Is there such a think as perimenopausal anxiety/depression?

[Umbongo1]

Sorry if this is a long post.

I'm 45 and am suffering from anxiety and depression which started when I was 40 (no previous MH issues ever).

It seemed to dissipate entirely when I was pregnant with my daughter at age 41 and re-appeared with vengeance as PND.

I've always noticed how it was worse just before my period but it seems the days when I feel good are getting fewer and fewer. Im already on a whack of antidepressants which seem to be doing nothing to help.

Am I hormonal or just nuts? Anyone else in a similar boat?

@Gothere

Im sure its worse at night for me as I am so exhausted. A bit like mybDC, she gets tired and emotional. Sometimes we both cry

Someone told me once that the anxious thoughts in the early hours are your drunk brain talking to you and you should treat them just as seriously 🙂

Just jumping in here. Does anyone get a feeling of being totally overwhelmed, flat and angry for four or five days after menstrual bleeding stops. I am 43 so could be peri menopausal. I can’t find much info about having these feelings post bleeding and prior to ovulation.

When I'm getting it I tend to find my panic is worse in the early morning especially if I wake early. It's like a huge shot of adrenaline.

What are your experiences?

@TheKrakening3 i do sometimes. I guess it's the fluctuation that's the problem - are your periods regular? How long has it been going on?

[quote Umbongo1]@TheKrakening3 i do sometimes. I guess it's the fluctuation that's the problem - are your periods regular? How long has it been going on? [/quote]
Honestly, I think since the birth of my third child 6 years ago. My periods are still like clockwork. I might see my GP about going back on the pill.

I get the panic feeling in the night / early morning. Have started taking the prozac last thing- only half a dose- before sleeping.

Hi !
I’m 44 and I’m in my 2nd month of HRT patches !!
When I said to dr about hormones maybe up and down ect ect he said about anti depressants but I was like no way ! I’m low because of my hormones (never ever had any mhp) but I felt low flat and no motivation for anything , well since I’ve been on HRT I feel so much better sleeping better not feeling so hot at night and day ! And I’m actually enjoying my days again !
Push your G.p xxx

Thanks for discussing this here ladies, I am in this boat too.

This website looks like it might be useful:
rockmymenopause.com

I haven't dug around it all yet, but it looks promising.

I think the fluoxetine is helping. Noticed this online as well

gpnotebook.com/simplepage.cfm?ID=x2020021213593735677

TheKrakening3
Yes!!!! Me!!!! I can’t find any info either.
It used to be PMS now I don’t get any symptoms prior they are all after my period finishes and up to ovulation.
I feel your pain. I need to go to the dr.

I'm still really struggling. Day 5 of period. Everyone thinks I'm depressed due to lockdown etc but honest to god I'm not. Starting to despair!!

Also, does anyone get proper like clinical depression not just 'low mood' whatever that is?!?

I've never had this before I was 40 and no reason for it then. Up and down ever since.

I've definitely noticed dramatic changes in my mood in the past year and I'm 42. My cycle has changed and shifted significantly over the past couple of years and the physical symptoms have worsened. I now have horrendous cramps, nausea, dizziness, headaches.

The emotional stuff is torture though. I'm feeling a bit sad anyway but I haven't been able to stop crying since Saturday. Literally was stood in the post office queue and started blubbing.

I spoke to my GP about my mood and they agreed I was probably peri-menopausal but it's too early to test?
They suggested they could prescribe HRT but recommended I try some natural remedies first such so I'll do some research after Christmas. A friend recommended evening primrose.
I don't really want to take hormones unless I really have to.

@damnthemanatee I know what you mean and I really have nothing to be sad about.

My gps put me on antidepressants 5 years ago and if I go back to them saying my moods are awful they're only solution is to bump up the dosage.

My periods have gone really close together, longer and heavier, so maybe I'm not peri at all, just nuts. The wierd thing is that I felt fabulous during pregnancy.

Nah you not nuts..sounds about right to me what you say..unfortunatley menopause does affect your hormonal ballance which in turn cause depression etc...I do understand and it is worth you making a mental note to yourself not to let that wave of depression define you as you need to remember it is merley your hormones influencing you and that this too shall pass and you will see a brighter day...I know I been there I am not one to suffer with depression and then Bam like a ten ton truck out of nowhere it hit me and it hit me hard am ok now but i never had it before was wondering what cause was then i realise ie periods stopping ewtc it menapuase but it was realy bad i shudder thinking back what i could have done in that moment. Hang in there

Western medicine is brilliant if you are acutely ill with something specific, but absolutely rubbish at the things that are a complex dance between mind and body. From my reading (as a complete non-sciency person) I learned that the hormonal fluctuations of peri-meno’ can trigger a rise in Cortisol and that’s what provokes anxiety. Peri’ is a time when our orstrogen levels can soar so the myth of dwindling hormones is just that - a myth. Only in post-meno’ are we producing a steady low level of oestrogen (generally from our fatty tissue). My experience was that the transition was around ten years (possibly brexit might take less than that, who knows?). In my early 40s I noticed subtle changes such as a shorter cycle and fewer pms symptoms. Towards the last 3/4 years of peri’ my periods became less and less regular and I had a range of weird symptoms - everything from random rages to pains in my tendons (all of which have resolved).

