Period and Anxiety

[anonmum22]

Came off the pill a few months again to TTC and finally come on yesterday for first time in 4 years. To begin with it was absolutely fine but today I have had such anxiety all of a sudden for no reason at all. The only thing I can explain it with is the hormones but that has also scared me silly. I suffered with post natal anxiety when DD1 and so now I'm scared that if it's hormones that trigger it, if I get pregnant/have a baby will that mean I'm going to suffer with this anxiety again....

Does anyone have any experience about having anxiety around period time and whether this links in any way? or had post natal anxiety first time round but was okay the second time round?

I have pmdd and suffer terribly before periods. Never had pnd, although was very down and anxious after dc1, just due to the shock of being a mum, plus he had reflux etc. Was fine after the other two. I'm actually alot better when pregnant and bf as hormonal fluctuations different. Just my experience, hopefully others will be along.

I also suffered post natal anxiety after first child, but unfortunately it never went and I still do now!
I definitely feel my symptoms are worse around that time of the month though so you are probably right about hormones. Try not to worry, I'm sure whatever happens you will deal with it best you can as I'm sure you did first time round 😊

I get horrible anxiety the week before and during my period. It's horrible. I've found knowing it's just anxiety helps.

I clicked on your post because this is exactly me over the last couple of days.
I get bad migraines when I’m due on and now since the migraine has subsided I’m beside myself with worrying about nothing. I’m going over conversations with friends in my head, messages I’ve people on fb, worrying about work, worrying about my health and I burst into tears while eating dinner for absolutely no reason.
DH just looked at me and said ‘hormones dear?’ Which bizarrely helped because I thought i was going mad....but he’s probably right it is my hormones...bastards!

Yup - terrible anxiety with hormone fluctuations and it is definitely hormonal. The week before my period is when I’ll get anxious and sometimes depressed by a couple of days In to the period it just goes and I feel great! Also had post-natal anxiety - no pnd - pure anxiety about something bad happening to me or the baby.

I noticed a correlation between my period and severe anxiety about 6 years ago aged 24. I had my son aged 26 and once he was born I went on the mini pill so I don't have periods any more, my general anxiety is bad enough without adding hormones to it. After about 2 years on the mini pill I decided to try and come off them but the 1 period I had the anxiety was so unbearable I went straight back on it again. The periods themselves aren't even that bad! I did also suffer from post natal anxiety but I already had anxiety before I fell pregnant so I'm not sure it would have been any different otherwise.

@Nogodsnomasters Can I ask what name your mini pill has? And did you have any side effects starting them up - say nausea?

Hi, my mini pill is called cerazette and I had no nausea or side effects from it. I honestly don't think I could cope with the hormones, pmt and anxiety without it now, I've been on it 5 years now bar that one period I stopped for.

@Nogodsnomasters Thank you so much. I’ll look into them. I’m already on antidepressants but am still bloody anxious and it just gets worse 3-4 days before my period and again before ovulation, sigh.