brain fog and panic

[housemouse19]

I'm not sure whether to post this in the mental health forums, but I feel like I should start here.
I am 46 and in this last week leading up to period have had the worst brain fog, it is making me feel so disconnected, which in turn is triggering anxiety and panic attacks, because I feel like I am losing my mind.
I never really experienced anxiety, or panic before the age of 42, which is why I suspect this hormone related and I have been ok the last few years, but this week has been horrendous and extremely upsetting to me.
Do I just have to endure this now until menopause, or is it worth a visit to the doctor ?

Lots of people on here will recommend HRT for these symptoms. I can't as I've never tried it, but it might help.

I would advise you to think twice if the GP recommends anti-depressants. They are often prescribed to mask menopause symptoms but they can lead to even worse brain fog, lethargy and weight gain.

I know this sounds daft but to overcome anxiety I started doing something new or something I was a bit scared of every day to try and build my resilience. It's good fun and can lead to some amazing experiences, Read I Dare Me a memoir by a menopausal woman who did something new every day for a year and felt a lot more alive afterwards.

Thanks Growlingbear.
I've experienced anxiety and panic attacks in the past and I found walking (to burn off the cortisol) and keeping myself occupied helped, but that was a few years ago and I have been fine since.

This feels slightly different to that episode in that I am really struggling to concentrate and focus my attention, my brain feels so foggy which is what is triggering the panic and upset. I am also getting a lot of fatigue.

I will try the docs, I generally prefer to avoid medication, but I just feel like I cannot function like this.

marking as I am also experiencing the same symptoms along with memory loss & have never had these issues in my life up until the past 6 months & it's been getting steadily worse.

Problem is I had a Mirena coil fitted just over a year ago so no idea if it could also be this. Doctors appointment tomorrow so we'll see what they say

If it's only the week before your period it sounds like PMS. This is known for getting worse towards menopause.
Do you have any other symptoms of peri menopause?

Before trying HRT it's a good idea to get your lifestyle as perfect as you can- so that's diet ( cut out all refined sugar and anything that spikes blood sugar), increase fruit and veg to over 5 a day, eat nuts, pulses and oily fish, exercise, etc.) Most green leafy veg and lentils have some weak plant estrogens in them.

Also, bear in mind that memory lapses are a symptom of getting older- don't mean dementia- but it's really common to forget stuff and not feel quite so sharp mentally. I have been on HRT for 11 years and still forget why I went into a room, or someone's name at times.

To be really blunt, most GPs are not very good at these vague midlife symptoms. They may offer your anti depressants, possibly HRT or just look blank! In a 10 min appt you aren't going to get an in depth consultation especially around perimenopause.

You either need to decide you want to try HRT and ask for that, or take 3-6 months to try all the lifestyle measures and see if that helps.

Emotional stuff is helped by CBT and NICE suggests this for peri meno symptoms that are anxiety based so maybe find someone near to try it?

I have bad fatigue and odd aching muscles. I am otherwise fine, have experienced heavy periods in past, but have cut out most sources of stress from my life and that seemed to help. My periods are fairly regular (28 day cycle). I exercise regularly, try to get 8 hours sleep - but need to cut out refined sugar from diet.

Today is first day of period, head still feels foggy with heavy pressure on top. The foggy (ness) is making me feel very disconnected, which is triggering anxiety/panic attacks.

This started just over a week ago and as I previously said I have eliminated most sources of stress/ anxiety from my life, so I can only assume it's my hormones that have set this off.

I will work on my diet, but I will see my doctor and try to get the ball rolling for HRT, even if it's just as a backup to ease my anxiety, because the prospect of this every month is absolutely terrifying to me at the moment.

Thanks for your response jingling

@housemouse19 all the symptoms you are describing are very common in peri-menopause. I don't know why they're not more talked about because they are so debilitating. Like you I had crippling fatigue and painfully achey limbs especially at night. So did a close friend. I felt deeply anxious. Friends have had full blown panic attacks. I don't know if it helps to know you are not alone, but I hope it helps to know you will come through it. Overall I feel far better now, in menopause than I did in the five years leading up to it. Less anxious, more energy and the aches and pains have gone.
I agree with @JinglingHellsBells that CBT helps. You can access a free online course at The Mood Gym.

unfortunately The Mood Gym does not appear to be free anymore

Thanks growlingbear. It also just nice knowing someone's listening

Woke up this morning feeling much better. It's peeing it down with rain, but the birds where singing. Had a cup of coffee and whoosh - brain fog and anxiety hit me again like a tonne of bricks.

