to try another one. But I can't face living this way. It's so hard.

[Sunnyscot80]

Ive been prescribed a low dose of slow release venlafaxine. Feeling too scared to try a new medication. Anyone has success for severe anxiety and panic with venlafaxine?

[OakRowan]

Ssri's cause this for me, any of them, they increase adrenaline for me, cause insomnia, have me on hyper alet all the time, made me worse. There are lots of other drugs to try, sedative antidepressants like venlafaxine, don't lose hope. Perimenopause is worth exploring too.

[OakRowan]

I took venlafaxine, it worked for me.

[Sunnyscot80]

Thank you both. I'm so hoping I can tolerate venlafaxine.

Mirtazapine and setraline both made me so so unwell. I didn't feel safe on mirtazapine.

[AmyLou66]

I am going through the exact same thing right now!

I stopped breastfeeding my daughter in January, 2 days later had my first ever panic attack, ended up in A&E as thought I was dying. And then ever since then been crippled with debilitating anxiety everyday, I wake with the sweating heart palpitations and suffer with insomnia every night. Then I have nausea and can barely eat from the anxiety, headaches, dizziness ect

GP will only put me on medication, so far I’m on day 4 of Mirtazapine but I’m so anxious/scared of medications I don’t know how long I’ll last. But I don’t have any other choice at the moment as I’m just struggling to even function!

I’ve read some websites on post weaning anxiety/depression and it’s definitely a thing but never talked about, researched or supported! Says when we stop breastfeeding our hormones plummet as do the feel good chemicals from
BF. I wish I’d known!

[Sunnyscot80]

Hi @AmyLou66 I've only just seen your reply above. Our situations sound exactly the same. How are you getting on with mirtazapine?
I really hope its helping.
I've still not worked up the courage to start venlafaxine yet.
Xx

[AmyLou66]

Hi Sunny, I only replied the other day.

It’s literally awful, I was thinking of getting my hormones tested but then even if there unbalanced there’s not a lot that can be done. I really wanted to beat my anxiety naturally but it’s just debilitating!

Mirtazapine is working really well so far, I’m on the smallest dose at night time and I can actually sleep & eat for the first time in months. Plus my anxiety is reducing massively!
Xx

[Elderflower2016]

If you can get access to it/ afford to go private- talking therapy might be helpful too? I found ADs helpful for PND but ultimately they address the symptom rather than the cause of mental health stuff…

[Sunnyscot80]

@Elderflower2016 I've had so much talking therapy and emdr. And it's helped to an extent. But like @AmyLou66 I was functioning completely fine until I abruptly stopped breastfeeding. I wish i had done it slower. It just felt like the most physical change, like all of a sudden I was charged with electricity and adrenaline. Couldn't sleep or sit still. Awful. Things have calmed down a lot for me since but I still feel like my hormones/brain chemistry is out of whack. X

[Sunnyscot80]

@AmyLou66 that is brilliant that mirtazapine is helping! Don't feel bad about taking the meds. Your hormones will settle down but until then you need to be able to feel better. Nothing wrong with getting help for that. I'm about to take a venlafaxine 🤞