How are you all doing? I'm a bit better now my 8 day period seems to be over... 😱😱

Hi apologies for jumping this thread but I am also suffering with crippling anxiety since becoming peri menopausal and previously never suffered with anxiety at all 😥 I am 47 peri menopausal and am currently taking 1mg novofem but was also prescribed 30mg mirtazapine about a year ago for my anxiety. My anxiety is still crippling and in fact am about to turn down a fantastic job opportunity due to it 😥but after reading this thread I wonder if I should actually be taking the mirtazapine but am scared to stop it in case my anxiety gets even worse (mind you hard to imagine it getting worse).Just when I read on here about starting HRT and the anxiety reducing a lot ,I wonder why this hasn't happened to me? Should I go back to the drs , I get so confused with what even type of HRT I should even be on for being peri menopausal ?Any advice would be welcome thank you

Hey @foxyknoxy30
I think a chat with your G.p about peri menopause would be a good start point and make a list of all your symptoms if your not sure google peri menopause so many symptoms a lot of drs don’t actually realise it’s it’s peri u need to push about it and in my opinion the patches are amazing !! Anxiety can be a big symptom specially if u have never had it before !! Goodluck let us know how u get on x

@foxyknoxy30 that's terrible that it is preventing you from taking a new job. Did you try any ssri's before mirtazipine?

I'm trying to figure out what the benefits of hrt are over just taking the pill? Does anyone know?

Awful anxiety again today, finding it hard to eat and to carry on with normal life - anyone else get it this bad or is it just me?!

Yes! Yes yes

I am peri menopausal, in fact I may have just slipped into menopause.

What I was finding so hard was and is the PMT element. It's as though I've been taken back to the start, when my periods and mood swings and PMT symptoms were rife.

I get paranoid 72-48 hours before my period, I always have since I was 14. It's not terrible, but enough to make me question everything. It's cyclical and has always happened like clockwork before my periods.

Now, it happens whenever it happens. It's really thrown me. I'm off to the doctor to increase my HRT on Monday. I can't be dealing with random paranoid episodes Willy nilly.

There's lots of information at menopausesupport.co.uk/ or Dr Louise Newson's website www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/ about the benefits of taking HRT.
I have been experiencing anxiety for the first time in my life, it's one of the main reasons for contacting my gp (who luckily is clued up on peri menopausal matters) and I have just started on HRT.
I don't know which hormones are in the mini pill so can't comment on the difference, sorry.
Also look up The Menopause Support Network on Facebook

I'm with you here, I'm on 2mg Estradiol daily now doubled it after a year I've been on it 2 years. My main reason was anxiety, low mood and lack of concentration I'm 51. But In the last few months the depression and anxiety have gone through the roof. I have appt with GP tomorrow but don't think I can increase the sandrema levels any more so wondering whether to try another regime and to ask for oestrogen levels to be checked. periods have definitely got more erratic. I am wondering whether they will offer me ADs too. The anxiety really makes me feel nauseous and I lose so much weight as I have no appetite. Anyone want to share what brands and regimes they're on ?

Umbongo1 thanks for starting this thread it comforting knowing I am not alone in this hellish journey although I would rather none of us were on it please let us know how your appointment goes and if you feel was worth it .I was offered mirtazapine and am also on Novofem 1mg but feel this doesn't even come close to managing my anxiety which I never suffered from until hitting peri menopausal .I try the usual healthy eating etc but even this doesn't really manage it to an acceptable level. I just wish there was a magic pill or cure to take and just stop it as it's sooo exhausting and it mostly impacts my working life constantly making me now feel that I am useless at my job hence me turning down a fantastic job opportunity.Am definitely making a drs appointment just to try something different and maybe increase the HRT and possibly stop taking mirtazapine to see if this can help. Sorry am not much use but believe me your not alone.

Yes there is, I had it. Kicked in about 43 and got steadily worse for a couple of years. Eventually went to my doctor after hot flashes started too (convinced myself it was just a stressful time at work, with kids etc). Turns out my hormone levels were all over the shop. Am on HRT patches now, and they work brilliantly,