Psychotic Episodes & Menopause

[samantha69]

I have suffered 3 psychotic episodes since 2016 up to 2019 I am also going through the menopause I believe they are closely linked but it is rarely talked about. Has anyone else gone through this?

It has been devastating and scary for us all as a family.

Interesting, makes sense ,doesn't it same as when women are post partum.? I hope you have support OP.

I have had mental health problems while my adult life but now I am peri menopausal and my mood is better than it's ever been. Odd but I am not complaining

It's happened to me at 9 months post partum, twice, and both times the mental health lot have sworn blind it's nothing to do with the fact I had major hormonal changes linked to weaning my babies. Both times I was told I was ineligible for the post natal mental health services that claim to go up to 1 year PP due to the age of my baby even though they were under 1 both times. I also have PMDD. So I suspect this is a thing due to an intolerance to massive hormone shifts but the medical lot seem to just dismiss it. It does make you wonder how many times they have to dismiss the same issue before one of them will bloody research it and realise it's a real thing.

(I know yours is related to the menopause but it's a very similar change in hormones which is why I think they're a linked issue)

Thanks for sharing I have heard there is a link but it just isn't researched or talked about. Not much support. I hope you're doing ok now

I had post natal psychosis and they said it could happen again if I have another baby or when I'm going through the menopause (not there yet)

I agree

I also think there is a severe lack of research around the whole menstrual cycle from start to finish instead of separate stages.

@Novita

I have had mental health problems while my adult life

I was the same but, peri really wobbled my head. I had 2 psychotic episodes with severe suicide idealisations (not to mention, self medication with alcohol when I could)
first psychiatrist that finally saw me face to face, tweaked my meds and requested an ASD assessment

Apparently, I’m not depressed I’m Neurodiverse which for a female, wasn’t something offered as a diagnosis when I was a child.
Maybe because it was well known to either be, boys only or fictional/a label for the naughty child in the class

@RosieMolloy Interesting. I have seen many psychiatrists but none of them have ever mentioned any autism. But my very good friend got Asperger's diagnosis last year but I had never thought she was different.

I am loads of medication of all sorts. Maybe they finally found a mix that keeps me stable.

There is a known connection between hormone changes and psychotic episodes. Unfortunately it is not massively researched for the menopausal hormonal changes but there is some. Google bipolar & menopause. You may not be bipolar but much of the info might be relevant.

Thank you so much everyone for your comments I find it really helpful

Over the years I have had diagnosis and medication for this or the other.

ASD was never mentioned before and I’m late 40s now.

@IsItBedtimeYetNope you might find this article interesting: cupofjo.com/2012/02/20/motherhood-mondays-the-hardest-two-months-of-my-life/amp/

somebody who shares your experience. Apologies to sidetrack OP, I know this doesn’t relate directly to menopause!

I'm 51, peri menopausal, under EIP for psychosis, take anti psychotic medication.

I was told it can be linked to stress. It seems hormone changes also. I had one due to severe physical stress in the past.

Thanks for sharing hope you're ok🙏

Many years ago it was labelled as 'hysteria.'

You'd think that the word would disappear.

Many years ago we ended up sectioned and in accommodation or rehab
ie hidden away

I am glad you started this thread as I was also wondering this . I suffered extreme anxiety and depression 6 years ago when I hit the menopause . I didn’t sleep for months and completely lost the plot. Couldn’t function .I wanted to drown myself in the canal to end the hell that i felt I was in but in the end I didn’t ( too afraid )but I did get sectioned when an ambulance was called when I went missing .
I was under a lot of stress but I think my hormones or lack of them pushed me over the edge and I just couldn’t cope anymore.

NC for this.
In my experience yes.
I had psychosis as an adolescent starting my periods, again after stopping BF (I had 5 years of fertility treatments, pregnancy and BF without a gap when I was OK and then crashed after stopping ) and then again with perimenopause.

I find it impossible to know whether this stems from hormones, MH, neurodiversity or all of it. I have diagnosis’s of CPTSD (abusive childhood), Borderline personality disorder, PND and bipolar. Plus many younger family members are now being diagnosed with ASD and/or ADHD. I wish there was more research.

I am stable now on antipsychotics and mood stabilisers. It took 3 years to stabilise.

Hope you are OK OP.

The other thing the psychologist asked about when I had an episode in the past, as well as the physical and mental stress, was lack of sleep.

Hope you are OK now.

to anyone coping with this or worrying about it. Having gone through it in the past it is hard dealing with the worry of it happening again.

I got help in the end and I found the GP / MH team do take psychosis seriously and will see you urgently.

At the time I thought they were 'part of it' and didn't trust them though or their meds, which was all part of it. It's really difficult.

I understand where you are coming from, it sounds like you have gone through a lot

I too am on long term antipsychotics and antidepressants

Very interesting (and terrifying). Hope you are ok now OP. My psychotic episode was linked to stress as well. Been off meds for 3 years now but this makes me even more aware that self care is hugely important. Look after yourself. 💕

Thinking back, I found it very difficult and scary, but I know that it did pass. As with others on this thread. So that is a comfort in a way.

I'm in perimenopause and dealing with anxiety and weird new phobias, so it can be connected to hormones. I traveled a lot in the past years and was fearless (even in more exotic, unsafe countries). I went to Spain two weeks ago and lost a lot of weight because I was afraid of food poisoning! I ate packed food from the supermarket and drank bottled water and was unable to even try food in the best restaurants. My family suffered because of that as they felt bad, I was terrified. And all those new fears began with perimenopause.
I also have a new, weird fear - fainting while driving. How ridiculous is that? :(