Is HRT the answer? Struggling with anxiety.

[noarguments]

Apologies if this has been done to death. I’m 51, experiencing a range of what I think are peri symptoms, most of which don’t bother me that much. But the creeping anxiety, constant catastrophising and feelings of panic are becoming really debilitating, really starting to get me down and affect my family. I don’t really like the idea of long term medication, but is anxiety one of the symptoms that HRT tackles particularly well? I know there are lots of supplements I could try too, but don’t know where to start. Any help much appreciated.

Yes.

Just started.

Wish I had done it years ago.

The anxiety had a huge impact on my life events.

No need to suffer.

I'm very pro choice so if you go for hrt then fine but as you've asked I'll give you my thoughts.

If you go on hrt you are committing to prescriptions and reviews. You only have to read this board to see the amount of queries women have with doses, reviews etc. That in itself would add to anxiety imo. All the studies are so conflicting, eg some claim it protects against dementia others say it increased the risk.

I believe the menopause can be managed, it is a life change yes but who wants meds for something that isn't an illness.

I used to eat what I liked when I like, drink several coffees a day and slept like a log. Now I can't do that, I need to watch what I eat to stay a healthy bmi. I need to do physical activity every day so I sleep and I need to manage any catastrophising with mindfulness and self care.

Of course many will come along and tell you it is an illness, they are 'symptoms' you are having and you need drugs but again, only imo, the thought of meds, reviews and of course worrying about long term effects of taking artificial hormones would worry me more than the sometimes unpleasant issues associated with the natural ageing process.

It really helped my anxiety and insomnia- life changing really.

HRT literally saved my life. I was nearly crippled with anxiety due to peri-menopause. It was completely gone almost immediately as soon as I started HRT. Seven years later and I still feel fabulous. Don't wait another day.

HRT literally saved my life. I was nearly crippled with anxiety due to peri-menopause. It was completely gone almost immediately as soon as I started HRT. Seven years later and I still feel fabulous. Don't wait another day

Which HRT regime do you follow Aqua?

long term effects of taking artificial hormones

Most HRT preparations are made of natural substances now Janie, commonly known as BODY IDENTICAL HRT :-)

You are right, the menopause is a natural ageing process. However, the problem starts when those symptoms become so unmanageable that women have no choice, but to regain control of their body and mind. It is no fun having to cope with debilitating anxiety, flushes, mood swings etc when you are trying to work and run a home for example.

I believe the menopause can be managed, it is a life change yes but who wants meds for something that isn't an illness

I think that depends on the severity of your symptoms. I had a huge history of anxiety which got worse at menopause. I was permanently paralysed with fear and couldn’t leave the house.

I can’t take HRT, but Venlafaxine sorted out the anxiety. Not everything can be changed by lifestyle changes.

Agree! I’m 50 and have had increasingly bad anxiety for over a year. Never had it before. Huge impact on me and my family. Trying cbt and hrt. Menopause specialist says anxiety can take some people a while to resolve with hrt (if perimenopause is the trigger). I know for others it can be almost instant. I tried psychotherapy but that didn’t work for me. Everyone is different but the gp gave me a high dose antidepressant and that was hell. Stopped after a week. For me if I was going to try the treatments again I would do a short course of cbt and at the same time get in line to see a menopause specialist. But I know everyone is different. I’m sure people have said read the Menopause Society website too. In the meantime sending you hugs to deal with it. It’s definitely the worst thing I’ve experienced. It doesn’t matter where you are the feelings of agitation and dread/fear are just unbearable. But it is definitely a common symptom of perimenopause and if that’s what is causing your anxiety then it is likely treatable. Good luck!!!

Mm... The answers reflect my thoughts really, it could make all the difference, but maybe if I tried harder to manage it, I wouldn’t need to go down that route. I’m not in the “Just put up with it” brigade, something needs to change before things get much worse...
sorry to hear from those of you whose anxiety has taken over... Xx

You didn’t give the antidepressant long enough. A week on a high dose is absolutely not the way to do it.

You should start on a low dose and work up.

If the cause of the anxiety is hormonal then antidepressants feel like the wrong solution tbh.

I've got an appt soon to discuss with doc. Not anxiety and been peri for couple years but hot flushes have started.

I thought you 'just' got really horribly hot.

But no other things can come with it.

I get
The hot spreading
Feel like can't breathe
Heart racing feels like trying to jump out chest
Nausea
And I have only fainted once in my life so I'm not prone to it. But with these everything is screaming lie down or you're going to pass out

Have had to leave 2 work meetings so far. Luckily was team and online.

When back in the office what the hell happens then? And what if in a zoom or in person client meeting?

I think the wide range of symptoms and severity are still not well known, and are played down in society.

We're talking about it more but only a bit really.

Apparently loads of women give up work because of it. Maybe another reason our pension are often a fraction of men's...

I know from here that many GPs are pretty clueless, and or disinclined to dish out hrt. (Compare to the readiness to dish out different hormone treatments when it's to stop us getting up the duff)...

The women I know on it say it's life changing.

Up to individuals obv but I'm all for it.

Yes you are right @ArseInTheCoOpWindow. I think I was unlucky in the GP I had a phone consultation with on that day. I know they are a life saver for lots of people if taken gradually. It was such an unpleasant experience I’m not keen to try again and the menopause specialist I saw said I shouldn’t have been given an AD as a first treatment. HRT was more appropriate to start off with given my age and overall symptoms. @noarguments I think there is a bit of trial and error In finding what works but HRT does work for lots of women in perimenopause or menopause to relieve anxiety and other symptoms. Wishing you well whatever you chose to do.

I can’t take HRT😭

I benefit hugely from HRT.

*I think the wide range of symptoms and severity are still not well known, and are played down in society.

We're talking about it more but only a bit really.

Apparently loads of women give up work because of it. Maybe another reason our pension are often a fraction of men's...*

Totally agree NiceGerbil
The whole crappiness of meno is dumbed down in this country, to a few hot flushes now and then. WRONG for so many women. Debilitating anxiety nearly caused me to stop driving my car completely. Not practical living in the bloody country I can tell you.

Seriously, if the anxiety is hormonal or exacerbated by hormones, seek help. HRT is there for a reason, despite only a 10% uptake in this country (bloody WHI 2000 report linking it to BC!)

You get no medal or pension increase for having to give up work or on life, due to the perils of the 'horrorpause'.

HRT is there for a reason, despite only a 10% uptake in this country (bloody WHI 2000 report linking it to BC!)

My ridiculous GP still is. (Oestrogen only, transdermal, started before 60.)

Puts me off taking her medical advice on much else tbh.

Problem is Spindle, menopause training for gps is mandatory. They don’t have to increase their knowledge if they don’t want to.

Doesn’t t help the lives of some poor women, does it?

Amazing
what regime did u use ?