Its definitely anxiety, which is half the battle wondering what it is - anxiety will have you believing the worst and I'm pretty sure this has been triggered by my hormones.

Have found a few other websites for anyone that might be interested.

www.moodcafe.co.uk/free-online-behavioural-therapy.aspx

www.getselfhelp.co.ukselfhelp.htm

llttf.com/

I'm gonna try my doctors next week. To get my bloods done and just to rule out anything else.

It sounds slightly like dissociation, which then when happens to you feeds the anxious feelings more and keeps you in the cycle. You could try reading DARE which has a great chapter on it. It will at least help you so that when your brain fog happens, it won't lead to anxiety or panic.

@Vesperia - what a shame about The Mood Gym. It was free until fairly recently - I used it. OP seems to have found some free versions worth looking at.

I have just started HRT patches as I am really struggling with several menopause symptoms, including what I can only describe as a mini panic attacks particularly when I feel a flush coming on, I generally feel more anxious and as for my memory, that is just a joke! I have also gained 7lb in two months. I am throughly misserable, I am hoping the HRT helps only been 3 weeks and understand it can take 2 or 3 months to feel any relief. Please tell me it does get better.

Op have you had blood tests? I felt like this when I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, and (many years before) my mum was diagnosed with it when she went to the GP with anxiety.

I also had to scale back my caffeine and alcohol consumption to nearly nothing (1-2 cups of tea in the morning, no wine, occasional halves of beer) because my tolerance was so low and my anxiety was off the charts. I'm on the right dose of the right meds now (it took a while to get it right) and can drink tea but I'm still careful with alcohol.

I experienced exactly the same leading to panic attacks but because there were no particular events to trigger them, thry happened totally out of the blue, and I don't normally suffer from anxiety, I became convince there was something seriously wrong with me.

I had various tests showing I wasnt about to die and gradually the feelings started to subside although it still happened and frightened me quite a bit especially as my vision than tends to go very fuzzy.

2 yearsxon and it now only happens about once a month or so and much milder. When it does although unpleasant, I know it will just pass so don't panic anymore. It is usually a xlcase of distracting my thoughts and it goes as it came. I wish I'd known from the start that it was menopausal anxiety, would have saved months of being convinced I was dying and the fear and sorrow I experienced as a result.

I have been to doctors and I'm waiting on results of blood tests.

Head still feels the same - 3 weeks on. I am managing to keep the anxiety under control, which is difficult because I feel so disconnected and spacey. I still get waves of it which stop me from sleeping properly, but trying my best not to stay relaxed.

I'm eating very healthily cut out all refined sugar and coffee, lots of green vegetables, good news is I have lost a few pounds, but its made no difference to brain fog.

Will let you know what test results are when I get them.

As well as HRT I’d recommend trying some talking therapies. I had CBT which really helped me to cope with menopausal anxiety and panic and was also referred for an 8 week mindfulness course which I found very useful. I’m my area you can self refer for talking therapies but you might find you need to go through your doctor.

agree with the pp about hypothyroid. The brain fog was horrendous. Unfortunately, getting a diagnosis in the UK isn't easy.

My TSH needs to be below 1 for me to feel ok. According to the NHS you aren't hypothyroid until your TSH is of 4.5 and even then many GPs will let you o even higher before they treat.

HRT is a lifesaver and very safe, so don't hesitate to take it. There is no reason to suffer like this.

www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

Thanks I've just read the article.

It says HRT or contraceptive pill can help. I have feeling the doctor may try to shove the pill my way, which I don't particularly want from past experience, gives me migraines and makes me pile on the pounds.

Is there a lot of difference.

@hecateh.
How did you get a diagnosis and treatment then ?

I just haven't got the mental or emotional energy to fight my doctor for a diagnosis if it is my thyroid.

house it can be difficult to get a diagnosis but try not to worry about it right now, it might not apply. If your bloods are utterly normal (nowhere near borderline) it won't be an issue, or they may be well out of range. My tsh was in the 30s so indisputably not normal.
Thyroid UK can help if you're borderline: healthunlocked.com/thyroiduk

How did you get on with blood tests? I’m interested as I’m very similiar at the moment and looking for some reassurance! Xx