Post menopause severe anxiety / depression

[kizziee]

Sorry I’ve got a couple of threads at the moment.
Benn in low dose ads for long time. Ok mentally during peri and for number of years.
last period two years ago and out of blue hit with severe anxiety and depression relapse.
Have upped ads under GP guidance but no improvement at moment. Off work etc.
Dr pro HRT but doesn’t think good idea to introduce at moment when things so difficult because I’ve reacted badly to hormones in past.
Has anyone been able to sort this post menopause with ads. (Nothing is ‘wrong’ - I was very happy until this hit.) I’m doing all the self things but it’s way beyond that.
Looking for hope. Terrified can’t get better.
I guess every is that even though I’ve got better in past - post menopause means that everything has changed.

Bump

Last hopeful bump

Hi, sorry for your troubles. Have you had any counselling at all?

Sorry to hear you're going through this. Have you considered asking your GP to referral to your local menopause clinic as they will be in a better position to advise you if there are options (hormonal or otherwise) you can consider. If it is menopause (sounds quite likely), ADs aren't really going to help. You need hormones to replace the ones you're losing. Please at least have a chat with a menopause specialist and see what they can suggest that might be able to help you given your issues with hormones in the past.

Also, just so you're aware that you can't be post-menopause. Menopause means your periods stopped more than 12 months ago. Menopause basically lasts forever once you reach it.

good point re ‘post’ menopause.
My GP is very pro HRT (the surgery menopause expert) but doesn’t think good idea to introduce at the moment when things so difficult. I would be very concerned too at the moment in case makes things even worse. Very open to taking it later if can get things settled. (Completely understand that anyone with no history of mh issues should always be offered HRT first before ADs.)

Re counselling I've had it in the past but the general view is that I don't have any issues to work through. I'm either ok (as in 100% fine on a very low dose AD) or in complete crisis with nothing seemingly happening in between or reason.
Thank you so much for replying.

I really think you should consider a referral so you can get some specialist advice.

I went down the specialist route because I'm high risk for breast cancer (and told definitely no HRT) but my peri symptoms became debilitating (on top of long Covid, primary hyperparathyroidism and now it seems also ADHD). It took a while and a lot of debate (I cried. A lot) but I managed to get a menopause specialist talking to my breast oncologist / geneticist and eventually they agreed I could try HRT (if I wanted to - very much my decision) as it was affecting my quality of life - and career - quite badly. It wasn't an easy decision for me and I accept the risks I'm taking by going ahead with HRT but OMG the benefits have been huge. My anxiety has gone. I don't burst into tears at the drop of a hat. I'd been wondering if I needed ADs (after 9 years off them) but wasn't convinced yet getting increasingly desperate. HRT has changed my life!

I think in these cases where there is more complexity, it's worth getting the specialists involved. You may decide to not proceed but you have nothing to lose by getting their input. It may give you more choices.

Thank you @HundredMilesAnHour I really appreciate the advice about seeking specialist help. I'm so glad you've found a way forward that works for you.

I had severe anxiety once I stopped having periods. Before that I was depressive and on long term ad’s. Changed ad’s twice and that made things worse. Then went back to my original meds. I was still anxious but at least I knew where I was with side effects. I’m 6 years since periods now and my anxiety calmed down after about 4 years. Menopause is not fun.

@Thighdentitycrisis do you mind saying which medications you tried / use

@kizziee
i tried Sertraline and Mirtrazipine but neither worked for me. Everyone responds to these things differently though, and you should definitely take advice from the medical community not me! 😀my GP’s seem to want me to try newer SSRI’s but I take an older ad that suits my depression. It didn’t help anxiety and I suppose HRT might have but I just managed without. I suppose I could still go in it now. Good luck with yours

Thank you @Thighdentitycrisis